Match Support Specialist

College Mentoring Experience Inc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 20,000 - 24,000; Part time

Job summary

College Mentoring Experience Inc is seeking a part-time Match Support Specialist in Chicago, Illinois. In this role, you will provide essential support for mentoring matches, ensuring child safety and positive impacts on youth development. Responsibilities include assessing relationships between mentors and mentees, facilitating training needs, and collecting progress data. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in a related field and experience in mentoring programs. A valid driver’s license is required, and familiarity with Microsoft products is a plus.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in mentoring programs or educational support initiatives.
• High level of expertise in child safety and risk management.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.

Responsibilities

• Assess the match relationship focusing on child safety and mentor satisfaction.
• Develop strategic interventions for match relationships needing support.
• Conduct exit interviews to assess reasons for match closure.

Skills

Interpersonal and collaborative skills

Organizational and project management skills

Critical thinking

Ability to lead high-performing teams

Advanced Microsoft Office skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, social work, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Teams

MentorCore (CRM)

Job description

Match Support Specialist (MSS) (25 hours per week, $21 per hour) Part-time Contractor

College Mentoring Experience Match Support Specialist primary function is to provide match support to ensure child safety, positive impacts for youth, constructive and satisfying relationships between children and volunteer mentors, and a strong sense of affiliation with the organization on the part of mentors. The Match Support Specialist may be asked to perform duties within all forms of other organization programming. The Match Support Specialist reports directly to the Executive Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES ARE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Continually assess the match relationship focusing on: child safety, match relationship development, positive youth development, and mentor satisfaction.
• Assess and provide for individual training needs, information, and support needs for each match participant to assure a positive youth development experience for the child, and successful and satisfying experience for the mentor.
• Ensure high-level expertise in applying child safety and risk management knowledge, policies, and procedures throughout all aspects of job function.
• Develop strategic interventions to identify and strengthen match relationships that require extra support for continued growth.
• Develop, promote, and implement individual and group match activities to support ongoing mentor involvement with the child and organization affiliation through individualized recognition, annual events, and reengagement strategies.
• Effectively utilize surveys to assess match impact on youth development.
• Conduct exit interviews with all parties at match closure. Assess reasons for match closure and reenrollment potential. When a match terminates prematurely or unexpectedly, refer exit interview to supervisor for third‑party assessment.
• Share with development and/or marketing staff potential partnership relationships as discovered through mentors’ and parents’ employers and affiliations.
• Identify and promote re‑engagement of mentors in other mentoring capacities.
• To ensure quality services and measurable outcomes, maintain accurate and timely records for each match according to standards and utilize technology to report, synthesize, and analyze data.
• Retrieve mentees’ quarter and semester grades from schools, enter data, document any progress or digression into MentorCore (CRM), providing quarterly reports.
• Participate in CME events, workshops in the community; some events, workshops will be held in the evening and/or on weekends.
• Consult with other service delivery staff and/or supervisor as appropriate.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Organizational and project management skills.
• Knowledge of best practices in mentoring and student support services.
• Other assigned tasks as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY:

• Ability to stay abreast of changing trends and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead high‑performing teams.
• Critical thinking and ability to use good judgment to solve problems.
• Proven ability to use data and analytics to tell a story and influence change.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to be flexible and responsive in managing multiple projects in a fast‑paced environment.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft products (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Forms, and Teams).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

While performing the duties of this position, the contractor may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard.

Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision requirements due to computer work.

Light to moderate lifting may be required.

Regular, predictable attendance is required.

COMPETENCIES:

• Leadership - Guide and inspire team members to achieve and exceed organization and program goals while fostering loyalty and growth.
• Program Success - Build strong relationships with youth, and families, understanding their needs and ensuring their success with our platform. Promote increased adoption and expansion of our processes across the organization.
• Continuous Improvement - Advocate for and implement a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the team. Drive initiatives that improve satisfaction and team efficiency.
• Interpersonal Impact - Communicate and influence effectively, using language appropriate to the situation and audience. Openly share information and create an inclusive work environment by seeking input, listening, and demonstrating respect for others.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration - Collaborate with staff to align organization goals and effectively address conflict and other barriers to effective teamwork.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, social work, or a related field is required.
• Previous experience in mentoring programs, non‑profit organizations, or related educational support initiatives.
• High level of expertise in child safety and risk management.
• Must be able to successfully pass state and federal background checks.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, and access to reliable transportation.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

For more information about College Mentoring Experience, please visit www.collegementoringexperience.org.

College Mentoring Experience does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, medical status, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or any legally protected status. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits and training.

American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case‑by‑case basis.

This organization reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.