The Opportunity
The Associate Director of Career Pathways is responsible for overseeing programming for the Financial Services & Business (FSB) pathway. The role collaborates with partners and key stakeholders to conceive, identify, and implement innovative initiatives aimed at empowering students to develop the necessary acumen and competencies to succeed in the FSB pathway including: financial awareness, business fundamentals, communication skills, critical thinking, and digital literacy.
You’ll help us achieve:
- The development and build out of the FSB pathway, focusing on the five key pathway components: curriculum, career advising, experiential programming, internship, and partnerships
- Student preparation for high quality postsecondary and employment opportunities leading them towards life sustaining wages
What You’ll Do
- Leverage school visits, community events and targeted marketing to recruit and maintain a robust, and diverse pipeline of students with an interest in financial services and business.
- Developing and organizing experiential learning opportunities including career panels, industry visits and job shadowing to enhance student awareness and understanding of the financial services and business industries.
- Designing and implementing workshops that support the development of high school and college students' business acumen and skill development.
- Providing group and individual coaching and advising to high school and college students to deepen and strengthen their connection and preparation for roles in the financial services and business pathway.
- Managing and organizing internship opportunities for high school and college students, including identifying potential internship sites, coordinating with employers, matching students with appropriate placements, facilitating the application process, and providing ongoing support and monitoring to ensure a valuable and educational experience for both students and host organizations.
- Conducting regular meetings with high school coordinators at partner high schools with embedded pathway programming to review and update program plans, collaborate and strategize for upcoming activities and events, and work through any programmatic roadblocks or challenges.
- Conducting bi-monthly meetings with the FSB advisory council to gain feedback on program development and strategize towards program improvements.
- Communicating regularly with pathway partners to connect students with relevant career development opportunities, share program progress, and solicit participation in pathway and organizational events.
- Collaborating with the dual enrollment team to help more FSB students gain access to advanced educational opportunities, college credits, and a smoother transition to higher education.
- Consulting with the career team Managing Director to work through any programming challenges and ensure programming implementation alignment with established organizational priorities and team metrics.
- Participating in ongoing professional development to stay informed about trends and best practices in career development, workforce training, and educational equity, incorporating new knowledge into program design and implementation.
- Collecting and analyzing data to drive program evaluation, enhance quality, and inform development initiatives, ensuring evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Assisting with the preparation and submission of reports on program activities, outcomes, and impact to the leadership team, stakeholders, and funders.
What You’ll Bring
- Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.
- Five years of work experience, with a minimum of 2 years in related role.
- Relevant experience in the financial services or business sector, with a moderate understanding of business practices.
- Experience in program management, career services, or a related field.
- Proven track record of developing and managing career readiness and internship programs, particularly for high school and first-generation college students.
- Experience working with marginalized communities and a deep understanding of the challenges they face in accessing career opportunities.
In addition to your experience, expertise and strengths, you must meet PA State background check requirements [PA Criminal, PA Child Abuse and FBI Fingerprint Check] at hire and every five years thereafter. You’ll also need to adhere to COVID safety guidelines as required by the Department of Human Services and/or the School District of Philadelphia.
Compensation & 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 $60,000 - $70,000. Heights offers competitive base salaries based on the Philadelphia 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. You will have an opportunity to discuss salary in more detail after you begin the application process.
Heights offers a full benefits package designed to support employee wellness. This includes:
- Generous medical, dental & vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents, which cover 90% of costs for employee coverage
- Paid time off including 17 personal days, 6 sick days, 12 federal holidays and 2 floating holidays, and two (2) week-long office closures, one at the end of the calendar year and another in spring.
- Twelve (12) weeks of paid parental leave to support new parents
- Provision of a technology stipend to offset internet and cell phone costs
- Short and long-term disability coverage
- Monthly professional development days and resources for targeted professional development opportunities
- 401(K)-retirement savings plan with an employer contribution of 5% of annual salary
Work Arrangements
Heights Philadelphia currently maintains a hybrid work environment where staff work from home, in our Center City office, and on-site with school partners, as determined by the staff member's or team’s responsibilities. We also prioritize time together as an organization - living in our value of succeeding together. All office-based Heights employees spend Wednesdays in-office in Center City, building community at our monthly staff professional development days and via our virtual staff meetings.