Program Education Specialist

Job Title: Program Education Specialist

Job Description

The Education Specialist manages the day-to-day operations of a youth mentoring program, with a focus on planning and delivering impactful weekly mentoring sessions and supporting mentees’ academic and personal growth. This role requires a dynamic, motivated, and forward-thinking professional who can prepare high-quality documents and presentations, coordinate with diverse stakeholders, and continuously improve program operations. The Education Specialist collaborates closely with mentees, mentors, parents and guardians, community partners, and the program committee, while working directly with organizational leadership. The ideal candidate is ambitious, confident, self-driven, and comfortable thriving in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and manage weekly mentoring sessions, primarily held on Saturdays, ensuring engaging and well-structured activities for participants.
• Develop, draft, and implement innovative program content and session activities that expose youth to new experiences and support their development.
• Manage each mentee’s document portfolio, including applications, grade cards, mentor contact forms, pre- and post-tests, and annual “5 Step Action Plan” goal documents.
• Schedule and conduct one-on-one appointments with mentees and their parents or guardians to complete and review the 5 Step Action Plan outside of regular sessions, as needed.
• Enter, maintain, and efficiently track data for all program mentees, including attendance, academic performance, individual goals, program levels, and chess ratings.
• Coordinate educational programs and advocate for participants to ensure they receive appropriate support and opportunities.
• Identify, pursue, and maintain education-related partnerships, including colleges, trade programs, and employment opportunities, to expand resources for mentees.
• Lead projects and partnerships that support program growth, and document, monitor, and report on progress and outcomes.
• Coordinate logistics for mentoring sessions, meetings, events, seminars, and field trips, including scheduling, materials, and onsite support.
• Draft and deliver clear, timely weekly communications about programs and logistics via email, text, or recorded messages to participants and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Concerned Mothers group to arrange meal service during weekly Saturday sessions.
• Mentor, support, and develop junior staff members to enhance their skills and effectiveness within the program.
• Support leadership by preparing drafts, reports, presentations, and other documents as requested.
• Leverage data, analytics, and business intelligence tools to evaluate and improve operational processes and program effectiveness.
• Plan, design, deliver, and evaluate projects and initiatives from initiation through completion, ensuring high quality and timely execution.
• Manage tools and resources at the mentoring center and maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming environment.
• Mitigate risks by proactively planning alternatives and contingency measures that keep projects and programs on track.
• Collaborate with staff, mentors, and community partners to foster a culture of continuous improvement in program operations and outcomes.
• Handle additional duties as assigned to support overall program success and organizational goals.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to lead tasks in teams and maintain full accountability for projects central to program operations.
• Strong critical thinking skills, with the ability to use logic and reasoning to solve problems and address challenges effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both formal and informal settings, including the ability to prepare professional documents and presentations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, to create program-ready documents and presentations.
• Ability to analyze data and use analytics and business intelligence tools to inform decisions and improve operational processes.
• Experience in planning, designing, delivering, and evaluating projects and initiatives from start to finish.
• Skill in creating and implementing programs that provide transformative experiences for youth.
• Strong resource management abilities, including maintaining tools and facilities in excellent condition.
• Capability to support leadership by drafting reports, documents, and presentations with high attention to detail.
• Career development, mentoring, and education experience, particularly in youth-focused environments.
• Scheduling and operations management skills, including coordination of sessions, events, and logistics.
• Administrative experience, including managing documentation, records, and communication workflows.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, high-growth environment while juggling multiple responsibilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and team-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with staff, mentors, parents, guardians, and community partners.
• Exceptional presentation skills in professional and social settings.
• Passion for working with youth and supporting their academic, personal, and career development.
• Availability to work a minimum of 40 hours per week onsite at the mentoring center.
• Availability to work on Saturdays and Sundays, as needed, to support weekly mentoring sessions and related activities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Professional experience in a nonprofit setting and/or in youth development.
• Experience with mentorship programs or mentoring youth in structured environments.
• Experience in career development programming or guidance for Children
• Education, including familiarity with academic performance tracking and student support.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and stakeholder needs simultaneously.
• Self-driven, ambitious, and confident approach to learning new skills, processes, and tools quickly.
• Forward-thinking and versatile mindset, with curiosity and a commitment to continuous improvement in operations and programming.
• Ability to adapt to a high-growth environment and work collaboratively with other staff members while owning tasks and driving them to completion.
• Comfort working closely with organizational leadership and maintaining professionalism in high-visibility interactions.
• Experience coordinating partnerships with educational institutions, trades, and employers.
• Familiarity with risk management practices related to program and project delivery.

Work Environment

The Education Specialist works primarily onsite at a mentoring center located in an office setting in Kansas City, Missouri. The role follows a 40-hour work week, with a strong emphasis on maintaining work-life balance by not exceeding 40 hours; when Saturday work is required, equivalent time off is provided during the week. The position requires regular availability on Saturdays, typically a few hours one to two times per month, as well as occasional Sunday availability to support program needs. The work environment is collaborative and mission-driven, focused on serving and giving back to the local community through a nonprofit youth mentoring program. The Education Specialist uses standard office technologies, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and data and analytics tools, to manage program operations and documentation. The mentoring center hosts weekly sessions, meetings, events, seminars, and field trips, creating a dynamic setting where staff interact frequently with youth, families, mentors, and community partners. The facility emphasizes a clean, organized, and welcoming atmosphere, with meal service arranged during Saturday sessions to support participants and foster community. The organizational culture values leadership development, continuous improvement, and meaningful engagement with the Kansas City community.

This is a Contract position based out of Kansas City, MO.

The pay range for this position is $21.00 - $25.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Kansas City,MO.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 26, 2026.

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.