Youth Development Counselor

Greater Missoula Family YMCA•Missoula, MT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Development Counselor proactively engages Missoula’s youth in safe and healthy choices while they attend the YMCA. Counselors facilitate afternoon club programs, patrol the YMCA Youth Hub and its associated spaces, and set up, host, and clean up after birthday parties. They serve as positive role models in the facility and community, modeling the YMCA’s core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. The role requires comfort working with adults, children, and YMCA staff; clear communication with supervisors; flexibility in a changing community-service environment; and the ability to work with minimal supervision. The position is part-time, 5–10 hours per week, and reports to the Associate Director of Youth Development. The role is subject to Montana’s 12-month introductory (probationary) period. Counselors may be required to attend trainings and meetings outside their normal or regularly scheduled hours.

Requirements

At least one year of high school attendance.
CPR, First Aid, and Child Abuse Training certifications; training can be obtained at the YMCA.
Satisfactory background check to be eligible to work with children.
Ability to work effectively as a team member.
Ability to interpret and enforce safety and health regulations and respond to emergencies.
Ability to build genuine relationships with participants and maintain a welcoming environment for people from diverse backgrounds.
Flexibility and willingness to work enthusiastically amid changing priorities.
Interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build and maintain positive relationships and work with diverse individuals.
Sound judgment and ability to handle conflicts promptly and professionally.
Ability to perform the position’s functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Ability to communicate clearly with children, parents, members, and personnel.
Ability to attend required trainings and meetings, including those outside normal or regular scheduled hours.
Maintain a clean, well-groomed appearance.
Ability to walk, stand, and sit, including on the floor, for long periods.
Ability to lift, carry, and move supplies and equipment; the listed weight threshold is incomplete in the posting.
Ability to work effectively in a group and as a team member.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience working with children.
Prior experience in youth programs, camps, or other YMCA departments.

Responsibilities

Adhere to the YMCA mission and put its core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility into practice in youth spaces.
Facilitate youth and teen club activities, developing the curriculum week to week to support growth and interest development.
Set up spaces for party rentals, host party attendees, signal the end of rentals, and clean the spaces afterward.
Patrol ground-floor YMCA spaces and engage youth members in activities appropriate to each space.
Know, explain, and enforce rules and policies for members.
Help ensure a safe environment for all facility members.
Learn members’ names and make oneself known and available to them.
Foster a positive culture in youth spaces that encourages appreciation, ownership, and belonging among youth members.
Assist with other youth programs conducted in youth spaces.
Attend staff meetings, in-service training, certification courses, and required child sexual abuse prevention training.
Communicate facility needs and concerns to the supervisor and help maintain cleanliness in hallways, restrooms, gyms, the Youth Activity Center, The Hub, and the Airnasium.
Understand all emergency action plans.
Communicate effectively with members, the supervisor, and other YMCA staff.
Comply with mandatory-reporter legal and ethical obligations regarding suspected child abuse and cooperate with related investigations.
Know the work schedule and report to work on time.
Perform other duties as assigned.