Career Development Manager

DREAM; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Medical Plans

Dental and Vision Plans

Disability Benefits

Life Insurance

Parental Leave (up to 12 weeks)

Commuter Benefits (pre-tax)

401(k) with employer matching

Professional Development Fund

Referral Bonuses

Job summary

DREAM seeks a dynamic Career Development Manager to lead and scale its career programs for alumni and students. Reporting to the Director of College & Career Success, you will drive career services, internships, and partnerships with schools and corporate partners in East Harlem and the Bronx.

The role demands strategic leadership, data-driven planning, and collaboration across teams to expand DREAM’s impact in preparing youth for postsecondary success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree, required.
• 4+ years working with young adults, required.
• Experience facilitating career programming, required.
• Database management skills (Salesforce), required.
• Event planning experience, preferred.
• Experience managing a team and volunteers, a plus.
• Experience working in corporate settings, a plus.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel (within NY), including evenings/weekends.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead career-enhancing programming (Legends Career Conference, networking events, workshops, career fairs).
• Collaborate with Advancement to cultivate career partnerships with corporate partners and universities.
• Lead and grow internship programming; manage internal program and external opportunities.
• Co-lead high school career exposure with the Dean of Student Life; summer employment program.
• Coordinate with Alumni Engagement to connect alumni to opportunities (teaching fellowships, full-time roles).
• Own and implement systems to track career exploration, development, and employment; manage Salesforce usage.

Skills

Youth program leadership

Career coaching

Partnership development

Event planning

Team and volunteer management

Strong communication

Travel within NY

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Originallyfounded in 1991as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through a network of seven PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. Through our commitment to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness, we create lifelong learners who are equipped to fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom. We dream big, as well, with an aggressive five-year plan to expand to serve 3,500 students across seven schools—growing our organization’s impact and leveling the playing field for all children. To learn more, visit wearedream.org.

DREAM is seeking a dynamic individual to serve as a Career Development Manager. Reporting to the Director of College & Career Success, the ideal candidate is a strategic leader with strong knowledge of the postsecondary success landscape and a deep commitment to advancing career opportunities for students and alumni from underserved communities. This employee will play a key role in innovating and leading the long-term planning and growth of DREAM’s career programs for its alumni, and by ensuring program excellence as the program scales to serve nearly 1,000 students over the next 10 years.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead career-enhancing programming (including DREAM’s annual Legends Career Conference, networking events, professional development workshops, career fairs, etc.) and career development services (job search support, networking, career coaching, and leadership development);

• Collaborate with DREAM’s Advancement team and other key stakeholders to cultivate and manage career partnerships through ongoing communication and engagement with corporate partners, university career centers, and organizations supporting career and technical education (CTE) pathways.;

• Lead and grow DREAM’s internship programming, including managing the internal program and cultivating external opportunities for students and alumni;

• Co-lead high school career exposure opportunities with the Dean of Student Life, including office visits and the summer employment program;

• Coordinate with the Alumni Engagement Manager to connect alumni to internal career opportunities such as teaching fellowships and full-time positions;

• Own and implement systems to organize and manage career exploration, development, and employment opportunities for DREAM students and alumni; track participant activities and outcomes in Salesforce; and ensure the team consistently uses these systems;

• Equip Legends counselors to provide consistent career exploration and development support by developing resources such as resume templates, interview preparation guides, and career planning tools, and providing targeted support to individuals with the greatest needs.

Other responsibilities related to the Legends team as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree, required;

• 4+ years working with young adults (adolescents and early career professionals), required;

• Experience facilitating career programming, required;

• Database management skills (e.g. Salesforce), required;

• Event planning experience, preferred;

• Experience managing a team and volunteers, a plus;

• Experience working in corporate settings, a plus;

• Strong organizational and time-management skills;

• Strong written and verbal communication skills;

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a team and across teams

• Excellent interpersonal skills;

• Willingness to travel (typically within NY), including for occasional weekend and evening work;

• Deep commitment to DREAM’s mission, values, and graduate vision, with a strong belief in the power of families as partners and leaders.

Working Expectations

• Start Date: Immediate
• 4 days in person & Fridays remote
• Hours vary seasonally depending on afterschool and summer programming, with occasional evenings and weekends, as needed.

Benefits and Paid Time Off

We offer comprehensive benefits including:

• Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
• The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs;
• Dental and vision plans;
• Disability benefits;
• Life insurance;
• Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave;
• Flexible spending account options;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
• Fitness and entertainment discounts;
• A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
• A 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching up to 4% after one year of employment;
• Access to a professional development fund;
• Referral bonuses;
• All full-time Network Support employees are eligible for approximately 48 days off throughout the year including holidays, sick days, personal days and summer Fridays;
• Benefits are subject to change.

Compensation

• DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience with the potential for an annual performance-based increase. The incoming salary range for this position is $80,000 to $95,000 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. All staff are eligible for annual performance-based increases. Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At DREAM, diversity, equity, and inclusion are a matter of mission.

From our schools to our playing fields, DREAM is committed to building a team where each individual can bring their full identity and experience to work because representation matters—it enriches our team culture, enhances our ability to innovate, and strengthens our impact in and out of the classroom. DREAM engages staff that represent and appreciate the diversity of our majority Black and Hispanic student body, while working to ensure that our practices are equitable, welcoming, and productive. We are dedicated to creating a world where youth, especially youth of color, have permission to dream—along with the tools and opportunities to make their dreams reality.

Come dream with us.

DREAM Maxims

All Kids Can. This Kid Can.

DREAM is Family.

Fun is a Serious Value.

Teamwork Makes the DREAM Work.

Fail. Persist. Exceed.

DREAM Big.

Applying to DREAM

We know applying for a new job can be a daunting process. In addition, studies have shown that historically underrepresented individuals often only apply to roles if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage all applications! You may be just the person we need.

DREAM provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. If accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact your recruiter.