The University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development seeks a Program & Outreach Associate to join Youth-Nex, the UVA Center to Promote Effective Youth Development. Youth-Nex is a dynamic research center committed to expanding and applying the science of positive youth development to address fundamental challenges facing societies around the world. Youth-Nex is currently focused on three core domains for adolescents: (1) out-of-school time; (2) redesigning the middle school experience; and (3) youth civic and political engagement.

The Program & Outreach Associate will play a critical role in continuing to develop a high-impact center, including supporting key initiatives and special projects, strengthening networks and partnerships, and enhancing communications. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to strategize and implement high-level program and project initiatives, including helping to build new programs and products to support the Youth-Nex’s strategic priorities. As a strong communicator and relationship builder, this person will engage with a diverse set of stakeholders, including researchers, practitioners, youth, and out-of-school time organizations. Across all projects, central to this role will be helping to bring to life developmental science for practitioner audiences and keeping youth and equity at the core.

One key area of focus for the role will be helping to guide and coordinate Remaking Middle School, a nationwide, multi-sector initiative aimed at transforming the learning and development experience for young adolescents. In this role, the Program & Outreach Associate will help build partnerships and work with a diverse set of stakeholders, including school teams, to design, test, evaluate, and disseminate new approaches for young adolescent teaching and learning in the middle grades. Additionally, this person will support the development of tools, resources, workshops, and other convenings related to the science of learning and development for young adolescents.

Another key area of focus for the role will be leading the Youth-Nex Youth Advisory Council. Entering into its pilot year in the 2022-23 school year, the goal of the Youth Advisory Council is to provide youth with a platform to elevate their voices and develop their sense of agency by advising and leading on Youth-Nex programs and initiatives. In this role, the Program & Outreach Associate will coordinate programming and engagement to ensure participating youth have a positive and valuable experience.

This role is an excellent opportunity for a person with a background in schools, youth development, educational or developmental research, and/or project management. While working with faculty and staff across Youth-Nex, this person will report to the Youth-Nex Director of Strategy & Engagement.

Program & Outreach Associate responsibilities include:

• Drive successful delivery of projects and programs through excellent project management, relationship building and management, and facilitation/presentation/coaching responsibilities.

• Help to strengthen existing initiatives as well as build new ones by executing on program design, content creation, product development, research and analysis, continuous improvement, and inclusion of best practices/knowledge.

• Support strong communications and relationship management across a range of internal and external partners and stakeholders, including practitioners, researchers, and youth; serve as a backbone coordinator for partner organizations with a focus on collaboration, engagement, and outcomes.

• Use data to continually evaluate the success of programs and initiatives based on aims and milestones.

• Support the development of high impact events, workshops, and meetings for a range of audiences, including logistical support.

• Assist with various writing and content creation such as communications, content and tool development, and grant writing.

Qualifications:

• Enthusiasm for Youth-Nex’s mission, values, and the power of youth

• Strong project management skills with demonstrated ability to manage self, team members, and stakeholders to desired outcomes and deadlines while identifying obstacles and ways to address

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of individuals and partners, including school teams, researchers, youth professionals, and youth

• Skilled communicator (written and oral) able to create content for and engage multiple audiences; some background in graphic design is a plus

• Self-motivated, flexible, and entrepreneurial

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree

• Experience: At least two years of experience

Preferred Requirements

• 5+ years of relevant experience.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in education or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.

• Experience as a practitioner in schools, particularly in the middle grades

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Anticipated Hiring Range: $60,000 to $70,000 (commensurate with qualifications) and includes UVA benefits.

Application Instructions

Please apply through Workday, and search for ‘Program & Outreach Associate, Youth-Nex". Complete an application online and attach a cover letter (addressed to Abby Gillespie) and a CV/resume. Submit all materials into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field, alternatively you can merge your materials together and submit as one. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile. Applications that are missing materials will not receive full consideration.

For questions about the position please contact Youth-Nex and for questions about the application process please contact Margaret Weeks.

Research staff are in restricted positions that are appointed annually, and continuation is dependent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. Review of applications will begin 10 days after posting and will remain open until filled.

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

Please visit the UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines webpage prior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirements and guidelines for employment at UVA.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.