Program Associate, Youth Leadership & Engagement

Program Associate, Youth Leadership & Engagement 

START DATE: Immediate POSITION

POSITION SUMMARY: The Program Associate will oversee YAC program execution, coordination, and reporting across all six regional chapters. This is a unique role that requires equal comfort behind a spreadsheet, developing and engaging new partners, and connecting with groups of high school students. 

YAC is designed to be student-led, meaning students don’t just participate; they drive. They shape the direction and content of monthly chapter meetings, lead the planning and execution of their service projects, and bring their voices to decisions that affect their communities. Facilitators and program staff are there to support, not to direct. The Program Associate will build and maintain the structures, relationships, and conditions that keep students at the center across every aspect of the program. 

The Program Associate will report to Breakthrough Miami’s Chief Strategy Officer and work closely with The Children’s Trust program officer. This is a new role at Breakthrough Miami, which means the selected candidate will have the opportunity to help build this partnership and shape what YAC looks like at its best.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

Program Operations & Logistics

• Builds and maintains a yearly program plan, active partner database, and program calendar, ensuring all activities, deadlines, and deliverables are tracked and executed on time
• Coordinates logistics for monthly chapter meetings across six regional sites, including space, food, materials, setup, and site and facilitator relationships
• Serves as the primary point of contact with meeting venue partners (libraries, universities, and community sites) and facilitators
• Coordinates supply inventory and procurement across all six chapters in coordination with Breakthrough’s operations team
• Coordinates transportation for field trips and program events, including vendor relationships
• Supports planning and execution of signature program events: Kickoff Summit, Culminating Celebration, and the annual Tallahassee Legislative and College Tour
• Coordinates across internal Breakthrough Miami teams, regional facilitators, venue partners, and The Children’s Trust to keep all workstreams aligned
• Proactively flags operational risks or programmatic gaps to the Chief Strategy Officer

Student Recruitment & Enrollment 

• Leads outreach and recruitment efforts to enroll approximately 250 students across all six regions, with intentional focus on reaching underrepresented youth, including ESOL students, students with disabilities, and justice- and dependency-involved youth
• Manages the application and enrollment process from outreach through confirmation
• Tracks attendance and participation data across all chapters, including entry in Trust Central

Facilitator Support 

• Serves as the main point of contact for regional facilitators, maintaining consistent communication and coordination
• Coordinates facilitator schedules, communications, and logistics
• Supports facilitator onboarding using materials and guidance developed with the Chief Strategy Officer
• Escalates challenges and seeks guidance from the Chief Strategy Officer as needed

Programming Support  

• Ensures programming remains student-led, supporting facilitators and chapters that center youth voice, direction, and decision-making at every level of the program
• Sources and coordinates partners for field trips, guest speakers, service-learning projects, professional development opportunities, and alumni engagements
• Researches and manages logistics for at least five local field trips per year
• Supports each chapter’s service-learning project, including coordination with Community Champions and assistance in managing the $2,000 per-chapter project budget
• Maintains a digital opportunity board to share resources and opportunities with all participants
• Supports the development of a YAC alumni engagement strategy, including identifying opportunities for alumni to serve as facilitators, mentors, ambassadors, and program leaders
• Builds and maintains relationships with YAC officers and alumni, tracking involvement and supporting pathways for re-engagement across program activities
• Supports communications, including social media, web, and email outreach, in coordination with Breakthrough Miami marketing team and The Children’s Trust.

Children’s Trust Relationship Management   

• Serves as the day-to-day operational liaison with The Children’s Trust program officer, maintaining regular communication on program implementation, logistics, and compliance
• Prepares materials and updates for check-ins with TCT, in coordination with the Chief Strategy Officer who leads the overall funder relationship
• Ensures all program activities, communications, and materials adhere to TCT guidelines, protocols, and brand standards
• Supports TCT site visits and audits by maintaining organized, up-to-date program documentation

Data & Reporting    

• Maintains accurate participant records and program data in compliance with Children’s Trust requirements
• Supports grant reporting by tracking deliverables, attendance, and program milestones, including data entry in Trust Central
• Flags data trends or compliance risks to the Chief Strategy Office

General Responsibilities      

• Contributes to continuous improvement across all program areas — documenting processes, capturing lessons learned, and bringing ideas and observations to the Chief Strategy Officer to strengthen each program cycle
• Takes on additional projects and responsibilities as needed in response to organizational priorities or program needs

JOB SPECIFICATIONS 

Requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail — able to manage multiple moving pieces without dropping the ball  
• Genuine enthusiasm for working with high school students and a belief in youth leadership  
• Clear, professional communication skills — written and verbal, across one-on-one, small group, and large group settings  
• Comfort with technology and an ability to learn new tools quickly; the selected candidate will work with data tracking systems, CRMs, and Google Workspace  
• Ability to collect, track, and report data accurately  
• High personal standards — follows through on commitments and communicates proactively when things change  
• Ability to work effectively across diverse communities and with people from a wide range of backgrounds 

Preferred  

• Experience working with youth in an educational, community, or nonprofit setting  
• Familiarity with Miami-Dade County communities and school systems  
• Experience coordinating logistics for events or programs with multiple sites or participants 
• Fluency in Spanish and/or Haitian Creole 

OTHER SUCCESS FACTORS 

• Understanding of the Breakthrough model  
• Knowledge of The Children’s Trust  
• Sets high personal standards, follows through on commitments, models fairness and transparency in interactions  
• Able to operate effectively in diverse environments and interact successfully with people from widely varying backgrounds    
• Valid Florida driver’s license and reliable access to a vehicle; ability to travel across Miami-Dade County regularly 

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

This is an in-person role. The Program Associate will spend time at Breakthrough Miami’s office, at regional chapter meeting sites across Miami-Dade County, and on field trips and program events throughout the year. A valid Florida driver’s license and reliable access to a vehicle are required, as the role involves regular travel across the county. 

This role requires consistent evening and weekend availability. Monthly chapter meetings are held in the evenings across all six regions and are a core, non-negotiable responsibility for this role. Weekend availability is also required to support field trips, program events, and the annual Tallahassee trip. Candidates should be comfortable working a flexible schedule that includes daytime, evening, and weekend hours based on program needs and the annual calendar. 

WHY THIS ROLE 

This is a chance to build something meaningful; a countywide program that gives hundreds of Miami-Dade high schoolers their first real experiences with civic leadership, community advocacy, and peer connection. You’ll work alongside a seasoned, mission-driven team at one of Miami’s most respected youth organizations, with direct support from senior leadership. 

Breakthrough Miami operates in a rapidly changing education and community environment. This job description is a summary, not a contract. The duties and responsibilities of this role may change due to organizational needs. Dependable and regular attendance and evening and weekend work are required to fulfill the expectations of the role.