Program Facilitator - Delaware State University

Job Title: Program Facilitator - Delaware State University

Team: Innovation Team

Location: Hybrid in Newark, NJ (preferred) or Chicago, IL

Employment Type: Full-time

FLSA Classification: Non-exempt

Start Date: ASAP 

About Braven

Braven is a career-accelerating program that prepares promising young people—many of whom are people of color, from low income backgrounds, or the first in their families to attend college—to secure a strong first opportunity after college graduation. 

We work with higher education and employer partners to offer a life-changing experience that begins with a semester-long course for college students followed by support that lasts through graduation.  

Together, we are helping to open up access to the American Promise, empowering a generation of leaders who mirror the diversity of our country.

To learn more, take a look at Braven’s Impact Report and Jobs Report.

About the Role

In order to achieve its ambition of serving 80,000-100,000 Fellows over the next decade, Braven is hiring a Program Facilitator to ensure the impeccable delivery of the Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator course (Accelerator) at Delaware State University (DSU).

The Program Facilitator will have the unique opportunity to pilot a new version of one of Braven’s most critical roles. This role will be a central figure in shaping how Braven continues to transform as it continues to scale and serve more Fellows.

This role will be a member of the Innovation Team and report to the Director, Program Success - DSU.

What You’ll Do

Facilitation of the Accelerator (35%)

• Deliver the Accelerator course for up to three sections per semester, typically during the evening. The course runs in both the fall and spring semesters and lasts approximately 14 weeks.
• Provide dynamic and inclusive instruction using an established and research-backed curriculum that caters to a variety of learning styles.
• Foster a collaborative and motivating learning environment, leveraging a range of facilitation techniques to ensure active Fellow participation and engagement.
• Contextualize high-quality course materials and resources in line with the needs of the higher education partner and the broader organizational curriculum strategy.
• Within specific parameters, customize curriculum where appropriate to account for student needs and interests.
• Execute up to 3 in-person Learning Labs (LLs) each semester for each section, allowing Fellows and Leadership Coaches (LCs, volunteer mentors) to meet face-to-face and strengthen relationships. 

Collaboration for Fellow Success (35%)

• Work closely with the Director, Program Success to identify Fellows who may be at risk or in need of additional assistance.
• Implement lower-stakes student support interventions and follow-up to encourage consistent Fellow engagement and success.
• Provide base-level direction and live support for LCs to ensure a strong Fellow course experience. 

Fellow Support & Engagement (25%)

• Fellow Attendance Tracking
• Meticulously monitor and record Fellow attendance for each course section.
• Generate reports and insights on attendance patterns to inform program strategies and individual interventions as needed.
• Community Building & Fellow Support
• Build relationships and community with Fellows and LCs.
• Actively listen and provide feedback, while also connecting Fellows to additional resources where necessary.
• Solicit feedback on the course from Fellows, LCs, and others.
• Serve as the point of contact of the Accelerator, problem-solving with Fellows who have any issues that come up (course, content, life, etc.).

Team Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing (5%)

• Actively engage with cross-functional teams to capture and document best practices, innovative strategies, and critical insights.
• Establish a repository of shared knowledge that will inform and refine this team’s growth strategy and enable Braven to grow its impact.

• Collaborate with other Program Facilitators and Program Managers to problem-solve, perform peer observations, and contribute to a community of learning to promote best practices across sites.

• Proactively identify role and team development opportunities by assessing data, Fellow and volunteer feedback, and other performance metrics and facilitate a culture of continuous learning.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent presentation skills and comfort engaging a range of audiences and learners
• Natural networker who interacts comfortably and authentically with people who have a range of identities, personalities, and ways of operating
• Ability to build relationships with others, understand the perspectives of others, and exhibit self-awareness of one’s impact on others
• Impeccable written and verbal communication skills and ability to tailor messages for the appropriate audience
• Excitement for and success at coaching college students of varying profiles and ages
• Excellent organizational skills and a desire to build analytical skills
• Ability to stay on top of responsibilities, work on different projects simultaneously and create contingency plans as needed
• Desire to join a new and evolving team and take on a steep learning curve and new professional challenge
• Experience and comfort with, or ability to quickly learn, Zoom, Slack, G Suite, Excel, and Tableau. 
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion
• Exemplification of Braven’s core values
• Experience that has informed your belief in Braven’s mission and have prepared you to work with, or for, Braven’s student Fellow population

Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the preferred qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

Work Demands

• Ability to work in-person in Newark, NJ or Chicago, IL at least 3 days per week
• Travel up to 3 times per semester to DSU, and up to 3 times per year for Braven team gatherings
• Ability to consistently work an adjusted schedule to support the facilitation of weekly programming up to 3 evenings per week during the Fall and Spring semesters (generally Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings) and 1 weekend per semester

Additional Requirements

• Authorized to work in the U.S.

• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of such by the date of hire. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons.

Application & Interview Process

While the interview process varies slightly, the general process will be:

• Phone screen with Talent Team member
• Performance Task & Interview with Hiring Manager
• Panel Interview with Key Partners
• Reference Checks

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position, which depends on prior work experience and our assessment of your demonstrated fit for the role, will likely be between $46,800-$58,500 in Chicago and $51,600-$64,400 in Newark. This is based on a 50-hour work week at an hourly rate. This is a full-time regular, non-exempt, and benefits-eligible position where you will be working at 100% capacity.

Braven offers competitive base salaries based on the midpoint of the market among not-for-profit organizations of similar size, with opportunities for salary growth over time. We believe in compensating staff members fairly in relation to each other, their qualifications, and their impact on behalf of the organization, and take internal and external equity seriously. Given our commitment to equity, Braven does not negotiate salary offers; instead, each salary offer is determined carefully using external and internal benchmarking. You will have an opportunity to discuss salary in more detail after you begin the application process.

Braven also provides competitive, comprehensive benefits, recognition, and career development. While Braven reserves the right to change benefits at any time, current benefits include: 

• Unlimited vacation time in addition to org-wide holidays and week-long shutdowns in July and the end of the calendar year (this is a minimum of 19 days per year)
• Match of your 401K contribution up to 5% of your base annual salary, starting your first full month
• Coverage of 85% of health insurance premium for employee and dependents
• A one-month paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff

Location

We gather in the office at least 3 days per week (on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) and often work remotely 2 days per week (although certain commitments might adjust that from time to time). Therefore, this role requires teammates to live within commuting distance of one of our hubs: Atlanta, Chicago, Newark, or New York City. We believe in the magic, connection, and collaboration that happens when people work together face-to-face and we believe in giving people flexibility to focus, balance personal priorities, and save themselves two commutes per week.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Braven, we are committed to attracting, engaging, developing, and retaining a diverse team. Braven operates in the context of our American culture, against the backdrop of systemic racism and oppression of marginalized people since our country’s founding. We are committed to assembling leaders at our organization who have emerged from everywhere, with a particular emphasis on those who share the racial and income backgrounds of our Fellows, and creating an inclusive culture that allows all teammates, of all experiences and identities, to thrive.  

Braven is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.  We encourage talented individuals of all backgrounds to apply.