RTW Employment Specialist

Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston is seeking an RTW University Employment Specialist to recruit and prepare students for employment across the year, coordinating with the RTW team to identify work-ready students for referrals. Based in one of the Clubs, you will support members at worksites and deliver the weekly RTW curriculum.

You will lead workshops on interview skills and resume writing, develop career panels, and build strong employer partnerships while maintaining program data.

Qualifications

• At least two years of relevant experience with youth development and workforce development.
• Analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities across audiences.
• Adaptability in a fast-paced environment while maintaining detail.
• Ability to represent BGCB Ready to Work professionally.
• Work independently and in a team.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and Zoom.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Valid driver's license and ability to commute in the Metro-Boston area.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs for transporting donated goods.

Responsibilities

• Identify, prepare, and match students with jobs and internships.
• Coordinate career awareness activities and job-shadow events.
• Deliver weekly RTW curriculum in person and conduct workshops on interviews and resumes.
• Lead career panels, advisory boards, and field trips with staff collaboration.
• Support members and worksites using the Work-Based Learning Plan.
• Collaborate with RTW leadership and BGCB partnerships.
• Maintain a centralized database of student activities and placements.
• Provide monthly RTW activity summaries to leadership.

Skills

Youth development

Workforce development

Program facilitation

Relationship building

Analytical/problem-solving

Organizational skills

Interpersonal/communication

Multi-tasking

Independent/team work

Evenings/weekends flexibility

Driver's license

Physical ability to lift 25 lbs

Education

Bachelor's degree in youth development, social work, education, or related

Tools

Microsoft Office

Zoom

Database querying

Job description

Since 1893, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston have played an essential role in opening doors and creating opportunities for young people across this city. For every youth in Boston and Chelsea, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston are a life-changing force for opportunity and empowerment that enables future talent to reach their full individual potential as productive citizens and leaders, inspired to make a difference in the Greater Boston community.By reaching 22 of 23 communities throughout Boston and Chelsea, no other youth serving organization engages more young people and families.Learn more atwww.bgcb.org and join us in transforming our members, our communities, our city!

POSITION OVERVIEW

Based in one of the Clubs, the RTW University Employment Specialist recruits and prepares students for employment throughout the year and identifies work-ready students for appropriate referrals. Working in coordination with the RTW team, the Employment Specialist supports members through selection processes and at worksites, making sure they are meeting employer expectations and engaging in productive work-based learning experiences. This role requires the ability to work effectively with members, employers, Club personnel, and RTW Leadership.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

Recruitment and Placement

• Identifies, prepares, and matches students with jobs and internships during the summer and after school.
• Coordinates career awareness activities, including job shadows and site visits, along with guest speakers, career fairs, and other career-themed activities suited to members' needs, in conjunction with the RTW team.

Program Delivery and Workshops

• Provides one-on-one attention to all members in RTW University, making sure they understand the opportunities presented to them and know how to complete applications and submit deliverables on time.
• Delivers the weekly RTW curriculum in person.
• Delivers workshops on interview skills, resume writing, and workplace etiquette.
• Leads career awareness and exploration activities, including career panels, advisory boards, and field trips, in cooperation with Club staff and RTW leadership.

Worksite Support and Employer Partnerships

• Supports members and their workplace supervisors at worksites in the use of the Massachusetts Work-Based Learning Plan as a skill development tool.
• Collaborates with the RTW leadership team to facilitate employer-based programs and activities in partnership with BGCB.
• Works closely with the RTW Academy Employment Specialist to support students' transition from RTW Academy to RTW University.

Data Management and Reporting

• Inputs data on student activities and placements into a centralized database and maintains current data on the active student caseload.
• Checks progress against work readiness milestones and placement goals on a regular basis.
• Provides RTW Leadership and the Executive Director with a monthly summary of RTW activities in the Clubs.
• Meets with the RTW team weekly to discuss progress on goals.
• Participates in RTW initiatives, particularly those linked to career pathway development and collaboration with college advising organizations.

GENERAL BGCB EXPECTATIONS

• Teaching youth/teens the importance of living an active, healthy lifestyle is a BGCB priority. As a result, all staff is expected to model healthy behavior while working with our members.
• BGCB values creating child-friendly environments, where youth/teens of all abilities can be successful and participate. BGCB expects employees to embrace its focus on inclusion of all members, regardless of disability or developmental challenge.
• Building the capacity of staff is central to BGCB. The organization encourages and requires that all staff participates in annual professional development opportunities that continue to cultivate their skills in the youth development field.
• Every staff member shares the responsibility for ensuring BGCB is, and remains, an environment free of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• At least two years of relevant experience, with demonstrated knowledge of youth development, workforce development, and program facilitation, along with experience building relationships with youth support networks such as families and schools.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects at the same time.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact with a range of audiences, including staff, board members, volunteers, and partner organization contacts.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to represent BGCB and Ready to Work in a consistent and professional manner across a variety of audiences.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and Zoom, along with the ability to query complex database systems to collect and organize data for research and reporting purposes.
• Willingness and flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends for operations and agency events.
• Valid driver's license and ability to commute throughout the Metro-Boston area as needed.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs to assist with transporting donated goods.

Preferred or Ideal

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as youth development, social work, education, human services, or a related discipline
• Bi-lingual or multi-lingual

TRAVEL

~10% local travel for outreach and/or to place internship sites and schools

START DATE

August/September 2026 (desired start date yet position open until filled)

SALARY & BENEFITS

Salary - $34.06/hour - $36.33/hour - commensurate with experience; along with competitive benefits and a great work environment

Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or creed, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, sexual and reproductive health choices, marital status, age, pregnancy, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state or local law with respect to employment opportunities. Please visit our website at https://www.bgcb.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.