Youth Employment Specialist

St. Joseph Center•Los Angeles, CA

11h•$50,000 - $58,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Employment Specialist works to increase the income of young people enrolled in Youth Pathways South LA while they are in the program. The position connects participants to part-time work, early employment, internships and apprenticeships, helps them apply, prepare and get hired, and stays with them through the first months on the job so that the placement holds. The Youth Employment Specialist works with the Career Coach on the career pathways identified for each youth and works closely with the case managers and the Youth Pathways Lead to remove the barriers that stand between a young person and a paycheck.

Requirements

2+ years of experience in employment services, job placement, workforce development, staffing or a closely related field, preferably serving youth or young adults.
Experience and/or a strong interest in working with justice-involved youth, youth experiencing homelessness, or opportunity youth.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work, human services or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
The ability to communicate with and relate to a diverse group of people including clients, community, employers and other staff.
Practical knowledge of the entry-level labor market in Los Angeles, including which employers hire young people quickly, what those jobs pay and what they require.
Ability to hold a young person accountable while keeping the relationship intact, using a trauma-informed and strength-based approach.
Experience with Salesforce, Clarity/HMIS or a comparable client data system
Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Ability to use widely supported internet browsers.
Access to reliable transportation.

Nice To Haves

Ability to speak fluent Spanish and English language is preferred.
A bilingual/bicultural background is a plus.

Responsibilities

Increase participant income during program participation through part-time and early employment, paid work experience, internships, apprenticeships, benefits enrollment and other sources of income.
Bridge the gap between youth readiness and the job market, supporting participants through the application, placement and retention process.
Work with the Career Coach to move each participant along the career pathway identified for them, and with the case managers and Youth Pathways Lead to remove barriers to employment.
Work with each participant to build a simple, current picture of their income, including wages, benefits, stipends and other supports, and set an income goal that is reviewed and updated throughout the program.
Arrange and coordinate transportation to interviews, orientations, first shifts and work-related appointments, including bus passes, ride share and staff transport where appropriate.
Participate in case conferencing with the Youth Pathways Lead, case managers, Career Coach and instructor to review participant progress and coordinate employment goals with the rest of the service plan.
Maintain timely and accurate records of employment activity, placements, wages, hours and retention in Salesforce, and provide the Program Manager with regular reporting against grant employment targets.