ABOUT MENTOR 

Potential is equally distributed; opportunity is not. A major driver of healthy development and opportunity is who you know and who’s in your corner. 30 years ago, MENTOR was created to expand that opportunity for young people by building a youth mentoring field and movement, serving as the expert and go-to resource on quality mentoring. The result is a more than 10x increase in young people in structured mentoring relationships, from hundreds of thousands to millions.

Today, MENTOR activates a movement across sectors that is diverse and broad and seeps into every aspect of daily life. MENTOR, in collaboration with its local Affiliates, is connecting and fueling opportunity for young people everywhere they are, from schools to workplaces and beyond through:

• Providing training and technical assistance to mentoring programs

• Elevating the mentoring field and leading national recruitment efforts

• Advocating for increased local, state, and federal investment in mentoring

• Leading research on the youth mentoring field

• Fostering collaborations to transform systems.

MENTOR currently has 24 local Affiliates across the country and three additional Affiliates in development, including Texas.

MENTOR TEXAS

Today, we are thrilled to launch MENTOR Texas, project of the United Ways of Texas, in collaboration with MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership and a statewide Steering Committee of partners from US Dream Academy, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Antonio, Texas CASA, Texas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, North Texas Disability Chamber of Commerce, and Fluor Corporation. MENTOR Texas will be an advocate for the expansion of quality mentoring and a resource for mentors and mentoring initiatives across the state.

MENTOR Texas will work collaboratively across sectors to support existing and emerging organizations that provide mentoring services to youth by:

• Expanding the capacity of agencies to provide high-quality mentoring programs

• Ensuring quality standards in all mentoring efforts

• Significantly increasing the number of youth in quality mentoring relationships

• Convening local mentoring providers, and promote networking, collaboration, and shared learning

• Leveraging and expand the human, financial, and in-kind resources dedicated to mentoring initiatives

• Expanding the number and types of organizations – nonprofits, faith communities, corporations, schools, civic groups, and universities – that are equipped to start, manage, and expand a mentoring initiative

• Advocating for legislation, policies, and funding that support the mentoring movement locally and statewide.

MENTOR Texas will play an important role in building the state’s mentor base, coordinating and streamlining existing mentoring efforts where services are overlapping, identifying funding streams to reach youth in communities not currently reached, and connecting organizations to high-quality training opportunities delivered through an equity lens.

THE POSITION

We seek a well-connected, experienced, visionary leader to launch MENTOR Texas. The President and CEO will be instrumental in developing the statewide strategic plan, engaging a broad cross-section of stakeholders to support the work, and building a sustainable and effective initiative. A successful President and CEO will build and strengthen mentoring and youth development networks and partnerships, lead fundraising efforts, and inspire a team of senior staff. Successful candidates will balance “big picture” strategic thinking with the administrative know-how of a results-oriented manager and a track record of building partnerships and community collaborations. The President and CEO will build a team over the next several years, adding at least two leaders within the state, as well as growing a team of staff and consultants to support the effective implementation of the strategic plan.

The MENTOR Texas President and CEO will report to the Chair of the MENTOR TX Board and work closely with the United Ways of Texas as fiscal sponsor. As President, they will act as a key member of the Advisory Board. As Chief Executive Officer, they will oversee the nascent organization as it moves towards greater autonomy in the next 3-5 years. To learn more about the need and opportunity ahead of MENTOR Texas, please click here to read the feasibility overview.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Leadership

• Spearhead the strategic planning and start-up effort of MENTOR Texas in partnership with local stakeholders including philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, corporate executives and government agencies to guide the organizational plan, benchmarks, and outcomes

• Develop, maintain, and support a strong governance committee of key donors; serve as ex-officio and seek and build committee involvement with strategic direction

• Develop, maintain, support and grow the MENTOR Texas Advisory Board

Fundraising, Advocacy, and Communications

• In partnership with MENTOR’s national fundraising team, create and implement a fundraising strategy that builds on existing relationships with philanthropy, supports the implementation of the strategic plan, and leads to organizational sustainability

• Create a marketing and communications plan that elevates the issue of mentoring, drives mentor recruitment, and positions MENTOR Texas as a key community resource

• Advocate and build public awareness, both individually and with partners, to mobilize leaders for support of youth mentoring at the local and state levels with MENTOR Texas and with MENTOR at the federal level

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow and excel professionally. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below:

• Track record of servant leadership with a generosity of spirit that seeks to learn from and understand others in an effort to achieve excellence

• Demonstrated ability to create an inclusive team culture by leveraging team members from diverse backgrounds and with diverse points of view

• Substantial leadership experience, including at least five years of managing a team to reach challenging objectives. Experience working with or within both the Texas state legislature and private sector is a plus.

• Experience with and passion for leading an organization serving youth and/or promoting mentorship

• A proven ability to work effectively with a board of advisors and volunteer committees

• Knowledge of the Texas philanthropic community as demonstrated by a well-developed professional network that stretches into community-based organizations and the youth development space

• Proven fundraising experience (or clearly transferable skills) that can be leveraged to raise monies from corporations, foundations and individual contributors

• Entrepreneurial self-starter; capable of self-management in a complex environment with multiple stakeholders

• Excellent presentation, verbal and written communication skills that can be adapted based on audience

• Strong strategic thinking and organizational development skills with an ability to use data to make decisions and to translate strategy to action

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

MENTOR Texas offers a comprehensive compensation package, with a salary range of $140,000-$160,000, commensurate with lived and professional experience. The President and CEO will receive support in accessing a learning community to support their ongoing professional development. Please click here for further information about benefits offered to United Way Texas employees.

The MENTOR Texas President + CEO can be based anywhere in the state, with a preference for those currently residing in major metropolitan areas. The President + CEO will be expected to work from home and travel throughout Texas approximately 15% of time and twice/year for MENTOR’s National Mentoring Summit (January) and MentorCon (June).

MAKING THE DECISION TO APPLY

To apply to this position, please prepare a resume and apply through the application portal run by our recruitment partners at Positively Partners. For confidential inquiries or for assistance in completing the application, please contact Rose Costello at rcostello@positivelypartners.org.

TIMELINE AND HIRING PROCESS

We will review and respond to all applications received. While subject to change, candidates selected to advance will progress through a process that includes initial conversations with Positively Partners and interviews with members of the Steering Committee and MENTOR National leaders. Anticipated start date is spring 2023.

------------------------------EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER------------------------------

United Ways of Texas is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek to build an organization that reflects the diversity of the population served by local United Ways. UWT has a moral belief in the dignity, value and potential of every individual and a practical belief that a diverse, inclusive team will create the best outcomes for our members, partners and the community.