Director of Empowerment and Advocacy

Title: Director Empowerment & Advocacy

Location: Great Barrington, MA (the Beautiful Berkshires)

Position: Full-time, leadership

Compensation: $60,000-$65,000, commensurate with experience

Special Benefits: Berkshire Passport ($1000 annually for cultural, wellness, outdoor or fitness activities), $5000 housing benefit (one time)

Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP) is a small, youth-founded youth organization dedicated to youth empowerment, in southern part of the beautiful Berkshires of western Massachusetts. AT RAILROAD STREET, YOUTH TAKE THE LEAD. They explore their full potential and become equipped to meet the challenging transition to adulthood. RSYP’s professional staff expertly pairs youth-generated ideas with community resources, empowering youth to create and oversee a wide range of innovative, life-changing projects. Unmatched in mission and scope, RSYP excels in helping youth find their voice and realize the benefits of their commitment to themselves and their community.

The position – The Director of Empowerment and Advocacy is responsible for:

• Leading a team of experienced youth workers to deliver effective, youth driven programming empowering 800 South County youth annually.
• Facilitating direction, support, outreach and program oversight to program coordinators leading RSYP’s Drop-in Center, Skate Park, Youth Operational Board, RYSE and Mentoring and Apprenticeship Programs.
• Providing direct one-on-one advocacy and support to South County youth, cultivating relationships with young people across RSYP programs, and leading an empowerment-based team approach to youth support and advocacy.
• Enhancing program design and integrating connections across RSYP direct service programs to ensure connectivity and support for all participating youth.
• Expanding capacity in RSYP’s mentoring program with direct parent support, cross program recruitment design, and mentor/match support and oversight.

Core Qualifications – The Director of Empowerment & Advocacy embodies RSYP’s mission in day-to-day interactions with young people and approach to leadership, program design and implementation, staff supervision and problem solving. This position requires a person to have four core competencies:

·      Evidenced passion for asset/empowerment-based youth development matching experience in the field of youth work

·      Leadership experience in program design, outreach and recruitment, team-building, and staff supervision

·      Empowerment-based, facilitative advocacy and/or counseling experience, especially related to identity development and/or problem substance use

·      Strong skill sets in social justice and cultural competency literacies and experience working across social differences including age, race, socio-economic status, gender, sexuality and ability

·      Experience building outreach, recruitment and program design for young men and the development of healthy masculinities

·      Ability to build strong collaborative community relationships with individuals and organizations

·      Availability to work occasional nights & weekends

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@rsyp.org

RSYP is an equal opportunity employer. People who identify as working class, people of color, multiracial, women, genderqueer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and differently abled are strongly encouraged to apply.