Sr. Youth Specialist

******This is an internal position, only current YG employees can apply*****
Position Summary: BAM Senior Youth Specialist is responsible for providing school-based counseling and direct service to youth in grades 7 - 12 based on Youth Guidance's established curriculum program values; utilizing youth engagement and clinical expertise to aid in the success of the youth. Additionally, the Senior Youth Specialist, in collaboration with the Regional Manager and Curriculum Specialist, will support new and developing Youth Specialists in enhancing program implementation, establishing their role in the agency, hosting site visits, and partnering with departments and other programs to support cross-functional initiatives.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Partners with the Training Academy and Regional Manager to serve as a training/ shadow site for developing BAM Youth Specialist
• Leads and facilitates 4-5 weekly group counseling sessions utilizing the program curriculum during the school day
• Provide leadership by participating in, but not limited to, summer program planning,

postsecondary and @Work initiatives, exposure opportunities, focus groups, special projects, etc.

• Senior YS will develop creative activities with process (ice breaker, group missions, etc.) in collaboration with RCS
• Senior YS will co-facilitate at cohort trainings periodically on developed activities to gain perspective on training aspect BAM
• Senior YS will work in tandem with RCS on continued training possibilities to develop
• Mentors and provides shadowing opportunities for new and developing Youth Specialists
• Hosts high profile site visits
• Participates in select sports and other partnership opportunities
• Serve as a lead in the Peer Case Review process
• Provide leadership to identified committees
• Participate in the recruitment and onboarding all new BAM Youth Specialists
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:
Education/Experience/Training

• Bachelor's degree from an approved accredited university; Master's degree in Social Work or related human service field preferred
• Two years' experience facilitating groups
• Two years delivering program curriculum
• One year of leadership experience
• Experience in Clinical and Youth Engagement
• Experience working with trauma-informed services and framework
• Experience working in schools or youth related systems, i.e. DCFS, juvenile detention,

mental health facilities
Skills/Abilities

• Ability to demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting
• Ability to demonstrate interpersonal skills that excel in cultural sensitivity and respect

for differences required Proven ability to model YG values and norms

• Must demonstrate creativity in engaging youth
• Ability to maintain positive relationships with various stakeholders required
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel, and
• PowerPoint) required

Core Competencies

• Communication:Uses effective written and oral communication with internal staff, teams, and community served; demonstrates empathy and listening
• Client orientation:Recognizes needs of diverse stakeholders and approaches relationships with a service orientation, to ultimately maximize the impact
• Equity mindset:Understands and is committed to goals of equity, consistently brings an equity mindset to the organization's work and workplace
• Growth mindset:Views growth as important for personal and professional development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if the change is required, demonstrates curiosity and eagerness to learn
• Ownership and quality of work:Effectively manages own work, and work of the team to ensure delivery of high-quality work
• Supervisory skills:Effectively manages and develops others
• Mission drive:Demonstrates commitment to the missing of the organization as a whole and alignment with organization values

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This job operates in a professional office environment, school setting and working with the public, COVID-19 vaccination is required
• Occasional local and national travel

DEI Statement
At Youth Guidance, we understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) are fundamental to realizing our vision of bright and successful futures for all young people. We celebrate the diversity of youth and recognize them as empowered leaders, problem-solvers, and experts of their own experiences. At the same time, we acknowledge that many systems and institutions meant to support youth are inequitable and unjust.
As such, we are committed to advancing DE&I through our words and our actions, both internally and externally, by:

• Strengthening cultural competence as well as policies, practices, and organizational structures that foster belonging and leverage the unique backgrounds and talents of staff;
• Offering youth-centered programs that are accessible and responsive to people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, sexual identity, gender identity and expression, language, and cultural and religious beliefs and practices;
• Influencing systems that youth, their families, and communities are impacted by, such as schools, organizational networks, governmental bodies, researchers, and the funding community, to apply approaches that embrace DEI in addressing the needs and supporting the aspirations of young people.