Mentoring Specialist

For over 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan (Bigs) has developed and supported
one-to-one mentoring relationships for more than 12,600 children in our five-county region (Antrim,
Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse and Kalkaska). Through our commitment to quality and innovation,
our team develops, monitors and sustains caring and supportive, life-changing relationships between adult
volunteers (Bigs) and youth (Littles). Our passion for our work has a direct and lasting impact on the lives of
our youth and the adults who mentor them. The Bigs’ Team fosters a culture of appreciation,
encouragement and positivity. We focus on making an impact, respecting that we are people first,
providing opportunities for growth with grace, and building healthy relationships with each other and for
youth in our community.

Mentoring Specialist

Bigs is looking for individuals who thrive in a growing organization dedicated to positively impacting
youth through high quality mentoring relationships. The Mentoring Specialist provides leadership and
guidance to volunteer mentors, parents and youth ages six through adolescence to help empower and
inspire them to reach their full, inherent potential. This position is located in Traverse City and reports to
the Director of Mentoring with primary responsibilities including creating and supporting Bigs’ matches to
ensure child safety, positive outcomes, healthy and satisfying relationships, and a strong sense of affiliation
with Bigs.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Relations
• Responds to all calls and inquiries in a timely manner from potential volunteers and parents and
provides appropriate information about program and enrollment.
• Maintains contact with potential volunteers through enrollment process.

Recruitment
• Works collaboratively with the team in ongoing and robust child and volunteer recruitment plans,
including the delivery of program presentations.
• Suggests and develops creative new ways for recruitment.
• Identifies potential new business partners to recruit volunteers/discuss mentoring opportunities.
• Attends and supports agency program and fundraising events, as appropriate and requested.

Enrollment & Match Support Coordination
• Provides intake information to potential volunteers and families and evaluates eligibility according
to agency policies.
• Assesses whether a potential volunteer is suitable for the program by facilitating reference checks,
interviews, assessments and home visits with volunteer applicants. Provides any concerns to Director of Mentoring that might influence eligibility or acceptance into the program.
• Develops matches via thoughtful consideration of positive relationship potential and facilitates
match meetings.
• Continually assesses match relationships through appropriate supervision contact with all parties
according to agency and BBBSA Standards of Practice with the focus on: child safety, match
relationship development, positive youth development and volunteer satisfaction. Ensures real
and/or potential problems and/or barriers are identified and addressed and resolved as early as
possible.
• Addresses and provides for individual training, resources and solution-focused strategies for each
match participant to ensure a positive youth development experience for the child, and successful
and satisfying experience for the volunteer and parent.
• Ensures any match issue(s) requiring additional leadership, guidance or support are brought to the
attention of the Director of Mentoring.
• Maintain up-to-date, accurate and detailed documentation and database records of all interactions,
according to Big Brothers Big Sisters standards.
• Develops, promotes and implements group match activities in order to support ongoing volunteer
involvement with the child and agency. Keeps volunteers, parents and children apprised of
opportunities to participate in educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities available to
them as part of the Bigs’ program.
• Assesses reasons for match closure; conducts match closure procedures and potential re-match
opportunities.
• Identifies and promotes re-engagement of volunteer mentors (where appropriate) whether as Bigs,
potential board or committee members, and/or donors.

Communications

• Immediately reports all suspected violations of child protection laws, Agency policies and BBBSA
standards to the Director of Mentoring and Executive Director (as appropriate).
• Review/discuss issues with Director of Mentoring, keeping Director abreast of critical issues as they
arise and utilizing effective time-management strategies for non-urgent matters.
• Provides necessary program data and anecdotal information to the Director of Mentoring for
reports and/or community, marketing materials, and/or any local or national surveys.
• Maintains relationships with cooperating agencies and educational institutions.
• Speaks publicly to promote the program, activities and fundraising events.
• Ensures compliance with agency communications policies.

Qualifications

Relevant youth-serving experience and a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year university and/or
related social services experience of at least two years. Proficiency in Microsoft Office with an emphasis on
Word and Excel, as well as Google and the ability to adapt to other database programs. Must have and
maintain a valid US driver’s license along with an exemplary driving record. Employment is contingent upon
the results of a comprehensive background check, reference checks and driving record check.

Ideal Candidate

• Youth-serving experience with a passion for supporting children and families through strengthbased
strategies.
• Familiarity with the educational and social service systems and child protection practices and laws.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage a multitude of tasks
with a strong attention to detail and follow through.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills reflecting outstanding customer service.
• Ability to think critically, effectively provide responsive coaching, and draw solid conclusions based
on information provided.
• Comfortable engaging in challenging conversations with excellent conflict management and
interpersonal skills and the ability to problem-solve social and emotional situations.
• Group presentation skills and the ability to enthusiastically advocate and promote the mission of
Bigs.
• Consistent desire to seek out new and more effective methods to support programming.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced environment, working both independently and as a team member, and
successfully manage shifting priorities and responsibilities.
• Relate effectively with diverse groups of people from varied social and economic segments of the
region.
• Able to work evening and weekend hours and manage a flexible schedule.

Compensation and Benefits

The annual salary is $50,000. Bigs works hard to provide competitive benefits to our team, including health,
dental and life insurance plans, paid time off and holiday schedule, retirement plan, mileage reimbursement,
and a cell phone.

To Apply

If this sounds like the position and organization for you, please submit a cover letter and resume to Krista
Goldman, Director of Mentoring at krista.goldman@bigsupnorth.org with “Mentoring Specialist” in the
subject line.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by
individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities
and required skills. Contents may be subject to change to meet the needs of Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Northwestern Michigan.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR IMPACT AT BIGSUPNORTH.ORG