Application Guide

How to Apply for Director of Postsecondary, Career and Life Coaching

at Friends of the Children - National

🏢 About Friends of the Children - National

Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit that breaks cycles of generational poverty by providing salaried professional mentors ('Friends') to youth from kindergarten through graduation and beyond—12+ years, no matter what. Unlike typical mentoring programs, their model ensures consistent, long-term support, making them a leader in youth development. Working here means joining a mission-driven team that prioritizes equity, innovation, and measurable impact.

About This Role

As the Director of Postsecondary, Career and Life Coaching, you will design and lead a new national program focused on youth ages 16-22, ensuring they have the skills and support to succeed in college, career, and life. You'll supervise a team of Life Coaches and an Alumni Coordinator, refine the program model with internal and external partners, and use data to drive continuous improvement. This role is pivotal in expanding Friends of the Children's impact into the critical postsecondary transition period.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a virtual check-in with your Life Coaches and Alumni Coordinator to review youth progress and address challenges. Mid-morning, you could be analyzing data from the program's first cohort to identify trends, then hopping on a call with a chapter leader to discuss adapting the model to their local context. After lunch, you might draft a proposal for a new partnership with a community college or workforce training provider, and end the day by coaching a direct report on their professional development goals.

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🎯 Who Friends of the Children - National Is Looking For

  • A seasoned leader with 5+ years in college access, workforce development, or youth development, and 2+ years managing teams.
  • Deeply knowledgeable about postsecondary pathways (college, CTE, workforce) and experienced with first-generation and marginalized youth.
  • A strategic thinker who can design programs, analyze data, and collaborate with researchers and chapter leaders.
  • Passionate about coaching and developing staff, with a track record of building high-performing, equity-focused teams.

📝 Tips for Applying to Friends of the Children - National

1

Highlight your experience designing or scaling a program from concept to implementation—this role is about leading a new national innovation.

2

Emphasize your people management skills with specific examples of coaching, evaluating, and developing direct reports.

3

Showcase your understanding of data-driven decision-making; mention any experience with tracking youth outcomes or using data to improve programs.

4

Tailor your resume to reflect work with underserved youth, especially in postsecondary access or workforce readiness.

5

In your cover letter, name-drop the organization's 12+ year model and explain why you're drawn to their unique long-term approach.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for breaking cycles of poverty through long-term mentoring and postsecondary success.', 'Specific examples of designing or leading programs for youth ages 16-22 in college/career readiness.', "Your leadership philosophy and how you've built or managed teams focused on equity and outcomes.", 'Your ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders (chapters, researchers, external partners) to refine a program model.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read the organization's annual report and strategic plan to understand their goals and recent achievements.
  • → Learn about the 'Friends' model—how they select, train, and support mentors—and think about how this role extends that support to older youth.
  • → Research the existing postsecondary programming (if any) and any published outcomes or evaluations.
  • → Explore the backgrounds of key leadership (e.g., CEO, Chief Program Officer) to understand their priorities and language.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design the postsecondary coaching program from scratch? What are the key components?
2 Describe a time you used data to improve a youth program. What metrics did you use and what changes did you make?
3 How do you support and develop a team of coaches? Give an example of coaching a direct report to improve performance.
4 What is your understanding of the challenges faced by first-generation college students and how would you address them in this role?
5 How would you build buy-in for a new national program across multiple chapters with different local contexts?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't submit a generic application—this role is highly specific; avoid vague statements about 'youth development' without tying it to postsecondary access.
  • Don't overlook the 'national' aspect; failing to mention experience working across multiple sites or with remote teams can seem like a lack of readiness.
  • Don't ignore data; this role requires comfort with data-driven decision-making—avoid downplaying analytical skills.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Friends of the Children - National!

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