Director of Student Services

OVERVIEW:

As the Director of Student Services, you will report to the Deputy Director, Student Services and support the Site Directors (SDs) and Student Services teams across a multi-site market by providing functional role assistance, upholding the Student Services standards and by providing consistency in program support. The Market Director of Student Services is responsible for supporting the direction of the site Student Services teams through collaboration with Site Directors and STS Team Leads. You will serve as the subject matter expert, providing training and professional development to site-based STS staff, and partnering with Site Directors to support student needs. This will include providing direct service and support to the STS Team Lead via case consultation, resource cultivation, partnership development and site support as needed.

To be successful in this role, you’ll be an experienced social work professional with superior leadership skills who thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments. You will be skilled in crisis intervention, but also comfortable testing new infrastructure, providing feedback, and contributing to strategic conversations about program growth and student support. You will work to drive consistency in student services support and program delivery across sites, serving as a subject matter expert and consult to teams.

In keeping with Year Up United’s values, the Market Director of Student Services will also have the opportunity to interact with students as a mentor, group facilitator, and advocate, participating in building a positive educational environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership and Cross Site Coordination

Responsible for setting a vision for the student services function in the market, and working with leadership to establish a cross-site strategy to meet market goals

Collect, synthesize, interpret and report on student services data trends and themes in the market

Provide coaching to site-based STS staff, lead through influence in the market

Develop and deliver training for site-based STS staff as needed to ensure compliance with National Standards

Assist Site Directors with staff evaluations and actively support the professional development of STS staff

Other duties as necessary for the successful leadership of the team, site outcomes and support of the students

Program Development

Support the local sites and Site Directors with the training and onboarding Student Services staff as needed

Attend meetings with Site leaders to provide consultative support as needed

Provide support to staff as they work with students who need social work support identified through the admissions process or in the course of their involvement in the Year Up United program

Review student and intern data with site leadership to examine trends and issues that may be affecting program participants. Work with site-based teams to develop plans to address trends

Responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with donors and volunteers for STS related activities and resources

Responsible for grant reports and partnerships in collaboration with the Development team

Partnership Development & Capacity Building

Initiate, manage and delegate the building of new relationships with community-based organizations and social service agencies to address student needs. Develop, steward, and enhance existing relationships

Make recommendations to both Year Up United Program team and the regional leadership teams to strengthen partnerships for student support services offered on-site and off-site

Site Team/Learning Community Member

Participate in a learning community (LC), supporting student programming and program facilitation on a regular basis

Participate in staff meetings and trainings and complete LC required tasks

Develop supportive, and trusting relationships with students, act as a tertiary level of support for all students by consistently interacting with the learning community programmatic activities

QUALIFICATIONS:

A minimum of 6 years of work experience is required, preferably working with Opportunity Youth in leadership or program management roles

Ability to lead through influence and to coach and develop others towards their professional goals

A proven ability to think strategically, and to use data to inform decision making

Master of Social Work degree from an accredited program is preferred

Business acumen and the ability to serve as a consult for building student support systems and structures in line with Year Up United’s program delivery model

An existing network of contacts within, and extensive knowledge of the social services resources available in the local region

Effective communication skills and the ability to connect with people from a variety of lived experiences

Proven demonstration of leadership behaviors, relentlessly developing staff, driving for results and being mission driven

History of thriving in a fast-paced, high-growth, team-oriented environment

Experience and comfort with facilitation and instruction in group environments

Uphold company core values in all interactions

A passion for working with young adults, an unshakable belief in their potential, and a strong commitment to the mission of Year Up United

Understanding the Opportunity Divide and its drivers

Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Salary Range: $103,000 - $112,000

#LI-Hybrid

WORKING AT YEAR UP UNITED:

Starting January 5, 2026, employees are expected to work on-site at least two days per week (Monday through Thursday dependent on job requirements). To be eligible for employment, candidates must live and work in a state (or an approved proximate state*) where Year Up United operates. For a list of eligible locations, please visit: https://www.yearup.org/job-training/locations

*Approved proximate states where Year Up United operates are: Connecticut, Indiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina and Virginia.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Year Up United has established salary ranges for each of our sites, which allows us to pay employees competitively, equitably and consistently in different geographic markets. For roles in which the location is listed as flexible, the range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Salary offers take into account a candidate’s skills, experience, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

Benefits: Comprehensive healthcare options and dental coverage; 401(k) match for eligible participants.

Vacation: Earn three weeks paid vacation in first year of employment; four weeks after initial year.

** This is an exempt role (paid on a salaried basis). **

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Year Up United is a national 501(c)3 workforce development organization committed to ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and justice for all young adults—no matter their background, income, or zip code. Employers face a growing need for talent while millions of talented young adults lack access to meaningful careers. These inequities only further perpetuate the opportunity gap that exists in our country—a gap that Year Up United is determined and positioned to close through three interconnected strategies: providing targeted skills training and connections to livable-wage employment for students and alumni; empowering others to serve and support young adults, and changing systems that perpetuate the opportunity gap. Year Up United’s intensive training program utilizes a high expectations, high support model where students learn in-demand technical and professional skills and apply them during a corporate internship. Year Up United has directly served more than 40,000 young adults since its founding in 2000. Year Up United's nationwi