STEM Specialist

Boys and Girls Club of the Northwest Suburbs•Carpentersville, IL

About The Position

The STEM Specialist designs and delivers transformative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics experiences for middle and high school youth. This role goes far beyond teaching content — it's about building the whole person. Through hands-on challenges, real-world problem-solving, and career-connected learning, the STEM Specialist helps members develop the critical thinking, collaboration, and workforce readiness skills they need to thrive — in school, in careers, and in life.

Requirements

STEM Skills: Hands-on technical skills that power future careers
Life Skills: Character, resilience, and real-world readiness
Career Readiness: Exposure to professions and post-secondary pathways
Preparing Youth for Future Success
Youth Development & Mentorship
Technical Skills · Innovation · Problem-Solving
Career-Connected Learning
Workforce Readiness · Pathway Exploration
Program Teamwork & Operations
Collaboration · Accountability · Community
Passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
Coachable, adaptable, and flexible team attitude.
Excellent organization and self-management skills.
Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building abilities.
Ability to recognize and reinforce positive youth behavior.
Creativity and enthusiasm for helping youth discover their strengths and future careers.

Nice To Haves

The STEM Specialist connects daily activities to real professions — helping members see themselves in meaningful careers and understand the pathways to get there.

Responsibilities

Serve as a positive mentor and role model — model the work habits, professionalism, and character traits members will need throughout their lives
Recognize and celebrate members' positive behavior, effort, creativity, and accomplishments — build confidence and growth mindset
Ensure members receive meaningful instruction and constructive feedback — teach members to receive and apply feedback — a critical workplace skill
Continually adapt activities to respond to member interests, needs, and cultural diversity — build cultural awareness and inclusive collaboration skills
Record daily attendance and maintain accurate participation records — develop members' accountability habits through consistent structure
Demonstrate leadership in conduct, safety, life, and employability skills development goals
Design and facilitate hands-on STEM experiences promoting innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving — members tackle real engineering and design challenges
Lead activities in robotics, coding, engineering design, electronics, digital literacy, and scientific exploration — build technical competencies aligned to in-demand career fields
Facilitate project-based learning experiences that encourage collaboration and creativity — mirror authentic workplace team dynamics
Coordinate STEM competitions, challenges, showcases, and special events — members build presentation and performance skills
Utilize technology and educational software to enhance learning experiences — digital fluency for the modern workforce
Maintain STEM equipment, technology, and learning spaces safely and organized — responsible stewardship of shared resources
Introduce members to STEM careers and post-secondary opportunities — connect every activity to real jobs and real futures
Assist members in developing technical skills supporting college, career, and workforce readiness
Collaborate with schools, colleges, businesses, and community partners to provide STEM enrichment opportunities — bring guest speakers, site visits, and mentors into the learning experience
Oversee STEM-related field trips, competitions, community service projects, and special events
Collaborate actively as an Impact Center team member to meet shared program goals
Prepare written experience plans detailing activity purpose, materials, process, and skills addressed — build personal planning and documentation skills while modeling professionalism
Participate in implementation of other Impact Center activities as needed
Maintain the Impact Center facility — cleaning, organizing, and preparing activity spaces — shared responsibility and community pride