Youth Development Specialist

Position Title: Youth Development Specialist

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Budget Responsibilities: NONE

Reports To: Program Manager

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Date: February 2025

Closing: Until filled

POSITION SUMMARY:

Join Identity’s Out of School Time Team as a full-time bilingual (Spanish/English) energetic, positive, and dynamic Youth Development Specialist (YDS). The YDS provides before- and after- school programming to 25 youth in middle and high school students in Montgomery County. YDS are primarily responsible for delivering a social-emotional, fitness, and recreation curriculum. YDSs co-facilitate programs, build strong, mentoring relationships with students and families. They report directly to the Program Manager.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Working in a team, the YDS is responsible to plan, coordinate, and implement social-emotional, fitness, and recreation curriculum to up to 25 youth in middle and high school students in a co-facilitator model. YDSs also work collaboratively with the Parent Outreach Worker to ensure families’ needs are identified and met.

2. Recruits and retains eligible youth and parents to participate in the program and ensures that all authorizations and enrollment forms are completed.

3. Provides mentoring, coaching, advocacy, and support to cultivate strong and trusting relationships with individual students, families, and school staff.

4. Establishes and maintains strong and effective professional relationships with school administration, teachers, guidance counselors, and other school-based personnel to ensure a successful program.

5. Maintains organized and updated physical and electronic files on each student and their family, including relevant documentation such as signed forms and releases. Maintains confidentiality and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability) requirements.

6. Delivers and collects evaluation baseline and exit youth surveys and ensures the confidentiality of data and reviews the outcomes to make program improvements.

7. Responds appropriately to emergencies that involve or impact youth safety and security.

8. May deliver emergency food and supplies, as needed to clients.

9. May support the Parent Outreach Worker during monthly family workshops.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Participates in Identity’s advocacy activities.

2. Assists with excursions and special events when needed.

3. Performs other duties as assigned, required, or needed.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma required; bachelor's degree preferred.
• Fluency in oral and written English/Spanish required.
• Minimum two years of experience working with youth or community outreach/enrichment program.
• Training in Stages of Change, coaching, counseling, or adolescent development is a plus.
• Must be able to pass a federal criminal background check and a Child Protective Services background check.
• Position requires travel between sites and emergency food and supplies delivery as needed. Access to a vehicle, valid driver's license, proof of car insurance, and clean driving record are required.
• Must complete the following training upon hire: Advancing Youth Development, Child Protective Services, HIPAA, CPR/First Aid, etc.
• Must be proficient in MS Office and Zoom.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Spanish.
• Knowledge of adolescent psychology (including Stages of Change and developmental stages), Positive Youth Development Model, motivational interviewing, and counseling.
• Builds and maintains rapport and trust with clients, staff, and stakeholders to ensure program success.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and knows how to prioritize multiple projects to meet deadlines with effective and efficient use of resources.
• Works effectively under pressure while maintaining composure and handles emergencies with professionalism to defuse crisis situations.
• Demonstrates ability to be a positive, open-minded, and collaborative team member who enjoys working towards one goal and enjoys learning from others.
• Continuously demonstrates a strong code of ethics and integrity when fulfilling obligations.
• Demonstrates sound judgment and decision making when working with youth and others. Shows flexibility, initiative, and resourcefulness in all actions and conversations.
• Exerts ethical judgement when fulfilling administrative work with confidential information and during interactions with clients.
• Possesses the technical knowledge and abilities to perform job responsibilities while demonstrating a high skill level as well as reliability.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Schedule is Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a lunch hour break in between.
• Position is fully in person with occasional remote flexibility in-between program sessions. Wi-Fi/Internet access and a quiet working environment while working remotely, is required.
• The ability to lift and move up to 10 lbs.
• Must be able to work a flexible work schedule including some evenings and weekends if needed.
• Semi-private office or open work area with controlled air temperature, noise, and occasional interruptions.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.67 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• working with youth or community outreach/enrichment program: 2 years (Preferred)

Language:

• English and Spanish (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Gaithersburg, MD 20877: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $21