Mentor Specialist

BUILD, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan + 2% match

Medical, Dental and Vision

Life Insurance

Paid Vacation

Wellness Days

Flexible Spending Account

Job summary

BUILD, Inc. is seeking a dedicated Mentor Specialist in Chicago to engage at-risk youth through in-school, after-school, and community activities. The role emphasizes restorative approaches, collaboration with therapists, and effective communication with schools and families.

Responsibilities include conducting assessments, delivering mentor curricula, facilitating referrals, and maintaining program data. Flexibility with evenings/weekends and travel within daily areas is required.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years’ experience working with inner-city youth in a human service setting or related field.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services, Human Services, Non-Profit Management, or related field required.
• Must pass extensive background check and screening.

Responsibilities

• Engage youth in-school and in community activities, identify concerns, mediate disputes, and promote restorative practices.
• Perform intakes, assessments, and treatment planning with participants and collaborate with therapists.
• Deliver mentor curriculum and assist with referrals to employment or resources as needed.
• Attend IEP meetings, school meetings, and disciplinary hearings as required.
• Maintain data collection and ensure CIS database documentation compliance.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Verbal communication

Written communication

Technology integration

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Services, Human Services, Non-Profit Management, or related field

Tools

CIS database

Job description

Description

Mentor Specialist (MS) (40 hours, Full-time), Non-Exempt

BUILD, Inc. (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development) is presently seeking a committed, self-motivated, and innovative individual to join our team. BUILD is a nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organization based on Chicago’s West Side. Since 1969, BUILD has worked to save lives and mentor young people who live in the city’s most challenging neighborhoods. When you work at BUILD, you make an important difference to the thousands of youths and families we serve.

Our Core Values: Empathy, Passion, Persistence and Innovation.

The Mentor Specialist is responsible for effectively engaging youth in-school and community through:

• In-school, after-school, and community-based activities to identify concerns, seek solutions, mediate disputes, demonstrate restorative methods and best practices as alternatives to traditional disciplinary consequences and encourage education.
• Conduct an Individual Assessment of strengths & needs and collaborate with the MHTS therapists to identify individual treatment goals.
• Support Individuals that are at increased risk of experiencing trauma-related instability, recidivism, or community violence in stabilizing, thriving, and setting and accomplishing goals.
• Establish and maintain rapport with youth who have experienced trauma and encourage them to engage in behaviors that will deter limiting or destructive behaviors toward themselves, others, and community assets.
• Facilitate external referrals, follow-through/support. Recognizing the vicarious trauma of staff working with crisis-oriented youth.
• Maintain and establish healthy relationships with school Personnel & Staff

The Mentor Specialist reports directly to the Manager of School-based Mentorship.

Responsibilities Include But Not Limited To

Youth Work/Youth Development

• Exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the agency.
• Identify and recruit participants for caseload.
• Conduct intakes, assessments, and treatment planning for each participant.
• Work in partnership with assigned therapist.
• Deliver mentor curriculum on a consistent basis.
• Work within the target schools/sites to mediate disputes among youth and de-escalate situations as needed.
• Attend IEP meetings, school meetings, disciplinary hearings, and teacher conferences.
• Assist participants in re-enrolling in school after detention, if applicable.
• Identify and connect participants to employment if applicable.
• Conduct home visits on participants when necessary.
• Collaborate with other programs within the agency and community.
• Identify the needs of youth and provide referrals, as needed, both internally and externally.
• Operate professionally in the field on a flexible time schedule, which includes late evenings and weekends.
• Perform other job-related duties as requested, required, and/or assigned.

Documentation and Compliance

• Collect baseline and year-end data on academic, interpersonal, and pro-social behaviors.
• Submit data reports to manager monthly for ongoing reporting.
• Maintain documentation compliance as required with CIS database.

Communication and Relationship Management

• Represent the agency to various publics to broaden community awareness and support, interpreting the agency’s programs and services.
• Provide public relations and promotional activities related to the agency in coordination with appropriate administrative staff.

Other

• Attend departmental and agency-wide staff meetings, as scheduled and agency-wide events, as required.
• Maintain current knowledge in the field, including but not limited to participation in coursework, seminars, and workshops.
• Maintain current knowledge of the agency’s theories, methodologies, and best practices.
• Participate in agency-wide fundraising events
• Encourage participant/community participation in agency wide fundraising events

Requirements

• Minimum three years’ experience working with inner-city youth in a human service setting, social service setting, or related field; or a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services, Human Services, Non-Profit Management, or related field experience required.
• Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Maintain respectful and appropriate relationships with program participants, all levels of agency staff and the various publics of the agency, demonstrating sensitivity to all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds.
• Highly organized with excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with technology integration into daily program operations and evaluation systems.
• Must be willing to travel daily.
• Must pass extensive background check and screening.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan + 2% match
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Life Insurance
• Paid Vacation
• Wellness Days
• Flexible Spending Account

BUILD, Inc., does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, medical status, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or any legally protected status. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits and training.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically prohibit employment. Rather, BUILD Inc., considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case-by-case basis.

This organization reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment