Program Associate, Higher Education

About this role

Position Title: Program Associate, Higher Education
Status: Full Time
FLSA: Exempt
Location:Flexible/Remote
JOB SUMMARY & KEY PRIORITIES
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.
ABOUT ACTIVE MINDS
Active Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms across society. For more than 20 years, we have equipped the next generation of peer mental health advocates through a variety of programs, including the Active Minds Chapter Network, A.S.K., and Send Silence Packing. Our advocacy, initiatives, and campaigns foster lasting change in how youth view and discuss mental health, encouraging them to use their voices to influence broader conversations and inform mental health supports within their communities. Together, we are building a diverse movement of champions committed to improving mental health for all.
KEY RESULTS
Initiative Implementation

• 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 (e.g. Chapters, the Youth Mental Health Innovation Fund, policy advocacy).

• Connect MHAI participants and collegiate advocates to the Youth Mental Health Innovation Fund through outreach, informational sessions, and application support, in coordination with the Senior Manager, Youth Grants and Educator Engagement

• 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, referring complex participation concerns, policy decisions, and strategic questions to the Senior Manager.

Execution of Functional/Tactical Tasks

• 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, using established program criteria and guidance from the Senior Manager, as they develop campus mental health advocacy action plans, identify administrative allies, and implement campus and systemic changes.

• Facilitate and co-facilitate virtual sessions, office hours, make-up sessions, and small groups across assigned Youth Leadership programs, using interactive activities, discussions, and reflections that strengthen students’ leadership and advocacy skills.

• Carry out assigned projects from planning through completion, maintaining timelines, coordinating deliverables, and keeping the Senior Manager informed of progress, barriers, and support needs.

• Use ClickUp and Google Workspace to track project milestones, tasks, session communications, and facilitator and speaker logistics.

Logistical and Tactical Support

• Maintain the MHAI's online learning platform, including posting materials and assignments, organizing resources, and supporting participant access.

• Coordinate logistics for MHAI facilitators, guest speakers, and virtual sessions, including scheduling, onboarding materials, attendance, breakout rooms, interactive tools, and participant access needs.

• Handle administrative tasks across assigned Youth Leadership programs, including mass communications, participant records , required forms, and submitted work.

• Under the Senior Manager's guidance, process participant stipends, speaker honoraria, facilitator payments, including collecting forms and receipts, submitting payment requests, tracking payment status, and flagging discrepancies.

Content, Document, and Resource Creation

• Create and update supplemental materials for higher education and other Youth Leadership programs, including videos, worksheets, interactive activities, reflection prompts, action plan templates, and facilitator guides, using established templates and in collaboration with the Senior Manager and relevant colleagues.

• Prepare facilitator training materials, communications, and…