Professional Mentor, Child Development​/Support

Professional Mentor – Friends of the Children Austin

Position Type:
Exempt, Full Time. Reports to Program Manager. Salary: $59,860.

Friends of the Children Austin is one of the fastest growing chapters of a 30+ year‑old national professional mentoring organization that empowers youth through relationships with professional mentors from kindergarten through high school graduation.

A Friend works intensively with eight (8) children as a positive adult role model to develop a caring, trusting, and sustained relationship with each child. The responsibilities include:

• Spend time with children one‑on‑one and in the classroom.
• Develop, maintain, and follow a Roadmap or Transition Plan for each child.
• Set realistic expectations and goals based on each child’s strengths, talents, abilities, and needs.
• Teach life skills and healthy habits.
• Develop a talent/skill/area of interest with each child to build confidence.
• Provide enrichment resources and activities, including cultural awareness, diversity, and community service opportunities.
• Help children acquire behavioral management skills, tolerance, respect for others, courtesy, and compassion.
• Develop positive relationships with families, teachers, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate progress of academic skills and learning.
• Model and promote good problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.
• Utilize organizational resources to meet each child’s needs.
• Maintain spending within budgetary guidelines.
• Complete and submit time summaries, activity journals, short term plans, expense reports, and evaluation materials accurately and in a timely manner.
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings and staff functions.
• Provide information and support to the development team and related activities as needed.
• Fulfill other responsibilities as required.

• Ability to relate to children and develop trusting relationships.
• Strong cross‑generational interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with children in varied capacities and settings.
• Maintain confidentiality and communicate appropriately within the workplace.
• Work independently with limited supervision.
• Team player.
• Manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively.
• Set goals and develop plans to meet those goals.
• Complete administrative tasks accurately and on time.
• Handle high mobility and driving demands safely.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; organizational and time‑management skills.
• Compassion, patience, and cultural competency for families/youth who have experienced trauma.
• Basic computer and keyboarding skills; proficiency with e‑mail and database systems. Familiarity with MS Outlook, One Drive, SharePoint preferred.
• Exercise good judgment independently.

• Transport children in personal vehicle within a 30‑mile radius; may involve up to 90 miles per day. IRS mileage rates will be reimbursed.
• Maintain a current driver’s license, good driving record, and vehicle insurance.
• Maintain First Aid/CPR certification.

This is a full‑time, exempt position with non‑traditional hours.

Typical schedule:

Tuesday‑Saturday during the school year;
Monday‑Friday during summer and breaks. Each Friend is expected to meet their assigned children for an average of four hours each week, with flexibility within Program guidelines.

• Mentoring experience with children facing systemic barriers.
• Three years of experience working or volunteering with children.

• A committed leadership team and opportunity to grow with a scaling nonprofit.
• Part of a dynamic national network with evidence‑based, unique model.
• Collaboration with passionate teammates.
• Respect for work‑life balance with scheduled recharge time.
• Comprehensive benefit package including three weeks of paid vacation, paid holidays, and paid sick leave.
• Opportunity to lead and impact children facing incredible odds.

Friends of the Children Austin is an equal opportunity employer committed to addressing discriminatory practices. The equal employment opportunity policy provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants. Hiring is based on qualifications for the job.

• Associate

• Full‑time

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• Non‑profit Organizations