Employment Specialist for Older Youth

FOSTER CARE COALITION OF GREATER ST•Brentwood, MO

5d•$0 - $57,858•Onsite

About The Position

The Employment Specialist for Older Youth in Foster Care replicates the Works Wonders® employment model for youth in foster care and young adults transitioning out of foster care. The role adapts the model to the needs of older youth in the child welfare system by providing individualized, relationship-based employment and career development services. The Specialist helps youth explore career interests, build workplace skills, prepare for and obtain employment, connect with employers, and receive ongoing support to maintain employment and advance their careers. Using trauma-informed, strengths-based, and positive youth development approaches, the Specialist supports youth in identifying and addressing barriers to employment, which may include housing, transportation, education, limited work experience, financial needs, health, disability-related needs, or limited supportive resources and relationships. The Specialist collaborates with youth, caregivers, Older Youth Readiness Navigators, employers, and community partners. Services are individualized according to each youth’s needs, readiness, and progress, and may be provided in homes, schools, workplaces, and community settings. Maintaining fidelity to the Works Wonders® model is required. The position’s goal is to help youth obtain and sustain meaningful employment while developing financial literacy, self-advocacy, decision-making, problem-solving, and independent living skills that support long-term economic stability and a successful transition to adulthood. The position works 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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Education, Employment Services, Workforce Development, Psychology, or a closely related field.
Minimum of five years of professional experience in employment services, workforce development, youth services, education, child welfare, or a related field is preferred.
Ability to build trusting relationships with youth using empathy, patience, cultural responsiveness, and strengths-based approaches while maintaining professional boundaries.
Strong understanding of youth development, trauma-informed care, and challenges youth may experience when transitioning from foster care to adulthood.
Ability to provide individualized career coaching, facilitate employment-readiness training, develop employer relationships, and connect youth with meaningful employment opportunities.
Strong advocacy, problem-solving, and systems-navigation skills, including addressing housing, transportation, education, health, and other support needs.
Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with youth, caregivers, employers, colleagues, and community partners.
Strong organizational, time-management, and documentation skills, including the ability to manage multiple participants and competing priorities.
Adaptability, creativity, persistence, sound judgment, and ability to work independently while communicating effectively with supervisors and team members.
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive services that respect each youth’s background, abilities, experiences, and individual goals.
Understanding of racial, ethnic, religious, socioeconomic, and other forms of diversity, with sensitivity to the situations of children and families served.
Respect for confidentiality of the children and families served.
Clean criminal history.
Must fulfill mandated reporter responsibilities in the State of Missouri.
Demonstrated integrity, high ethical standards, positive representation of the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition, accountability, and follow-through on commitments.
Ability to communicate effectively; sit, stand, walk, climb stairs, and lift up to 25 pounds; occasionally push or pull; and travel locally to multiple sites as required.
Flexibility to work evenings and weekends when required.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with adolescents and young adults, particularly youth in foster care or transitioning to adulthood.
Knowledge of career development, employment readiness, job placement, employment retention, and workforce training.
Experience facilitating individual or group training and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and community partners.
Familiarity with trauma-informed practices, positive youth development, child welfare systems, and resources for youth with disabilities or other barriers to employment.

Responsibilities

Build trusting relationships with youth using trauma-informed, strengths-based, and positive youth development approaches.
Complete program intake, eligibility, enrollment, and assessments; identify youth strengths, interests, educational and employment backgrounds, goals, and barriers.
Develop and update individualized CareerEd plans with measurable employment and education goals and active youth participation.
Provide flexible support in homes, schools, workplaces, and community settings.
Become proficient in and implement the Works Wonders® E2 Training Curriculum through individual and group training.
Provide career exploration and employment preparation, including résumé development, job applications, interview skills, and workplace expectations.
Develop workplace skills such as communication, professionalism, attendance, time management, teamwork, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
Connect youth with career pathways, vocational training, apprenticeships, internships, work-based learning, and postsecondary education.
Help youth identify, obtain, and maintain employment aligned with their interests, strengths, and career goals.
Develop employer relationships and provide job-search, application, interview, job-matching, and placement assistance.
Provide ongoing employment coaching and follow-up to help youth navigate workplace challenges, build positive relationships, and maintain employment.
Collaborate with employers on support needs, reasonable accommodations, workplace inclusion, and career advancement opportunities.
Apply knowledge of adolescent development, trauma, foster care experiences, and the transition to adulthood when providing employment services.
Help youth navigate barriers related to housing, transportation, education, health, disabilities, and other needs affecting employment.
Coordinate with Older Youth Readiness Navigators, caregivers, case managers, and community partners to connect youth with resources, referrals, supportive adults, and complementary services.
Participate in multidisciplinary planning meetings and align employment services with existing supports without duplicating them.
Recognize how housing instability or unsafe living arrangements may affect employment readiness and retention, and coordinate with housing programs and partners to connect youth with resources.
Help youth understand the relationship between employment, income, budgeting, saving, housing expenses, and long-term financial stability.
Develop and maintain relationships with employers, businesses, educational institutions, workforce agencies, and community organizations to expand employment and training opportunities.
Promote the strengths and abilities of youth with foster care experience and support inclusive workplace experiences.
Stay informed about labor market trends and workforce resources and represent the Coalition at community meetings, job fairs, and employment-related events.
Maintain accurate, timely participant records, including intake, assessments, CareerEd plans, progress notes, services, and employment outcomes.
Use Salesforce and other designated systems to document services, monitor progress, and track employment readiness, training, placement, and retention outcomes.
Complete reports and documentation according to agency policies, program protocols, and funder requirements.
Participate in supervision, case consultations, file reviews, and quality improvement activities; communicate concerns and service barriers to the Director of Employment and Housing.
Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality and follow established service-delivery, case-management, and accountability procedures.
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.
Support the Coalition’s mission by attending special events, training events, and other all-hands activities; perform other duties as assigned, with or without accommodation.