Youthlink Activity Specialist - Enrichment (Webster Center)
About The Position
The Police Athletic League (PAL) of New York City is seeking Part Time Youthlink Activity Specialists to design and facilitate engaging, high-quality enrichment experiences for high school participants. These experiences should inspire creativity, self-expression, and skill development. Specialists will lead activities in areas such as performing arts, visual arts, music, dance, creative writing, photography, crafts, gaming, and other recreational interests that encourage exploration, confidence, and collaboration. The role involves fostering social and emotional competencies, teaching activity fundamentals, coordinating culminating performances, and supporting students with IEPs and medical conditions. The specialist will also respond to mental health needs, provide referrals, and work cooperatively with other staff. Building positive relationships with youth and caretakers is essential, as is serving as a role model. Attendance at orientation, training, staff meetings, and professional development is required.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Minimum of two years of experience working with high school-aged youth in after-school, educational, community-based, recreation, arts, or enrichment programs.
- Demonstrated experience or proficiency in one or more enrichment areas, including visual arts, theater, music, dance, photography, creative writing, digital arts, crafts, gaming, or other recreational or creative disciplines.
- Excellent classroom management, behavior management, and facilitation skills.
- Must show experience and competency in the material they would like to teach.
- Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively.
- Open to learning and growing.
- All staff will be learning mental health, SEL, and special needs inclusion skills and expected to integrate them into programming.
Nice To Haves
- Associate or bachelor's degree in fine arts, Performing Arts, Education, Youth Development, Recreation, Human Services, or a related field preferred.
- Bi-lingual in Spanish, French, or Chinese preferred.
Responsibilities
- Foster social and emotional competencies and mental and physical well-being in a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and nurturing environment.
- Teach participants the fundamentals of specialized activity to build their skill level and confidence.
- Coordinate and present a culminating performance at the end of the program cycle.
- Be aware of students with IEPs and medical conditions in your groups and follow support plans to help the student with special needs to thrive.
- Respond appropriately when time-sensitive mental health services are needed such as suicide prevention, grief, and loss due to death or incarceration of a family member.
- Provide referrals to appropriate mental health services as needed.
- Work cooperatively with Group Leaders, professional staff, teachers, and other Program and school staff.
- Build positive relationships with youth and caretakers and serve as a role model with respect to demeanor, communication, and behavior.
- Attend meetings with staff, caretakers, volunteers, and community residents as needed.
- Interact with caretakers and keep open lines of communication.
Benefits
- health insurance
- flexible spending account options
- an employee assistance program
- tuition reimbursement
- pet insurance
- life insurance
- retirement savings options
- a generous paid time off policy
- training
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
