Community Engagement & University Collaboration Coordinator

Number of Openings: One (1)

Background/Context

The For Youth, By Youth (FYBY) movement is a youth-led initiative aimed at empowering young leaders to drive community, institutional, and societal transformation. Funded by the Mastercard Foundation, FYBY leverages the networks of the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities—a coalition dedicated to strengthening the civic roles of higher education institutions—paNhari, an organization that supports youth development and leadership, and the Next Generation Leaders (NGL) Alumni, a group of experienced youth leaders who actively contribute their insights and expertise to strengthen FYBY’s impact. Together, these critical stakeholders are building a collaborative environment where diverse voices worldwide engage in addressing urgent challenges through leadership, wellness, ethical AI, and participatory action research.

About the Role

The Community Engagement & University Collaboration Coordinator will support For Youth, By Youth participants in building impactful partnerships with community and university collaborators. Working closely with the Talloires Network secretariat, particularly the Senior Program Administrator, this role focuses on identifying, matching, and onboarding collaborators from non-university youth groups and students enrolled at Tufts University. Additionally, this role will play a key part in strengthening FYBY’s connections with Partner Universities, supporting synchronous virtual gatherings and coordinating with university contacts to ensure alignment with FYBY’s mission and engagement strategies.

This role will be directly contracted and supervised by the paNhari team and involves close collaboration with the Talloires Network secretariat staff to ensure alignment with Mastercard Foundation values, emphasizing accessibility, inclusivity, and adaptability to meet evolving program needs.

As FYBY progresses, there may be adjustments in roles and responsibilities to meet the evolving needs of the program. Flexibility and adaptability are essential as we work together to uphold the FYBY mission and cultivate strong, impactful partnerships.

Timeline and LOE

This role requires consistent engagement throughout the FYBY program phases, with an estimated Level of Effort (LOE) of 1.5 days (12 hours) per week, increasing to 2 days (16 hours) per week during peak onboarding and collaboration matchmaking periods.

Note: A “day” is considered an 8-hour workday.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Develop Selection Criteria for Collaborators

Collaborate with the Talloires Network secretariat to create inclusive and strategic criteria for selecting community and university collaborators.
Ensure selection aligns with FYBY themes, participant needs, and working group objectives.
Deliverable: Finalized selection criteria for collaborators.

2. Identify and Build a Collaborator Network

Reach out to potential collaborators, including community youth, Tufts University students, and community organizations that align with FYBY’s themes.
Build and maintain a database of interested collaborators, detailing their expertise and relevance to participant projects.
Deliverable: A database of potential collaborators with contact information and areas of interest.

3. Promote Collaboration Opportunities

Design and distribute promotional materials announcing collaboration opportunities to Tufts students and community members.
Conduct outreach to highlight the objectives, roles, and benefits of supporting FYBY projects.
Deliverable: Outreach materials and announcements promoting collaboration opportunities.

4. Facilitate Collaboration Matchmaking

Organize virtual or in-person “matchmaking” events where FYBY participants and potential collaborators can connect.
Pair participants with suitable collaborators based on project needs and alignment with FYBY’s objectives.
Deliverable: Agendas, attendance records, and feedback from matchmaking events.

5. Onboard Selected Collaborators

Conduct an onboarding session for collaborators, providing an orientation on the FYBY program and their role in supporting participants.
Share relevant curriculum materials and project outlines to ensure collaborators are aligned with participant goals.
Deliverable: Orientation materials and documentation of onboarded collaborators.

6. Establish Communication Channels

Set up and monitor effective communication tools (e.g., WhatsApp groups, email chains) for participants, collaborators, and mentors to maintain ongoing interactions.
Ensure all parties have access to resources and clear instructions for staying connected throughout the collaboration.
Deliverable: Communication channels established and communication guidelines shared with participants and collaborators.

7. Monitor Collaboration Progress and Provide Support

Regularly review the progress of collaborations, offering assistance or conflict resolution when needed.
Facilitate check-ins to ensure collaborations align with FYBY goals and that both participants and collaborators benefit from the partnership.
Deliverable: Collaboration progress reports and records of support provided.

8. Strengthen Relationships with Partner Universities

Act as a point of contact for Partner Universities, fostering relationships to encourage active participation and support for FYBY’s goals.
Support the planning and execution of virtual gatherings organized by Partner Universities, working closely with university representatives and the TN Senior Program Administrator to coordinate schedules and objectives.
Deliverable: Documentation of partnerships, event agendas, and summaries of virtual gathering outcomes.

9. Coordinate International and Virtual Gatherings

Assist with planning synchronous, virtual gatherings to connect FYBY participants with collaborators and university contacts globally.
Collaborate with the Talloires Network and Partner Universities to organize logistics, communication, and engagement for these events.
Deliverable: Organized virtual gathering plans, including attendee lists, schedules, and feedback collected post-events.