[Hiring] Program Associate, Higher Education @Active Minds

Role Description

The Youth Leadership Team equips and mobilizes youth and young adults to strengthen their leadership, advocate for mental health, and create change in their schools and communities through accessible, high-quality, equity-centered leadership programs and opportunities. The team works directly with students and campus stakeholders to support student-led initiatives that advance mental health change.

The Program Associate, Higher Education supports the Youth Leadership Team by carrying out assigned programs and projects for college students. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Higher Education, this role serves as a core student-facing team member who supports the day-to-day implementation of Active Minds' higher education programming, with a primary focus on the Mental Health Advocacy Institute (MHAI).

The Program Associate helps deliver well-run programs and positive participant experiences. The role combines project coordination, student coaching and facilitation, program operations, content creation, and collaboration across teams. The Associate flags barriers to participation and implementation and works with the Senior Manager to address them.

The position works closely with the Youth Leadership Team and colleagues across Measurement, Chapters, Marketing & Communications, Operations and other relevant departments. The role also works directly with youth and young adults, campus staff and faculty, facilitators, interns, and external partners.

Qualifications

• At least one year of relevant experience supporting higher education programs, student leadership, mental health promotion, advocacy, student affairs or related nonprofit initiatives.
• Experience engaging college students and collaborating with campus staff, faculty, or community partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience facilitating presentations, trainings, or student-facing programming.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, knowing when to check in with a supervisor for guidance.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and consistent follow-through, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Experience creating documents, presentations, or educational materials.
• Experience entering, organizing, and maintaining data accurately (e.g., spreadsheets, forms, surveys).
• Ability to provide supportive, constructive guidance while maintaining clear program expectations and exercising sound judgment.
• Proficiency with Google products and project management platforms (e.g., ClickUp).
• Commitment to equity and inclusion and applying an equity-centered lens to student programming and engagement.
• Belief in college students' ability to lead meaningful change in mental health and their campus communities.
• Willingness and ability to travel within the United States to conferences, on-site Active Minds events, and staff gatherings, and support evening programming during the academic year.

Requirements

• Coordinate day-to-day implementation of the Mental Health Advocacy Institute, including program calendars, participant onboarding, learning management system support, session preparation, and milestone tracking.
• Support MHAI recruitment and applications, including outreach to colleges, universities, higher education associations, and campus networks, with a focus on reaching BIPOC and LGBTQ+ students and students at varied institution types, including community colleges and HBCUs.
• Coordinate MHAI alumni engagement, including student panels, project spotlights, and connections to additional Active Minds leadership opportunities.
• Connect MHAI participants and collegiate advocates to the Youth Mental Health Innovation Fund through outreach, informational sessions, and application support.
• Support the delivery of higher education resources, webinars, training, and campus partnership initiatives as assigned.
• Make routine logistical and participant-support decisions within established program guidelines.
• Serve as a primary contact for routine participant questions about program requirements, deadlines, materials, and support.
• Monitor participant progress and follow-up promptly when students miss sessions or milestones.
• Coach college students and give timely feedback on their milestones.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate virtual sessions, office hours, make-up sessions, and small groups across assigned Youth Leadership programs.
• Carry out assigned projects from planning through completion, maintaining timelines, coordinating deliverables, and keeping the Senior Manager informed of progress.
• Use ClickUp and Google Workspace to track project milestones, tasks, session communications, and facilitator and speaker logistics.
• Maintain the MHAI's online learning platform, including posting materials and assignments.
• Coordinate logistics for MHAI facilitators, guest speakers, and virtual sessions.
• Handle administrative tasks across assigned Youth Leadership programs.
• Process participant stipends, speaker honoraria, facilitator payments under the Senior Manager's guidance.
• Create and update supplemental materials for higher education and other Youth Leadership programs.
• Prepare facilitator training materials, communications, and implementation guidance.
• Collaborate across the Youth Leadership Team and other departments to coordinate programming.
• Assist with training and technical assistance for campus partners.
• Establish expectations, provide guidance and feedback, and monitor progress when assigned an intern.
• Collect and maintain standardized MHAI data on participation, completion, and participant experience.
• Maintain accurate records of recruitment, participant engagement, campus stakeholder communications, and student project implementation.
• Gather participant feedback and share themes with the Senior Manager.
• Support preparation of program summaries, presentations, and reports for internal teams and funders.
• Apply an equity-centered, community- and strengths-based approach to student programming and engagement.
• Contribute to team and organizational strategic goals by completing assigned deliverables on time.
• Represent Active Minds at conferences, meetings, trainings, and other events as assigned.
• Share student engagement learnings, resources, and practices with colleagues.
• Participate in organization-wide initiatives and other responsibilities as needed.

Benefits

• Initial salary range of $52,500-$57,750.
• Potential to grow to $68,250 over time.
• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance.
• Paid Vacation and Sick Leave.
• Paid Holidays.
• Company Wide Mental Health Days.
• 401(k) Matching.
• HSA and FSA Options.
• Life Insurance.
• Short Term and Long Term Disability.
• Fully Paid Parental Leave.
• Wellness Reimbursement Program.
• Professional Development Stipends.