Manager of Future Readiness

Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities • Minneapolis, MN

11d • $52,000 - $62,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Big Futures Team designs and delivers programs that expand opportunity, elevate youth voice, and strengthen mentoring relationships beyond the traditional match. Through career exploration, group mentoring, scholarships, and youth engagement experiences, we aim to build social capital, strengthen belonging, and prepare young people for postsecondary success.

The Future Readiness Manager leads the day-to-day strategy and execution of BBBSTC’s Future Readiness programming portfolio, including HOPE (small group mentoring), implementation of High School Bigs, scholarships (including the Big Futures Fund), and cross-collaboration on Explore Events and youth engagement initiatives. This role is responsible for curating and strengthening what “future readiness” means at BBBSTC—enhancing existing programs, integrating the 4Es (Employment, Enrollment, Enlistment, Entrepreneurship), deepening culturally responsive practices, and expanding caregiver engagement to strengthen the broader match ecosystem.

Reporting to the Director of Big Futures, the Manager oversees a team of Coordinators and partners cross-functionally to strengthen program design, data alignment, and community impact. This role balances hands-on team leadership with systems-level thinking—ensuring youth programming is culturally responsive, strategically focused, and operationally strong.
Success in this role requires strong people leadership, systems thinking, operational clarity, and the ability to translate big-picture direction into consistent, high-quality youth experiences.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Youth Development, Education, Social Work, Human Services, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in program management, education, youth development, or mentoring.
• At least 2 years of supervisory experience, with demonstrated success in leading teams and fostering a positive, accountable culture.’
• Experience managing partnerships with schools, corporations, or community organizations.
• Demonstrated success in program design, facilitation, and evaluation.
• Experience with data management systems (Salesforce or equivalent preferred) and using data to inform program decisions.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to build trust, set clear expectations, and hold staff accountable.
• Deep knowledge of youth development practices, adolescent engagement, and mentoring.
• Skilled in group facilitation and able to coach others to strengthen facilitation practices.
• Excellent relationship-building and partnership cultivation abilities.
• Strong planning, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to analyze data and translate findings into program improvements.
• Effective communication skills—verbal, written, and presentation.
• Flexibility to attend events during evenings or weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and ongoing refinement of group mentoring models, ensuring alignment with BBBSA Small Group Mentoring Standards and high-quality facilitation practices.
• Guide the development and execution of youth pathway strategies that align with BBBSTC’s Theory of Action, ensuring programming advances measurable youth outcomes and long-term impact.
• Oversee the design, refinement, and scaling of group mentoring models and youth engagement pathways.
• Oversee and steward the HOPE partnership, including program implementation, communication cadence, and strategic growth opportunities, while managing comparable external partnerships that support Future Readiness programming.
• Oversee the development and implementation of youth pathways, ensuring consistent retention strategies and youth-centered programming.
• Support integration of youth voice and feedback loops into all program design and delivery, including survey strategy and other interpersonal feedback efforts
• Develop and monitor annual and quarterly goals for the mentorship expansion and youth discovery portfolio.
• Lead and/or support the development of biannual alumni and group mentoring communications, including newsletters or targeted updates, ensuring content highlights youth voice, program impact, and upcoming engagement opportunities while aligning with agency messaging and strategic priorities.
• Track program data, outcomes, and trends; ensure staff are documenting and analyzing information accurately in Salesforce. Partner with Impact & Accountability to track key outputs and outcomes.
• Collaborate with Grants & Accountability staff to produce reports, dashboards, and impact stories for internal and external stakeholders.
• Stay up to date and in compliance in accordance with BBBSTC standards and BBBS of America requirements.
• Partner with Site-Based, Community-Based, to intentionally align Future Readiness programming with match support strategies, ensuring youth pathways are connected, cohesive, and retention-focused for Alumni support.
• Manage the Big Futures Fund strategy, including staffing support/structure and program delivery, including: scholarship processes, application criteria, timelines, and documentation of outcomes.
• Ensure sustainability of annual scholarship opportunities through collaboration with Finance and external partners.
• Share and circulate best practices across the agency to strengthen consistency and alignment in youth engagement.
• Provide Direct supervision to a team of future readiness coordinators with various functions within group mentoring, scholarships, future focus and cohort programming
• Collaborate with the Manager of Program Events to provide staffing support of all other events
• Effectively perform all supervisory functions of hiring, coaching, training, disciplining, and terminating, according to BBBSTC policies.
• Hold staff accountable to achieve individual and team goals while complying with agency policies and national standards of practice.
• Ensure effective performance management through monthly one-on-ones, quality assurance checks, field observations, and performance evaluations
• Implement action plans and disciplinary procedures with employees as needed.
• Ensure staff maintain high proficiency in child safety and risk management protocols.
• Observe programming and provide actionable feedback to strengthen facilitation and participant outcomes.
• Oversee onboarding, training, and ongoing coaching to build staff capacity and confidence in facilitation, partnership management, and youth engagement.
• Provide effective feedback, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
• Foster a team culture that promotes collaboration, professionalism, and critical thinking.
• Coordinate with other program teams for smooth participant transitions and consistent service delivery.
• Maintain knowledge of community needs, resources, and networks
• Communicate professionally with external constituents
• Work collaboratively to achieve results as specified in the strategic plan
• Promote teamwork by overseeing and participating in various teams, including work groups and interdepartmental meetings
• Positively represent BBBS in the larger community
• Support the Advancement Department in recruitment, fundraising, and communication efforts as needed
• Support the Programs Department with agency-wide initiatives and events as needed.
• Contribute to the overall success of the agency in order to achieve the BBBS mission

Benefits

• BBBS-sponsored health & dental insurance
• employer-paid long-term disability insurance
• life insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• paid time off accrual & 13 Paid Holidays
• 403(b) retirement plans with employer match

What This Job Offers

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