Project Coordinator, California Youth Empowerment Network

Location: Sacramento In-office. Must be able and willing to travel to our community partners across the state, all expenses will be paid.

Ideal Commitment: minimum 3 years with opportunities for growth

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt, 37.5 hours a week

Reports To: CAYEN Program Manager

Job Description

Under the supervision of California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) Program Manager, the project coordinator works to empower transitional age youth (TAY) voice in behavioral health policy issues, ensure that their perspective is represented in policy discussions and decisions at the local and state levels and educate behavioral health professionals and decision makers on TAY recommendations for behavioral health systems transformation.

Founded in 2006, CAYEN’s mission is to empower TAY to create positive changes in behavioral health policy and service delivery, and to promote prevention and early intervention activities to improve and maintain the behavioral health of TAY in all systems of care. CAYEN is TAY led, by TAY for TAY.

What You Get to Do:

Leadership – Including but not limited to:

• Actively create an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful environment that embraces diversity.
• In partnership with the CAYEN Program Manager, lead the development and operationalization of CAYEN’s statewide TAY advocacy.
• Ensure the timely completion of deliverables when applicable.
• Regularly review project financial statements to ensure the budget is adhered to.
• Deliver advocacy trainings and presentations.
• Actively research and identify advocacy opportunities for Statewide TAY Action Teams, including but not limited to decision making bodies and spaces, local and statewide events, and funding opportunities.
• Represent CAYEN in the community through networking and collaboration.
• Lead TAY Action Team meetings, conference calls and webinars in collaboration with CAYEN team.
• Work closely with the CAYEN Board to support and develop when applicable.
• Responsible for project development.
• Conduct extensive outreach to grow CAYEN’s network.

Policy and Advocacy – including but not limited to:

• Work with TAY to bring their voice to various advocacy forums, meetings and events.
• Develop advocacy tools and talking points for TAY.
• In partnership with CAYEN Program Manager and Public Policy Coordinator develop annual policy priorities and operationalize annual goals.
• Participate in various statewide committees and workgroups as applicable.
• Build relationships with community stakeholders, including but not limited to government agencies, advocacy groups, and community-based organizations.
• In partnership with Director of Public Policy, Public Policy Coordinator CAYEN’s Program Manager, and other identified team members, develop recommendations, position papers, and policy papers to further CAYEN’s mission and goals.
• Work with Coordinator of Public Policy and CAYEN’s Program Manager to track TAY related mental health policy and legislative action.

What You Can Expect From Us:

• Competitive salary range: $28.21- $29.50/ hour depending upon experience.
• Exceptional benefits including medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, acupuncture, life insurance, employee assistance program, 403(b) retirement plan with employer discretionary contributions.
• Yearly Paid Time Off: 16 days of holiday, 10 days of accrued vacation and 48 hours of sick leave.
• Responsibility and professional growth
• The chance to work with a great team of people, make a difference, and most importantly, the room to be yourself

What we Expect from You:

• Be within the age of Transition Age Youth (TAY),
• Identify as part of and/or ally of LGBTQ community.
• Have lived experience with the behavioral health, juvenile justice, housing security, and/or foster care systems.
• Applicants from historically marginalized groups and individuals with lived experience of behavioral health challenges are encouraged to apply.
• Minimum of two years of experience with community programs and two years of experience working with TAY.
• Commitment to CAYEN’s mission as stated above.
• Ability to lead and manage ethically, and with integrity, in all areas of the position.
• Ability to support CAYEN’s psychologically healthy and safe workplace culture.
• Understanding of, and commitment to, youth leadership development and empowerment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience in community outreach and group facilitation.
• Proven success in a leadership role with ability to oversee diverse project deliverables and implement program goals and objectives.
• Strong project management skills, with ability to develop, build, and execute new programming and projects.
• Innovative spirit that thrives with collaborative teams.
• Community organizing experience and/or knowledge of public policy and legislative process.
• Ability to translate real-life issues and barriers to behavioral health services into policy recommendations and action plans.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point and social media platforms utilized by transitional aged youth (TAY).
• Flexibility to travel across California and work evenings and occasional weekends as needed.
• Experience with collaborative partnerships.
• Demonstrated history of effectively engaging youth and young adults in community discussions, forums, or workshops.
• Understanding of mental health policy issues and the impact of stigma.

To be eligible for this position, we Must receive the following:

1. Resume

2. Writing sample