Director of Employment and Housing Services for Older Youth

FOSTER CARE COALITION OF GREATER ST•Brentwood, MO

4d•$70,000 - $72,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Employment and Housing Services for Older Youth provides strategic leadership and oversight of the Coalition’s Works Wonders® workforce exploration program and housing services. The role supports youth in foster care and young adults transitioning out of foster care in achieving meaningful employment, career advancement, economic stability, and safe, sustainable housing. The Director leads implementation and growth of the Works Wonders® model, ensuring fidelity to the model and access to individualized career planning, education and training, employer connections, job placement, and employment retention support. Using youth-centered, trauma-informed, strengths-based, and positive youth development approaches, the Director supervises program staff, monitors outcomes, strengthens employer and community partnerships, and identifies resources to expand workforce and housing services. The Director coordinates employment, housing, education, and other supports with agency teams and community partners to address barriers and promote successful transitions to adulthood. The position reports to the Senior Director of Specialized Support. The position entails work in the community and office, with the Coalition office at 1220 North Lindbergh serving as the home base. Primary office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST, with flexibility and possible evening and weekend hours. Local travel to multiple sites may be required. Physical demands include sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, and occasionally lifting up to 25 pounds, pushing, or pulling. Effective communication is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Education, Employment Services, Workforce Development, Psychology, or a closely related field.
At least seven years of professional experience in youth services, employment services, workforce development, housing services, child welfare, or a closely related field.
Three to five years of supervisory or program management experience.
Demonstrated experience working with adolescents and young adults using positive youth development and trauma-informed approaches.
Experience using program data to monitor outcomes, evaluate performance, and implement improvements.
Knowledge of workforce development systems, employment services, career pathways, and youth career-readiness strategies.
Understanding of employer needs, business practices, workplace expectations, and employer engagement strategies.
Knowledge of vocational assessments, career exploration, job readiness, employment placement, retention, and career advancement practices.
Knowledge of housing systems, affordable housing resources, housing navigation, landlord engagement, housing stabilization, and strategies for long-term housing security.
Understanding of factors that influence housing stability, including financial management, employment, independent living skills, supportive relationships, and barriers to accessing housing.
Understanding of applicable state and federal employment and housing laws, regulations, and requirements.
Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships with employers, workforce agencies, housing providers, landlords, educational institutions, and community organizations.
Ability to coordinate employment, housing, and supportive services using youth-centered, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approaches.
Understanding of racial, ethnic, religious, socioeconomic, and other differences, and sensitivity to the circumstances of children and families served.
Respect for the confidentiality of children and families served.
Clean criminal history.
Integrity, high ethical standards, accountability for results, and commitment to keeping commitments.
Effective communication skills.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, and occasionally lifting up to 25 pounds or pushing and pulling.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with youth in foster care or youth transitioning out of foster care.
Experience developing and maintaining relationships with employers, educational institutions, housing providers, and community partners.
Experience with grant-funded programs, funder reporting, and grant development.

Responsibilities

Oversee implementation and coordination of the Works Wonders® workforce development strategy and ensure services support participants’ individualized education, employment, and long-term career goals.
Ensure youth receive individualized career and education planning consistent with CareerEd plans, including career exploration, vocational assessments, labor market information, and employment readiness activities.
Oversee access to postsecondary education, vocational training, apprenticeships, internships, work-based learning, job placement, employment retention, and career advancement opportunities.
Develop and maintain partnerships with workforce development agencies, employers, educational institutions, youth employment centers, community training providers, housing providers, landlords, and community organizations.
Ensure staff identify and address barriers to sustainable employment and housing stability through resource coordination and referrals.
Promote financial literacy, workplace professionalism, self-advocacy, decision-making, independent living skills, financial management, and tenancy responsibilities.
Oversee housing readiness, navigation, stabilization, resource coordination, landlord engagement, referrals, and ongoing support for youth seeking safe and sustainable housing.
Coordinate housing, employment, education, and supportive services to address barriers to independence and successful transitions to adulthood.
Ensure services are youth-centered, trauma-informed, strengths-based, and responsive to participants’ individual needs, goals, and abilities.
Monitor program implementation, service delivery, outcomes, and performance; identify and implement improvements.
Provide leadership and supervision to program staff.
Collaborate with the Director of Older Youth Readiness, agency teams, and community partners.
Complete a daily activity log and maintain an up-to-date Outlook calendar.
Adhere to the Coalition’s Shared Values, Employee Code of Conduct, and Employee Code of Ethics.
Attend special events, training events, and other agency activities as needed; perform other duties as assigned.
Fulfill mandated reporter responsibilities in the State of Missouri.