MENTOR Indiana Director

Indiana Youth Institute; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) seeks a MENTOR Indiana Director to advance the initiative’s mission, lead program priorities, training, and engagement across Indiana. This role directs operational leadership and ensures high-quality mentoring services statewide.

The Director will build capacity among mentoring organizations, develop evidence-based practices, and strengthen partnerships with schools, funders, and public partners, while ensuring inclusive collaboration and program maturity.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or commensurate experience required.
• 5–7 years of related mentoring or youth services experience preferred.
• Ability to travel within Indiana required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage MENTOR Indiana activities, ensuring evidence-based mentoring guides all work.
• Provide training, technical assistance, and resources to mentoring programs statewide.
• Cultivate and maintain strong partnerships with stakeholders, including schools, community orgs, government agencies, funders.
• Represent the project at meetings and events to build relationships and promote collaboration.
• Ensure systems and operations are strong to support partnerships and growth.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Project management

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Collaboration

Inclusive environment

Oral and written communication

Education

Master’s degree or commensurate experience

Job description

About Indiana Youth Institute:

Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) believes every Indiana child deserves the opportunity to thrive. We strengthen the professionals, organizations, and communities that shape the lives of children and youth. Through research, practical resources, strategic grants, and statewide partnerships, we help Indiana's youth-serving sector make informed decisions and achieve greater impact. Our work is guided by the values of collaboration, excellence, innovation, integrity, and impact.

IYI is a growing organization that embraces perpetual change and continuous improvement. We are always looking for better ways to serve the youth sector, respond to emerging needs, and strengthen outcomes for children and families. Our team is curious, adaptable, and committed to learning. We seek individuals who are energized by meaningful work, motivated by results, and excited to help shape the future of an organization dedicated to improving the lives of Indiana's children and families.

IYI is Looking for MENTOR Indiana Director W ho:

• Believes in the power of youth-serving professionals to strengthen young people and communities,
• Has the ability to manage change and ambiguity with an action-oriented drive, must thrive in a dynamic environment,
• Understands and embodies a dedication to operational excellence, with the management skills to juggle a wide range of requests and responsibilities,
• Loves to learn and approaches work with a good-humored growth mindset, and
• Is organized, dependable, and follows through on commitments.
• MENTOR Indiana initiatives are delivered on time, aligned with evidence-based mentoring practices, and demonstrate progress toward established goals and commitments.
• Mentoring programs and practitioners across Indiana have increased access to high-quality training, technical assistance, resources, and continuous quality improvement support.
• Strong, trusted partnerships are sustained with mentoring programs, schools, community organizations, government agencies, funders, and other stakeholders, with meaningful opportunities for the field to connect and collaborate.
• MENTOR Indiana is recognized as a credible statewide resource and thought partner through effective representation, clear communication, and the sharing of findings, lessons learned, and promising practices.
• Internal systems, cross-division collaboration, reporting, and the MENTOR Connector are accurate, efficient, and positioned to support sustainable growth and high-quality service delivery.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President of Organizational Capacity the MENTOR Indiana Director will responsible for advancing the initiative’s mission and vision, and ensuring the successful implementation of all activities for MENTOR Indiana

This position requires expertise and a passion for youth development and mentoring. The MENTOR Indiana Director serves operational leadership of MENTOR Indiana initiatives by leading and managing program priorities, training, and engagement that build the capacity on mentoring organizations across the state of Indiana.

Why This Role Matters

The MENTOR Indiana Director helps ensure more young people across Indiana have access to the caring adults and high-quality mentoring relationships they need to thrive. By strengthening mentoring programs through evidence-based practices, training, technical assistance, partnership-building, and continuous quality improvement, this role expands the capacity and effectiveness of organizations serving youth statewide. The Director also connects practitioners, funders, schools, community organizations, and public partners around a shared vision of building a stronger network of support, so Indiana’s young people are better equipped to succeed in school, work, and life.

Success in This Role

Core Responsibilities Will Include (but not be limited to):

Leadership and Management (30%)

• Manage and lead MENTOR Indiana activities and initiatives to ensure that best practices and evidence-based approaches in the field of mentoring guide all work.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and other materials to communicate findings and share lessons learned with stakeholders and funders.
• Work collaboratively within and across IYI divisions to deliver high quality services to mentoring organizations and achieve MENTOR Indiana goals.

Training and Facilitation (30%)

• Provide training, technical assistance, and resources to mentoring programs and practitioners across the state to enhance program quality and effectiveness.
• Develop and deliver training workshops, webinars, and other professional development opportunities on topics related to mentoring best practices, program management, and youth development.
• Support mentoring programs in implementing evidence-based practices, program evaluation, and continuous quality improvement processes.

Partnerships and Engagement (20%)

• Cultivate and maintain strong partnerships with stakeholders, including mentoring programs, schools, community organizations, government agencies, funders, and other key stakeholders.
• Provide ongoing opportunities for mentoring organizations to connect and convene.

Positioning and Thought Leadership (10%)

• Represent the project at meetings, conferences, and events to raise awareness, build relationships, and promote collaboration among stakeholders.
• Ensure that MENTOR Indiana systems and operations are infrastructurally strong, streamlined, and supportive of the project’s partnership models with local, regional, and national partners.
• Update and maintain the MENTOR Connector to ensure accurate information is included on Indiana mentoring programs.

Systems and Operations (10%)

Core Skills Required (but are not limited to):

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts in easy-to-understand and transparent ways.
• Excellent organizational, time, and project management skills.
• Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a relentless drive for results is essential.
• Self-motivated with a desire to achieve results.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated success forging collaborations with local and state organizations.
• Must demonstrate ability to work in and promote an inclusive environment that reflects the broad diversity and backgrounds represented by our providers, partners, and employees in which every individual feels respected and valued.
• Must have excellent oral, written, and technology-based communication skills.
• Ability to partner well with colleagues both inside and outside of the organization.
• Must demonstrate ability to work independently and collaboratively. Ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks and projects required.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field or commensurate experience (required)
• 5-7 years of related experience in a mentor-related field (preferred)
• Ability to travel within the state of Indiana (required)
• Youth services, nonprofit, education, philanthropy, or public-sector experience (required)

Compensation and Benefits

IYI offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary range of $75,000 - $90,000. Starting salaries are typically determined based on relevant experience, skills, and internal compensation alignment, and generally fall between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

IYI also offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Working Conditions:

IYI operates within a hybrid work environment and is committed to supporting flexibility, employee well-being, and work-life balance. Employees work remotely while also participating regularly in in-person meetings, events, and organizational activities that support organizational effectiveness.

Work schedules will occasionally vary based on event calendars, meeting schedules, and organizational priorities. Evening and occasional weekend work may be required to support organizational events and initiatives.

Standard working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.