Youth Advocate III-Syracuse

We are offering a $1500 sign on bonus for all Youth Advocate positions! 

Job Summary

The Youth Advocate III for Hillside Work Scholarship Connection (HWSC) provides project management, coordination, and support to youth advocate programming in assigned HWSC region. This position works in close collaboration with the team Supervisor(s) and Leadership to meet assigned student needs through delivery of core service model, after school programming, summer programming, family engagement, and new team member activities. The Youth Advocate III provides mentorship to Youth Advocate I and II staff.

Essential Job Functions

• Participate on all youth advocate interview panels for HWSC vacancies and support the hiring process by providing feedback and recommendations to the HWSC Supervisor(s).
• Represent HWSC at various colleges, community, and career fairs to recruit potential youth advocates as well to promote HWSC services.
• Mentor and coach new Youth Advocate I and II staff and provide feedback to HWSC Supervisor regarding the performance of Youth Advocate I and II staff. 
• Assist leaders in planning for HWSC new and on-going employee development and training through the identification of community resources.  Provide recommendations and advisement to the HWSC Supervisor(s) on delivery of professional development trainings via case conferences to support youth advocate learning and high-quality program delivery. 
• Facilitate specific aspects of HWSC new employee training as directed by leadership.
• Research and remain knowledgeable of current youth development trends and issues. 
• Coordinate and provide project management and operational support to the Youth Advocate Program for select events including Summer Academy, Senior Celebration, and Annual Professional Development.
• Maintain a permanent caseload of students, typically those who are highly disengaged and are in need of recovery services.
• Apply State Department of Education high school graduation requirements and local school specific requirements, as well as necessary post-secondary planning processes (FASFA, SAT/ACT and/or Accuplacer testing, college applications process, work force preparation, and job placement) with each student’s guidance counselor for graduation success and post-secondary success for assigned students.
• Provide transitional services to an unassigned caseload during the caseload replacement process.
• Engage in initial contact and logistical aspects of setting up and/or facilitate training sessions, as needed and under the direction of leaders to support youth learnings and high-quality program delivery
• While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Associate's degree in human services, Business or a related field required.
• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience in human services, childhood or youth development, student mentoring, coaching adolescent youth, or related field required.

Special Requirements

• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

In addition to demonstrating the Hillside Professional Competencies of Communicates Effectively, Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships, and Optimizes Decision Making, the following occupational competencies must be demonstrated:

• Knowledge of and ability to apply services from the school site and community resources.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply theoretical and practical adolescent development and positive youth development and to recognize the signs and symptoms of students heading at risk (decisions, patterns of behavior, negative peer relationships) and ability to address with appropriate interventions for student.
• Knowledge of and proficiency with software applications, accurate data entry and ability to learn new applications (internet, ETO, Parent Connect, Microsoft Office). 
• Ability to manage through complex systems and proven experience negotiating win-win agreements.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply project management best practices on a regular basis in order to set priorities, meet deadlines and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, changing environment with exceptional attention to detail, planning, problem solving.
• Advanced small and large group facilitation skills.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to work a variable scheduling including evenings and weekends
• Must be able to drive to and from multiple work/school sites during your work shift 
• The following physical demands are required:
  • Occasional sitting (up to 4 hours)
  • Occasional standing (up to 1 hour)
  • Occasional walking (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Occasional driving (up to 8 hours)
  • Continuous balancing (up to 8 hours)
  • Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching forward or down, reaching overhead, running, and twisting (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Lifting up to 50 lbs. (staff may be required to move and lift desks, set up tables, large screens, backdrops, etc.), 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
  • Carrying up to 55 lbs. approximately 10-100 ft., 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
• Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands (approximately 1-2.5 hrs.)
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes, gases or chemicals is apparent. 
• Protective clothing or equipment required: Close toed shoes; Protective Shields, Universal Precaution PPE, Gloves for toileting and food preparation
• Ability to change positions as needed

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• May be required to climb stairs as necessary
• May be required to transport students to community events or home sites that may occasionally expose employee to cigarette smoke, cleaning supplies, recreational marijuana, pets etc.