Out-of-School Time Network Assistant Manager

Role Overview

The Middle Grades OST Network Assistant Manager will lead a collaborative, dedicated coalition of Cambridge OST providers, schools, and community partners. Together, the Middle School Network (MSN) is guided by its mission to create equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities beyond the school day and year for 6th–8th grade youth. As a district-level administrator based at the Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) Central Office, the MSN Assistant Manager will convene and unite Network and community partners while serving as a key member of the Cambridge Agenda for Children OST (AFCOST) team across the district and city of Cambridge.

Position Purpose

The Middle Grades OST Network Assistant Manager provides strategic, proactive coordination to ensure equitable access to year-round enrichment and out-of-school time (OST) programs for 6th–8th grade students and families, particularly those with the highest need. The Assistant Manager builds, sustains, and aligns a collaborative network of OST providers, school personnel, community partners, and Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) parents and caregivers to champion and support the needs of middle grade youth.

Key Attributes & Core Competencies

• Commitment to Equity: Deep personal and professional dedication to antiracism, racial equity, and dismantling opportunity gaps.
• Inclusive Facilitation: Strong group facilitation skills with a proven track record of creating welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative spaces.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Exceptional relational skills to connect and build trust across ages, cultures, languages, identities, and organizational roles.
• Community Leadership & Mobilization: Ability to bring positive energy to rally and align diverse stakeholder groups around shared goals.
• Youth & Family Advocacy: Passionate advocate for out-of-school learning, committed to centering student and family voices—particularly communities of color—in decision-making and overcoming systemic barriers.

Responsibilities

Support Students and Families

• Build Support Systems: Establish and oversee streamlined case management processes to connect students with out-of-school time (OST) programs.
• Facilitate Collaborations: Lead cross-partner workflows to proactively identify middle school students and families needing OST resources.
• Provide Direct Assistance: Guide and support students and caregivers directly in navigating, selecting, and enrolling in OST opportunities.

Increase Equitable Access To OST Opportunities

• Build Staff Capacity: Provide assistance and support school and community-based staff delivering case management so they can effectively navigate and leverage the full landscape of out-of-school time (OST) resources.
• Expand Outreach & Awareness: Drive ongoing awareness and accessibility of year-round OST opportunities across the Cambridge community.
• Streamline Placements & Support: Coordinate and document high-priority student referrals, program placements, and financial scholarship distribution.
• Embed Equity in District Systems: Partner with CPS educators, family liaisons, counselors, and leadership to integrate OST into district equity practices and student support protocols.
• Drive Participation & Retention: Boost and sustain participation in developmentally responsive programs (afterschool, summer) for middle grade students with the highest need.
• Engage & Mobilize Stakeholders: Identify key community constituents and bring together providers, school staff, caregivers, and youth to systematically identify and eliminate barriers to access.

Sustain And Grow The Network

• Broaden Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain active partnerships across Cambridge’s youth-serving ecosystem, including OST providers, CPS district and school staff, families, youth resource officers, and health/social service providers.
• Coordinate Localized Events: Plan and facilitate student-centered events that connect network partners, support case management efforts, and engage CPS families.
• Drive Network Governance: Explore and establish a Network Steering Committee to guide strategic initiatives and ongoing efforts.
• Facilitate Meetings: Lead inclusive, collaborative meetings across network groups and with partner organizations and efforts.

Communicate To Stakeholders

• Develop OST Resources: Assist in creating comprehensive resource guides, slides, postcards, and other tools to support students, families, educators, and OST practitioners.
• Manage Network Communications: Establish and manage communication systems across the MSN network to share progress and updates with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Promote Program Awareness: Build community-wide understanding of Cambridge’s OST landscape, available offerings, scholarship options and processes, and enrollment processes.

Manage And Use Data

• Enable Network Data Sharing: Promote and support responsible data-sharing practices across network partners.
• Analyze Needs & Trends: Collect, input, and analyze data to better understand the interests, needs, and preferences of 6th–8th grade youth and their families.
• Leverage Best Practices: Research and integrate promising evidence-based models for school-to-OST partnerships and networks.
• Drive Quality & Continuous Improvement: Utilize databases, dashboards, and reporting tools to measure outcomes, support program planning, and evaluate overall impact.
• Establish Goal Frameworks: Help define and monitor key performance indicators (such as target OST participation growth, event frequency, and reporting deliverables).

Contribute As a Teammate

• Collaborate with AFCOST Core Team Leadership: Serve as an active member of the AFCOST Core Management Team.
• Partner Across AFCOST Roles: Work closely with the AFCOST Network Team, including the Co-Executive Director, Elementary School-OST Network (ESON) Coordinator, Youth Connector, and Network Associate.
• Cross-District Alignment: Engage regularly with the CPS Family and Community Engagement Team, Office of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, and Cambridge’s Reaching All Youth Network.
• Support Safety Net Initiatives: Participate in the citywide Safety Net Collaborative to align case management, referral pathways, and diversion strategies for high-risk youth.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 4 years of experience working with cross-system intermediaries, public school districts, municipal departments, or community-based organizations.
• Proven track record working with middle-grade youth (grades 6–8) and families in diverse urban communities.

Key Competencies

• Deep understanding of youth development, family systems, OST programs, and school operations.
• Exceptional interpersonal, written communication, and group facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and working effectively across diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Technical & Administrative Skills

• Experience with data collection, progress tracking, program evaluation, and documentation.
• Proficiency (or demonstrated adaptability) with Google Workspace, virtual collaboration platforms (Zoom, Teams), graphic design (Canva), and digital communication tools.

Schedule

Full-time (40 hours per week, 12 months per year). Position requires occasional evening and weekend availability to attend community meetings, network events, and family gatherings.

Benefits

Competitive salary scale and district benefits package provided in accordance with Cambridge Public Schools administrative guidelines.