Youth Development Specialist

The Youth Development Specialist role at Milton Hershey School involves married couples serving as flex houseparents, providing support and guidance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Couples will create a family-like environment while managing household responsibilities and engaging in daily activities with students. This unique position offers competitive compensation, housing, and benefits, emphasizing a commitment to youth development.

Milton Hershey School (MHS) is one of the world's best private schools, where students in pre-K through 12th grade from disadvantaged backgrounds receive an exceptional career-focused education with housing, meals, and more—and all costs are covered.

Thanks to the generosity of Milton and Catherine Hershey, who founded the school in 1909, the school is fully endowed and has the resources to ensure both students and staff are provided everything they need to thrive.

MHS is hiring married couples to become flex houseparents. Flex houseparents are couples who reside in on-campus student homes, guiding and nurturing a group of approximately 8-12 students. Flex houseparents provide a consistent family-like structure for students and handle responsibilities such as driving, administering medication, budgeting, reporting, etc. When initially hired, flex houseparents cover different student homes before being assigned to one specific home.

Benefits

• Salary of $43,825 per person (a total compensation package of approx. $150,000 per couple which includes free housing, meals while on duty, utilities, and more)

• Comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, and vision insurance; health savings and flexible spending accounts; life insurance; disability options; retirement savings

• Relocation assistance and paid training provided

• Schedule of nine days on followed by three days off. Workdays include a period of personal time while students are at school

• Three-week paid summer vacation

Qualifications

• Experience working or volunteering with youth, preferably from under-served settings

• This is a two-person job for couples who have been legally married for at least two years

• Both spouses should be age 27 or older

• No more than three dependent children may reside in the student home

• Abide by a smoke-free and weapon-free campus. No alcohol is permitted while on duty

• Limitations on pets. Only fish and one dog of approved breeds is permitted

• Valid driver's license; ability to become certified to drive student home vans

• Couples must be comfortable leading students in daily devotions and take students to Judeo-Christian Sunday chapel services (Note: Proselytizing is prohibited)

• High school diploma or GED required

• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

• Candidates must demonstrate a high degree of integrity as all staff are role models for students.

• Both spouses must complete an individual employment application

This is a unique career path that takes consideration and commitment from both spouses. If you have any specific questions before or after applying, please reach out to our recruitment team.

Keywords:

youth development, childcare, houseparents, flex houseparents, education, private school, career-focused education, student support, Hershey, community service

Salary : $43,825