Director of Postsecondary, Career and Life Coaching SEA

Friends of the Children • Seattle, WA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Friends of the Children is seeking a visionary and data-informed leader to serve as their Director of Postsecondary, Career & Life Coaching. This role is crucial in helping young people aged 16-22 prepare for work and life, aiming to break the cycle of poverty. The Director will lead a new national program innovation focused on postsecondary access, career readiness, persistence, and life success. This position involves central project management and coordination, refining the program model with internal leaders, chapters, researchers, and external stakeholders. Reporting to the Chief Officer of Strategy and Innovation, the Director is part of the National Center of Excellence for Professional Youth Mentoring and collaborates with national staff, local chapters, researchers, alumni, and funders. The role requires a blend of people management, program leadership, and data-driven decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in college access, workforce development, youth development, or related field
• 2+ years of people management or team leadership experience
• Strong understanding of postsecondary pathways (college, CTE, workforce)
• Experience working with underserved, first-generation, or historically marginalized students
• Project management and strategic planning skills
• Strong coaching and people management skills
• Data-driven decision-making and analytical thinking
• Relationship-building across diverse stakeholders
• Cultural responsiveness and adaptability
• Ability to manage complexity and drive results

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing outcomes-driven programs with measurable KPIs
• Familiarity with FAFSA, financial aid systems, and admissions processes
• Experience building employer or higher education partnerships
• Proficiency with CRM/data systems and performance tracking tools

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Life Coaches supporting young people from their junior/senior year of high school through age 22.
• Ensure high-quality, consistent coaching that results in successful transitions to life, postsecondary education, career training, or the workforce, and persistence in those pathways.
• Serve as the central point of project management and coordination for the new postsecondary, career, and life coaching program.
• Partner with internal teams, national leadership, external partners, and researchers to refine program design, implementation strategy, and set key performance metrics.
• Manage the project against its implementation timeline and be accountable for key milestones.
• Hire, supervise, coach, and evaluate a team of Life Coaches and an Alumni Coordinator.
• Provide ongoing professional development, training, and performance feedback to the team.
• Foster a strong team culture grounded in accountability and youth-led success.
• Support Life Coaches in managing complex situations and escalations.
• Support the Alumni Coordinator in stewarding relationships that enhance partnerships and opportunities for program graduates and alumni.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality coaching aligned with the program model and standards.
• Develop and refine coaching frameworks, tools, and resources.
• Observe coaching sessions and provide actionable feedback.
• Ensure alignment across the Friends of the Children program and the postsecondary/career extension program.
• Support the collection of quantitative and qualitative data (focus groups).
• Analyze data with researchers to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure coaches are effectively tracking individual youth progress and milestones.
• Lead coordination with chapter program leadership to maximize collaboration and coordination for youth aged 16-22.
• Build and manage national-level relationships that advance program goals.
• Represent the program in external meetings and events.
• Manage program logistics, including events, communications, and reporting timelines.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies and funding requirements.
• Partner with leadership on budgeting, staffing, and program growth.
• Champion access to postsecondary and career opportunities.
• Ensure culturally responsive coaching practices across the team.
• Address systemic barriers impacting underserved youth.

Benefits

• Opportunity to help design a new program to transform outcomes for young people.
• A team of talented employees who are passionate about working together.
• Respect for work-life harmony, prioritizing personal well-being and balance.
• Health insurance (Friends of the Children covers 100% of employee only premium for 2 of the 4 plans).
• Dental insurance (Friends of the Children covers 100% of employee only premium).
• Vision insurance (Friends of the Children covers 100% of employee only premium).
• Basic Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (100% paid by Friends of the Children).
• Short Term Disability and Long-Term Disability (100% paid by Friends of the Children).
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Healthcare.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Voluntary Benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospitalization, Legal, etc.
• 401(k) savings plan with a company match of up to the first 4% of earnings.
• Cell phone and/or Internet Reimbursement up to $75/month.
• Office reimbursement of $150 per year.
• Vacation: Up to three weeks of paid vacation annually for the first 4 years, pro-rated in the first year and increasing with length of service.
• Sick Time: Two weeks/80 hours awarded annually, prorated for new employees.
• Eleven paid holidays, including three Floating holidays.
• Flexible work schedule/Remote/Hybrid work (in collaboration with Management and as duties necessitate).
• Career Development and Wellness Reimbursement of up to $1000 after the first year of employment ($200 for Wellness).
• Summer hours and end of year holiday gift of time off (assessed annually).
• Employee Perks and Discount Programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director