About the Role
Reporting to the Manufacturing Sector Program Manager at ReadyCT—a partner organization of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA)—the FIRST CT Robotics Statewide Coordinator (FIRST Coordinator) will work closely with our partner, NE FIRST, to support development and sustainability of FIRST robotics programs throughout the CT public school system and beyond. The FIRST Coordinator will work with school and district staff, manufacturers, corporate partners, students, families, and community-based organizations (e.g., 4-H, Boys & Girls Club,. etc).
Requirements
What You’ll Do:
Tell the FIRST story to expand teacher and manufacturer knowledge and engagement in FIRST CT programs.
Inventory and catalog the FIRST teams and activities across Connecticut.
Grow number of FIRST teams and participants across the state (3 new FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams and 7 new FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) / FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams each year, with a focus on engaging students from under-resourced/underserved school systems, including the 36 lowest-performing Alliance Districts.
Sustain 454 existing FIRST CT teams, with a focus on engaging students from Alliance Districts.
Convene various stakeholders to form a FIRST CT statewide steering committee.
Aid program partners to recruit and onboard coaches in order to establish new FIRST teams.
Foster and maintain the active support and engagement of current FIRST mentors.
Create systems, inclusive of a communications plan, to sustain FIRST CT initiatives, and ensure teams can access relevant information.
Collaborate and support scrimmages, workshops, and statewide events.
Survey participants to understand the FIRST experience on manufacturing-related careers.
Track key metrics of success on a semi-annual basis and submit written progress reports.
All ReadyCT staff members are encouraged to be flexible and responsive to changes in the scope of duties.
Attention to weekly internal communications via ReadyCT’s weekly bulletin.
Desired Skills:
Working knowledge of FIRST programming in Connecticut (required).
Working knowledge of Connecticut K-12 educational systems and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and ability to connect FIRST programs with these standards (preferred).
A bachelor's degree (required); master’s degree or higher (preferred).
Five or more years experience as a program manager, project manager, and/or small non-profit manager or a similar combination of skills and experience (preferred).
Direct experience with adult volunteers and/or educators and administrators throughout the state.
Experience with corporate engagement or corporate/school partnerships.
Experience working with youth and underrepresented populations.
Exceptional communication, active listening, and facilitation skills.
Capacity to build new relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
Aptitude for learning new technology systems.
Ability to travel regularly (approximately 15% on average with significantly more at times) throughout Connecticut, with some travel outside of the state for events and meetings.
Specific questions about the position may be directed to Director of Talent and Operations, Jeremiah Shockley at: jeremiah.shockley@readyct.org
About the Company
ReadyCT is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to advance academic excellence and career-connected learning for all public school students in Connecticut through collaboration with business, civic, and education leaders. ReadyCT advances its mission by offering dynamic programming in school buildings that, with intention, bridges the gap between public education and the employers who will, ultimately, hire its workforce from our public schools. Businesses continue to respond well to the programming; last year, over 100 Connecticut businesses of all sizes and across all sectors worked alongside ReadyCT to inform ReadyCT’s programming efforts.
ReadyCT also maintains a presence in legislative circles, advocating for policies that systemically improve Connecticut public education, with an emphasis on advancing equity and access.
ReadyCT has a formal affiliation with CBIA, the CT Business & Industry Association, which is the largest, most representative business organization in the state. CBIA members include businesses of all sizes from nearly all industries in Connecticut. Last year, over 100 businesses worked with ReadyCT to bring career-connected learning to students across the state.