Program Specialist [High School Leadership Program]

Program Specialist for the High School Leadership Program

Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Mexico is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth through mentorship. We believe that every child deserves a champion, and our programs connect caring adults and teen mentors with young people to ignite their potential. Our programs are at the heart of this mission, creating meaningful relationships in schools and community spaces.

The Program Specialist for the High School Leadership Program leads the development and implementation of school-based programming, provides ongoing match support, and ensures all High School Leadership Program (HSLP) and emerging initiatives align with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Service Delivery Model.

The position is salaried, full-time. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Mexico, we offer a thoughtful benefits package that includes Paid Time Off (PTO), paid federal holidays, health, dental, and vision insurance, along with 401(k) matching.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Development & Partnership Management

• Strengthen and expand relationships with school partners to support the High School Leadership Program (HSLP). Develop and maintain MOUs, clarify roles and responsibilities, and implement structured communication plans to ensure consistent, high-quality collaboration.
• Maintain a portfolio of key stakeholder relationshipsincluding school administrators, funders, mentor advocates, and community partnersto support program sustainability and growth.
• Build on BBBS Service Delivery Model (SDM) and national best practices to establish and enhance school-based programming. Collaborate with agency leadership to set monthly and quarterly strategies, benchmarks, and performance goals.
• Achieve annual program objectives related to match support, billable hours, classroom management, curriculum delivery, and customer relations.

Curriculum Planning & Program Delivery

• Coordinate and implement the curriculum for the HSLP, including structured activities, youth development plans, and training materials for mentors and mentees.
• Deliver high-quality programming aligned with BBBS Standards of Practice and SDM, ensuring Gold Standard excellence across all program components.
• Facilitate classroom sessions, group activities, and on-site programming that support match engagement, youth development, and relationship-building.

Match Support, Enrollment & Youth Development

• Complete the enrollment process for mentors and mentees, including interviewing potential Bigs and Littles to assess strengths, needs, interests, and match preferences.
• Make thoughtful, tailored match decisions for matches.
• Provide ongoing coaching and support to Bigs, Littles, and parents/guardians to foster safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate mentoring relationships.
• Apply strong child safety and risk management practices throughout all aspects of service delivery.
• Identify match challenges early and collaborate with supervisors to intervene, coach, and resolve concerns.

Quality Assurance, Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate, timely, and high-quality documentation in Matchforce and other case management systems, including case notes, assessments, match engagement hours, and required surveys.
• Conduct timely match closures, reassessments, and compliance checks to ensure program fidelity.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Professional program agency staff must have a high school diploma/GED and meet one of the following criteria:
• A documented bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field deemed appropriate by the agency, or be within six months of degree completion
• A documented associate degree or two years of higher education from an accredited institution in a relevant field, plus two years of related work experience (e.g., social work, counseling, child development)
• Four years of relevant work experience in related fields as defined by the agency

Additional Requirements:

• Strong communication and confidentiality skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and standard office equipment
• Valid NM driver's license, insurance, and access to personal vehicle
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with both youth and adult populations
• Familiarity with New Mexico's cultural and economic landscape
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)