Ambassador: Youth Leadership Development

Overview

Working Title:
Ambassador:
Youth Leadership Development

State Role

Title:

Administrative and Professional Faculty

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt:
Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Education

Department: 540992 - I m Determined Center FY26

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? Yes. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon continued funding.

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 03/09/2026

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia s Shenandoah Valley, Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with ~52,000 residents. It is about 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. JMU is a selective public institution with ~21,000 undergraduates and ~1,800 graduates, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty. JMU offers programs across disciplines and is recognized for strong student/faculty interaction and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Virginia Department of Education I m Determined Center (IMD) at JMU seeks a qualified education professional to provide training and consultation to foster self-determination skills in students with disabilities. This is a grant-funded position with opportunities for ongoing professional learning, collaboration, and influence on educational practices.

The Youth Leadership Development Ambassador s role is to organize, plan, and facilitate youth leader development throughout Virginia, including the I m Determined Youth Leaders. The ambassador will plan leadership activities, record and manage TRACK evaluation data, and identify training opportunities outside of IMD. Key areas include disability awareness, IMD tool utilization, peer support, mentorship, and community building.

When working with youth and young adults, the ambassador will build and maintain relationships with families to support youth development, including helping parents/caregivers assist youth with IEP preparation, problem-solving in school/work/community environments, and continuing self-determination skill development when staff are not present.

These are tele-eligible positions.

Statewide Leadership Initiatives

• Coordinate and oversee youth involvement in statewide events, including I m Determined Youth and Family Summits, educator workshops, and other statewide conferences offering youth leadership development opportunities.
• Develop and implement statewide youth leadership programs aligned with Virginia Department of Education goals.
• Act as a liaison between youth leaders and other stakeholders to advocate for youth perspectives in educational initiatives.
• Establish and support youth leadership networks within regions, connecting youth leaders with local schools, families, and community organizations.
• Facilitate youth leadership and participation in regional training workshops and events focused on leadership, self-determination, and advocacy skills.

Training and Curriculum Development

• Design and distribute statewide training materials and toolkits to support youth self-determination and leadership growth.
• Deliver virtual and in-person training sessions for youth leaders, families, and educators across Virginia.
• Coordinate and conduct professional development sessions on self-determination skills essential for students with disabilities (e.g., self-advocacy, decision-making, goal-setting).
• Help educators incorporate practices that build students  competence, autonomy, and belonging to generalize skills for postsecondary life.

Statewide Youth Mentorship Programming

• Provide direct mentorship to youth leaders at the state level, offering guidance on personal leadership development and community involvement.
• Facilitate small group sessions to empower youth leaders to identify and pursue their strengths.
• Enable youth leaders to design and lead activities that inspire peers and educators.

Statewide Collaboration and Advocacy

• Partner with schools, communities, and state agencies to expand leadership opportunities for youth with disabilities.
• Represent and invite youth perspectives to state-level meetings and advisory boards to promote youth-inspired policies and practices.

Impact Measurement and Reporting

• Evaluate and report on the effectiveness of statewide youth leadership initiatives to project leadership and the Virginia Department of Education.
• Document and share success stories to highlight the impact of the I m Determined Project across the Commonwealth.

School and Community Engagement

• Support individual schools and classrooms in implementing I m Determined programs, including youth-directed IEPs and…