United for Youth Network Manager

If you enjoy working in a collaborative, cross-sector environment, developing and implementing processes and systems, supporting partners, and providing space for youth leadership, then United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (UWABC) is where you want to be.  The Network Manager is part of the United for Youth (U4Y) team, serving in an integral role by facilitating cross-sector and community-wide collaboration in support of the priorities set by the Leadership Team and network to accomplish our bold community goal (BCG) that by 2035, ALL Asheville City and Buncombe County students graduate from high school ready and fully prepared to pursue their goals and dreams while holding true to UWABC’s long-term strategic vision.

Position responsible for U4Y strategic, cross-sector workgroup development and management, providing ongoing support to U4Y partners and  community stakeholders, and engaging in cross-departmental collaboration with other UWABC backbone staff.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Network Alignment

• Collaborate with United for Youth Senior Director to ensure ongoing coordination and engagement between the U4Y Leadership Team and workgroups (e.g., attending and supporting LT meetings, providing presentations, etc.)
• Work with cross-sector partners to align individual organizations with the activities of the workgroups
  • Continuously prioritize relationships between backbone and partners, and among partners, in all workgroup events, meetings, and activities
  • Support and connect organizations and individuals not in workgroups with the activities, intended outcomes, and measures of workgroup strategies
  • Provide troubleshooting and technical assistance for U4Y partners and workgroups members 

Network Development

• Design and drive a workgroup and partner recruitment process, in collaboration with Community Engagement team, that includes individuals and businesses while outlining specific roles, responsibilities, and goals of all relevant partners
• Lead Partnership Agreement revision and redevelopment process, including engagement with existing signed-on partners
• Ensure that the Partnership Agreement is kept up-to-date and aligned with current U4Y language and priorities of the U4Y Leadership Team and workgroups
• Lead the onboarding and orientation process for U4Y workgroup members and signed on partners
• Review existing partnership agreements on consistent basis with partners and update as needed

Network Engagement

• Collaborate with UWABC Community Engagement team on U4Y events; specifically, program design, partner coordination, and presenter recruitment
• Provide regular, meaningful networking opportunities that allow U4Y partners and workgroup members to build connective relationships, fostering trust and mutual support
• Develop and facilitate ongoing Network communications strategies that connect U4Y partners and informs community stakeholders
• Co-create learning opportunities for existing U4Y partners and the broader community to learn about and find a role within the framework, strategies, and impact of U4Y and its workgroups
• Actively participate in other groups’ community-based meetings, workgroups, and collaboratives

Network Accountability

• Leverage cross-departmental backbone supports to ensure effective implementation of strategic goals while developing and managing systems of accountability to monitor and report on Network progress
  • Collaborate with United for Youth Senior Director to monitor strategic timelines and progress and report on activities to U4Y Leadership Team
  • Collaborate with Data and Evaluation colleagues to ensure active and meaningful tracking of workgroup performance measures progress and connection to community-level indicators
  • Collaborate with Community Engagement colleagues to coordinate workgroup meetings and events and ensure broad community representation in each
  • Collaborate with Volunteer Engagement colleagues to ensure volunteers can meaningfully contribute to workgroup activities and strategies
  • Collaborate with Community Schools colleagues to foster school-based and youth representation in workgroup meetings and activities
  • Collaborate with Marketing and Communications colleagues to ensure UWABC stakeholders and the general public are informed of progress on U4Y workgroup activities and priorities and their impact on achieving the bold community goal.
• Use data to drive continuous improvement for partners, individual workgroups, and broader U4Y network

UWABC

• Collaborate with internal teams to support and expand strategies related to Youth Voice and Leadership across the organization (e.g., community investment committee, U4Y Leadership Team, UWABC Signature Events, etc.)
• Participate on internal teams and workgroups
• Support relevant organizational strategic goals and priorities

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are associated with the position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or Social Service field with at least 3 years of experience working in education, afterschool, social services, government or nonprofit settings, with at least 1 year leading (or directly supporting) cross-sector teams or comparable related experience and training        
• Demonstrated ability to work in a complex and collaborative environment with cross-sector teams and partners
• Strong attention to detail and ability to track and communicate deliverables 
• Commitment to the mission and guiding principles of UWABC and ability to model those principles

Technical Skills, Abilities and Other Requirements

• Proficient with software, including Google Suite (or similar programs) and strong ability to learn and use a variety of other platforms (e.g.Airtable, Asana)
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and use new skills
• Ability to review and analyze multiple organizational sets of data, both qualitative and quantitative
• Understanding of the public education system and youth service organizations
• Experience leading diverse, interagency teams and/or workgroups working toward a common goal
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish fact and draw valid conclusions 
• Ability to communicate (oral and written), in English
• Ability to support equity-centered goals for both student and system-level change
• Works well independently and on teams
• Comfort facilitating complex conversations both 1:1 and in groups of all sizes
• Holds self and other team members accountable for achieving results
• Demonstrated understanding and implementation of adaptive leadership skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively within co-owned and co-led leadership structures
• Experience and demonstrated skill in community and/or school-based equity movements
• Prior experience implementing community events

Nice to Have

• Valid North Carolina Driver’s License with a driving record that meets insurance requirements
• Multilingual abilities
• Understanding of Asheville and Buncombe County school systems, youth service organizations, and general community dynamics
• Experience with or ability to develop expertise in any of the following: collective impact, improvement science, systems thinking/practices, or Restorative Practices
• Prior experience working within a United Way or other institutional nonprofit that supports other organizations

Work Environment
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals who are differently abled to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to:

• Sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear
• Use finger and hand motion
• Must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 20 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus
• Moderate level of stress caused from tight deadlines or work focused on equity in education
• Moderate level of mental and/or visual fatigue and/or eyestrain may result from looking at a computer screen for extended periods of time.
• Regular work in the community 
• Occasional work outside of normal business hours
• Regular local travel is required
• Moderate office noise level

This position is exempt from overtime regulations. Hybrid work environment: a mix of office, remote, and community settings.  As part of our hybrid work policy, new employees are required to work from the UWABC office a minimum of 3 days per week for the first 90 days and then, the schedule can be modified based upon conversation with the supervisor.

Reports To:  U4Y Senior Director

Supervises:  0

Hours: 40/week 

Hiring Range and Benefits: $50,000-$53,000 annually plus full benefits, including paid vacation, sick and personal leave; employer contributions to 401(k), contributions to health, dental and vision insurance benefits and self-care fund, life and disability insurance, and coaching and support

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is an equal employment opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law