Job Details

POSITION TITLE: Regional Program Specialist

REPORTS TO: Director of Well-Being Programs

SALARY: $68,000 - $85,000 based on level of experience, language skills, and regional knowledge

HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Full-time, exempt position. 
• Flexible schedule to accommodate evening or weekend work. 
• Primary focus in Monterey County while supporting Santa Cruz County.
• Starting salary is $68,000-$75,000 plus benefits.
• Potential to move into a management position 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: To be considered you must send a short and specific cover letter and resume to careers@diversitycenter.org. Applications without cover letters will not be considered. Cover letters should be succinctly written and address your level of experience in the following areas: 

• LGBTQ+ community
• Youth programming and curriculum
• Facilitation and training
• Small and large event planning
• Address any limitations in commuting to either Monterey or Santa Cruz Counties.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Working with the Rainbow Connections team, provide hands-on delivery of youth program design, promotion, implementation and evaluation. Additional responsibilities include training/education facilitation, event management, and community outreach. The focus is concentrated on elementary through high schools organizing school clubs and community events to promote LGBTQ+ youth empowerment and visibility while connecting students and families to other youth serving organizations and resources. The goal of this position is to work towards creating environments of safety, connection and belonging for LGBTQ+ youth, parents and administration and to serve as a resource for the community on best practices, national trends and needs pertaining to identity development. Successful candidates must have the ability and maturity to work intergenerational and multicultural to effectively bridge different opinions and beliefs. This position requires someone with 3-5 years of full-time professional work experience with transferable skills.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

All staff work interconnectedly and collaboratively through a distributed leadership model where individuals are encouraged to manage their own projects. Our culture is to show up, work hard and make a big a impact while maintaining the values of workplace well-being. Employees have this shared expectation of one another and rely on each other`s full contribution and engagement. Pre-planning and organization along with transparency and communication are the cornerstones of successful integration into the team. 

Four key areas of responsibility include:

Program Implementation 

• Identify and deliver an annual calendar of programs, services, and events as outlined in our stated interventions and grant deliverables. 
• Create and execute a work plan which includes milestones, goals, outcomes and necessary organizational collaborations. 
• Facilitate Social Emotional Learning (SEL) workshops, events and gatherings to promote LGBTQ+ youth and family well-being, empowerment and visibility.
• Provide advisory oversight to student leadership groups.
• Record and report program activities including required data collection and collection of narrative success stories that demonstrate progress toward strategic program goals and interventions.
• Conduct surveys and periodic performance evaluations to drive program improvement. 
• Cultivate community engagement and volunteer opportunities in program delivery and event services. Assist with volunteer recruitment, training and assignments. 
• Implement awareness, marketing, and outreach strategies to expand program participation and authentic engagement with targeted populations.

Training and Education

• Implement LGBTQ+ culturally relevant SEL training that align with our goals. 
• Facilitate anti-bullying and LGBTQ+ inclusion trainings (Welcoming Schools) according to best practices.
• Provide post-training consultation to school sites including post module checklists, implementation of lesson plans, and action items.
• Educate and distribute information for parents, educators and service providers skill-building (Family Acceptance Project).

Relationship Management & Community Outreach 

• Build relationships with LGBTQ+ school clubs in an effort to strengthen effectiveness. 
  • Support advisors and offer curriculum and resources. 
  • Provide consultation to districts and school sites exploring club start up.  
  • Provide technical assistance and support in the implementation of LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum, content, and resource sharing.
  • Organize and co-host larger regional GSA networking events.
• Assist with school culture and cultural competency of administrators.
• Build collaborative working relationships with local LGBTQ+ serving organizations and allies. 
• Serve as an organization representative at related community events and activities. 
• Partner with and provide resources to schools and youth serving agencies seeking support with LGBTQ cultural literacy, advocacy, and inclusive environments.
• Participate in community events to inform and distribute marketing materials and resources. 

QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:

This position will focus on developing services in Monterey County so ingenuity, self-motivation and persistence is required. The position calls for an individual that have solid organizational skills and proven competency in planning and executing all elements of the job. Only candidates with a clear track record of professional youth programming, training and facilitation, event planning and community engagement experience will be considered. In-depth LGBTQ+ specific knowledge will be part of onboarding & ongoing training but candidates should have some understanding of LGBTQ+ issues.

Additional qualifications include:

• A proven commitment to The Diversity Center`s LGBTQ+ mission and values, especially culturally sensitivity and gender awareness. 
• Direct experience independently developing and implementing evidence-based programs for youth. 
• History of working with school systems, educators, and/or caregivers/parents.
• Experience developing and delivering training and educational workshops for various age levels.
• History of developing community partnerships working towards a common goal. 
• Understanding of the importance of working with grant deliverables and data collection.
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to develop and maintain professional relationships with employee teammates, volunteers, donors, board members, and community stakeholders. 
• Self-starter, able to work independently to prioritize overlapping projects to meet deadlines. 
• General working knowledge of Google Workspace; including but not limited to: Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Forms and Presentation. Canva is also frequently used.
• Excellent verbal, and written communication skills; public speaking, facilitation, and coalition building capabilities. 

SALARY RANGE CONSIDERATION:

The position is budgeted for $68,000-$75,000. However, possessing some of the following skills could qualify for higher salary.

• Former experience managing people in a professional setting.
• More than 5 years of professional experience and a history employment longevity 
• Experience working with diverse populations, including transgender individuals, queer people of color, and non-native English speakers. 
• English/Spanish bilingual proficiency.
• Higher degree in social work, mental health, human services, education, nonprofit management or other relevant fields. 
• History of working with Monterey County School Districts.

BENEFIT HIGHLIGHTS:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• Generous 22-28 days PTO 
• 10 paid holidays
• Paid week (40 hours) off for winter break
• Retirement plan with match after 1 year 
• Technology and mileage reimbursement policy

This position will need presence in both Monterey and Santa Cruz  communities. Cadence in Monterey and/or Santa Cruz office to be negotiated with supervisor but physical presence with colleagues, partners and community in Monterey will be required a majority of the time. Schedule requires flexibility and is subject to change based on the needs. Reliable transportation and an ability to travel regionally in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties is required. Successful candidates must pass a criminal background check.

ORGANIZATION MISSION: 

The Diversity Center inspires and advocates for the LGBTQ+ people of Santa Cruz and Monterey counties by providing critical services, spaces, education, and events that enhance our community's well-being allowing individuals to build resiliency and thrive.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND EQUITY:

The Diversity Center strives to be a workplace that is representative of the community we serve. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from all individuals including LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) people; people of all genders and gender expressions; Black, Brown and Indigenous People; People of Color; people living with HIV, and people with disabilities.