Youth Engagement Specialist

Agency Overview

At Neighborhood House (NH), our vision is a healthy, diverse, and welcoming community, free of poverty and racism, where all people thrive. We serve over 16,000 individuals in Seattle/South King County in the areas of early learning, youth development, citizenship, employment, health, housing, resource navigation, and aging adults. In addition to direct services, we use our experience and deep connection to our communities to advocate for equitable access to services, and policy changes that advance equity for all.

When one of us succeeds, we all succeed!

Neighborhood House is on a mission to becoming a multi-cultural, anti-racist agency. We are achieving this by sharing power, listening to and learning from each other and our communities, and working to repair past inequities. We are building a culture where equity is the foundation, inclusiveness is the default, and access for marginalized communities is the norm.

 Our Agency Values include Community, Equity, Integrity, Relationships, and Sustainability. More information about our Agency Values can be found here.

Click here for more details about our benefits program.

Job Summary

The Youth Engagement Specialist is responsible for supporting the Youth Engagement Coordinator during the year to provide school-age youth with a year-round after-school and summer program.  The program aims to incorporate and boost social-emotional growth, a healthy sense of self and peers, youth leadership skills, and a passion for learning and discovery.  We do this through academic assistance and enrichment, multi-themed project-based learning activities, and exploring STEM/Arts topics chosen by youth while maintaining a safe and respectful space for all cultures and backgrounds. We engage parents and families to provide a wraparound approach to work with youth. We also engage schools, community partners and volunteers to support youth and families.

The Youth Engagement Specialist, who reports to the Youth Engagement Manager, will outreach, plan and implement programming components to meet goals and objectives by ensuring meaningful program and space for school-age youth at each site. The in-person activities help youth connect to their school and communities. This is done in conjunction with the leadership of the Youth Engagement Coordinator and involves working independently and/or as a team as a planner and instructor and with other duties as assigned.

This position is in Seola Gardens. At Neighborhood House we have a deep commitment to our employees’ and clients’ diverse experiences and backgrounds that guides our work for a more equitable future. We are seeking a team member that represents our dedication to service, equity and inclusion, to join our diverse team.

Responsibilities

Administrative

• Collaborate with program staff to ensure effective coordination of program schedules and related events for youth and families.
• Assist in maintaining key project documents and communication to support all aspects of the engagement program, including periodic reports, student attendance, files and updates.

Community Building

• Foster and maintain relationships with schools and community-based organizations and resources to strengthen the diversity of our youth programs.
• Outreaching and publicizing opportunities in the community to attract, recruit, and maintain youth (5-18 years of age).
• Build and sustain positive professional relationships with program and site staff, agency staff at other sites and community partners.
• Participate in identified professional development trainings.
• Demonstrate professionalism by setting clear boundaries with youth and families, being on time for daily activities, and dressing in a professional demeanor.
• Recruit and manage volunteers from the community for programming purposes on an ongoing basis.
• Assist in conducting family, community and staff events.

Youth Education and Social Development

• Develop and deliver STEM/Arts activities, using the Youth Program Quality Initiative Model, individually and as a team daily.
• Develop and deliver activities across homework/academics, enrichment and social-emotional topics. 
• Plan and lead workshops for older youth such as leadership, college pathways and job readiness.
• Develop and supervise field trips and community service opportunities, including transporting youth participants in a 7-passenger Neighborhood House van.
• Prepare the center before, during, and after programs.
• Assist with the serving snacks and meals.
• Monitor computer lab and assist with technology-related projects.
• Act as a positive role model to youth, ranging from K-12th grades.
• Maintain a safe, respectful, and engaging learning environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in any field plus 2 years’ experience working in Youth Development. Additional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule as needed.
• Working knowledge of key computer applications (MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet, etc.).
• Experience in working with low-income youth and families from diverse cultural backgrounds
• Ability and commitment to be a good role model.
• Willingness to comply with established agency performance standards, which require productivity/personal responsibility, client/customer service-orientation and the maintenance of a professional demeanor.
• Must have reliable and independent transportation and a clean driving record (no moving violations within the past three years).
• Neighborhood House is on a journey to become a fully inclusive, multicultural, anti-racist organization. Candidate must demonstrate a commitment to advancing racial equity and social justice.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience creating and facilitating programs for K-12th grade students, particularly for K5 students.
• Knowledge of best practices for after-school and summer learning programs, and family engagement.
• Familiarity of anti-racism work and leadership growth in a youth development setting.
• Bilingual Somali, Ukrainian, or Spanish speaking ability desired but not required.

Required Credentials

• Must pass Neighborhood House background check.
• Position requires Washington State bi-annual criminal background re-check.
• Must have a valid Washington State driver’s license, reliable and independent transportation and a clean driving record (no moving violations within the past three years).

Post-Hire on-the-job Training Requirements

• Current First Aid Certification (within 30 days of hire, maintain current certificate during employment).
• Current CPR Certification (within 30 days of hire, maintain current certificate during employment).
• Sexual Harassment Training within 30 days of hire.
• Child Abuse and Neglect training (within 2 weeks of hire).
• Food Handlers Permit (within 30 days of hire).

Employment Practice

Neighborhood House is committed to diversity and to equal opportunity employment. As an equal opportunity employer, we support and follow federal, state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Neighborhood House does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, color, creed, religion, caste, disability, national origin, marital status, mental or physical ability including HIV status, height, weight, veteran status, military obligations, sexual orientation and expression of gender identity, or any other classification protected by law. Management and HR staff are committed to ensuring that all personnel decisions that affect employees, clients, volunteers, and board members are made in accordance with the equal employment opportunity principles of nondiscrimination.

For more information

Inquiries may be directed to People and Culture at (206) 461-8430 or by e-mail to nhjobs@nhwa.org.