Senior Advisor on Children, Youth and Families

Introduction/Summary

Reporting to the Mayor, the Senior Advisor on Children, Youth & Families provides leadership to ensure the positive development of children, youth, and families (CY&F) by mobilizing resources in the community to work on their behalf. The Senior Advisor on CYF is responsible for the implementation and revision of the City’s Action Plan for Children, Youth, and Families. They will develop strategies designed to prepare children for success in life and ensure that children and youth become productive members and future leaders of our community. The Senior Advisor functions as a service connector not a service provider. The Senior Advisor for CYF will regularly convene partners and facilitate initiatives to identify program needs and gaps and ensure long-term sustainability of services.

Examples of Senior Advisor of CYF Duties

• Develops and implements  a multi-year intergovernmental action plan focused on the well-being of City of St. Louis CY&F, aligned with community priorities.
• Executes a yearly work plan of key tasks, aligned with the Action Plan, including goals, targets and success metrics, drawn, in part, from the St. Louis City Equity Indicators tool.
• Serves as the liaison and clearinghouse in the Mayor’s Office for matters related to CY&F. Serves as the primary point of contact for educational providers in St. Louis.
• Builds public/private partnerships to expand or enhance services for children, youth & families.
• Facilitates and maintains relationships with a variety of community members, agency executives, business/civic leaders and government/elected officials.
• Seeks opportunities to provide community leadership, coordination and collaboration to build the capacity of services and supports for children/youth.
• Functions as the key contact for youth and family-serving programs and activities-- internally within the City departments, and externally for youth and family-focused organizations serving City residents.
• Provides regular updates to the Mayor, Mayor’s Cabinet, and the public on the activities and progress toward goals and success metrics of the Action Plan for CY&F.
• In partnership with City Departments and non-city entities, organizes youth programming for out of school hours including but not limited to summer youth jobs, youth space activation, and recreation center programming.
• Works to improve access to early childhood education and establish and grow the City’s work to expand access to post-secondary opportunities.
• Advises the Mayor and key staff regarding potential financial resources needed and available for youth programming.

Qualifications

The Senior Advisor on Children, Youth and Families will have an advanced understanding (locally and nationally) of child and family well-being.The ideal applicant will also have working knowledge of Racial Equity and be well-versed in the Ferguson Commission and For the Sake of All reports, as well as other regional reports addressing the well being of children, youth, and families in the St. Louis region.The individual selected will also have proven leadership and relationship management experience.

Education

Master’s degree in social work, public policy, education, public health, psychology, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, skills and experience is required. Background in education, family or youth services and/or delivery systems, or child well being is preferred.

Experience

A minimum of 5 years of strategy and/or policy work related to achieving positive social change on behalf of CY&F or 5 years experience at a management level in an organization providing human services, project management or consulting experience is also desirable.

General Abilities

• Strong sense of mission and desire to have a significant impact through quality services and data-driven evaluation
• Excellent critical thinking skills and emotional intelligence
• Strong analytical capabilities
• Knowledge of human services delivery systems, program evaluation, and grant making
• Significant experience with culturally responsive community organizing or community engagement that led to actionable objectives and outcomes
• Ability to work within a fast-paced environment in collaboration with diverse groups of people and an openness to constructive feedback
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills
• Ability to create strong and productive relationships, collaborate with internal team members, and communicate complex concepts in clear, succinct and compelling ways
• Demonstrated history of working cooperatively and effectively with public officials, community leaders, agency personnel, and other stakeholders
• Respect and appreciation for diversity, equity and inclusion
• Objective decision-maker, free from solely personal preference or bias
• Excellent judgment and ability to sensitively handle confidential information
• Exceptional initiative, positive attitude, idealism and integrity

Other

• Ability to attend local and out-of-town meetings, visit other organizations, and perform other assignments requiring ongoing access to a private vehicle
• Valid driver’s license
• Regular access to an insured vehicle

The City of St. Louis Mayor’s Office does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, disability, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran’s status or marital status.

Contact

Interested applicants should send their cover letter and resume to Sara Baker at bakersa@stlouis-mo.gov.