Student Persistence and Engagement Manager

YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School is a tuition-free, public charter high school with a singular focus on supporting youth aged 17-20 who have been pushed out of traditional schools. During our 1-year alternative program, YouthBuild facilitates a warm, loving culture that uses restorative-justice discipline, weekly community meetings, and school-wide service projects. Students earn their high school diploma and vocational certifications while receiving unconditional staff support. We work to disrupt the cycle of poverty and help students achieve post-secondary success (4-year college, 2-year college, vocational training, or livable-wage job).

About the role

The Student Persistence & Engagement Manager serves as YouthBuild Philadelphia's lead persistence strategist, ensuring young people remain connected, engaged, and progressing toward graduation despite significant barriers. This role is embedded in a designated vocational pathway to provide consistent relationship-building, mentoring, persistence support, and early identification of students needing additional intervention. The Manager leads Tier III engagement and re-engagement efforts, partnering with Student Advisors, Social Workers, and school leaders to proactively identify, intervene with, and reconnect students experiencing chronic absenteeism, disengagement, or other obstacles. The role also cultivates community referral partnerships to expand access for over-aged, under-credited, and disconnected young adults while collaborating with School Operations and Enrollment to strengthen referral pathways.

Responsibilities

• Tier III Persistence & Re-engagement
  • Serve as lead intervention manager for students demonstrating chronic disengagement despite Tier I and II interventions.
  • Partner with Student Advisors to develop and implement intensive engagement strategies to reconnect students and improve persistence.
  • Lead Tier III persistence interventions for students with chronic absenteeism, disengagement, or other barriers.
  • Develop and coordinate individualized re-engagement plans with Student Advisors, Social Workers, School Culture, families, and stakeholders.
  • Conduct strategic home visits, family conferences, and community-based outreach to reconnect students and remove barriers.
  • Monitor intervention progress, evaluate outcomes, and transition students back to ongoing Student Advisor case management once engagement stabilizes.
  • Present Tier III cases through the Student Intervention Team (SIT), coordinating cross-functional strategies and maintaining documentation.
  • Maintain documentation of Tier III interventions and referrals per school policies.
  • Identify trends in student disengagement and recommend strategies to strengthen schoolwide persistence and re-engagement efforts.
  • Coach staff on evidence-based engagement strategies and contribute to continuous improvement of YouthBuild’s persistence framework.
• Restorative Interventions & Justice System Navigation
  • Serve as lead Tier III restorative intervention specialist for students with chronic disengagement, repeated behavioral concerns, or unsuccessful outcomes.
  • Partner with School Culture and Student Success teams to facilitate intensive restorative processes to reconnect students to the school community.
  • Lead Tier III restorative interventions for students requiring escalation beyond routine practices.
  • Facilitate restorative re-entry planning following suspension, justice involvement, extended absence, or repeated unsuccessful interventions.
  • Serve as primary liaison with probation officers, diversion programs, courts, and community partners to support students’ educational participation.
  • Monitor probation requirements, court dates, hearings, release timelines, and case outcomes for justice-involved students.
  • Coordinate and attend probation meetings, court hearings, and other justice-related proceedings to advocate for students.
  • Prepare and coordinate letters of support, progress updates, and school documentation for judicial or probationary proceedings.
  • Communicate justice involvement and legal developments with school leadership while maintaining confidentiality and compliance.
• Vocational Pathway Student Support
  • Serve as embedded Student Persistence & Engagement representative for an assigned vocational pathway.
  • Maintain a visible and consistent presence in classrooms, worksites, and program activities to build trust and identify emerging needs.
  • Partner with Student Advisors, instructors, and Workforce Development staff to identify concerns and provide proactive mentoring and persistence support.
  • Reinforce attendance, professional behaviors, and workforce readiness through individualized coaching.
  • Identify students with behavioral health, substance use, or clinical concerns and coordinate referrals to the Social Work team.
• Community Referral Development
  • Cultivate strategic referral partnerships with schools, juvenile justice agencies, community organizations, shelters, and workforce providers.
  • Collaborate with School Operations and Enrollment to strengthen referral pathways for over-aged, under-credited, and disconnected young adults.
  • Ensure referred students experience a seamless transition from referral through enrollment and engagement.
  • Represent YouthBuild in the community to expand referral networks and increase awareness among organizations serving opportunity youth.
  • Monitor referral trends and recommend strategies to strengthen access to YouthBuild.
  • Analyze Tier III persistence, referral, and engagement data to identify trends and recommend improvements.

Requirements

• Invested in YouthBuild’s core values: Respect, Excellence, and Perseverance.
• Equity-focused and believe all students can achieve.
• Passionate about community service and civic engagement.
• Excited to mentor students and support them during and beyond their time at YouthBuild.
• Collaborative and dedicated to personal and professional development.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Social Work, Education, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Psychology, or a related field.
• 7–10+ years of experience working with opportunity youth, disconnected youth, or justice-involved populations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting youth impacted by community violence and knowledge of Philadelphia’s gun violence prevention initiatives.
• Experience implementing violence intervention, restorative intervention, and trauma-informed engagement strategies.
• Experience and confidence conducting home visits and community outreach.
• Success working with justice-involved or chronically disengaged youth.
• Extensive knowledge of local services, supports, and community resources for Philadelphia youth.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, highly flexible, and often intense work environment.
• Strong commitment to helping young adults reorient their lives, nurture leadership skills, and make a difference in their community.
• Experience in student recruitment, case management, youth development, workforce development, or alternative education preferred.
• Knowledge of restorative practices strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed practices.
• Familiarity with community resources and youth-serving organizations.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for community outreach and home visits.

Benefits

• Generous time off
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• 401(k) savings plan with employer match
• Employer-paid parental leave, life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• Educational assistance and professional development opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative work environment
• Strong community support and involvement

Pay

New YouthBuild Manager-level staff can expect a starting salary of $75,000–$85,000 based on years of experience, education, and certifications.