School-Based Violence Interrupter

Youth Alive; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Youth Alive in Oakland is seeking School-Based Violence Interrupters to prevent and respond to violence involving students and the surrounding community. The role is full-time and hourly, with a schedule on campus (Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) and compensation of $31.53/hour.

Responsibilities include maintaining campus presence, mentoring students, attending school meetings, and coordinating referrals to support services.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of Oakland neighborhoods and lived experience.
• Strong relationship-building and de-escalation skills.
• Experience working with youth in schools, community centers, or outreach settings.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care and restorative practices.
• Ability to document interactions and manage follow-up responsibilities.
• Self-directed, dependable, and able to maintain professionalism under pressure.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a consistent full-day campus presence (M-F 8:00–4:30).
• Attend school-based meetings (COST, CARE Team, or Student Support Teams).
• Build trusting relationships with students, particularly those at high risk or impacted by violence.
• Offer mentorship and consistent check-ins with students.
• Make timely referrals to supportive services, including life coaching, therapeutic services, mentorship and case management programs.
• Record daily engagement and intervention activities accurately and on time.
• Proactively identify and mediate conflicts before they escalate.
• Use trauma-informed and restorative practices to de-escalate situations.
• Collaborate with school staff on student safety and response planning.
• Provide a 7-day follow-up for every conflict mediated or incident intervened in.
• Communicate daily with the School-Based Senior VI about emerging safety issues; attend weekly meetings with the intervention team.
• Coordinate closely with teachers, administrators, and support staff for a unified approach to campus safety.
• Attend Youth Alive trainings and DVP trainings; represent Youth Alive professionally.

Skills

Oakland community knowledge

De-escalation skills

Youth engagement

Trauma-informed care

Documentation & follow-up

Professionalism under pressure

Spanish/English bilingual

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Youth Alive is an Oakland-based non-profit organization committed to breaking the cycle of violence, healing trauma and uplifting the lives of our community.

School-Based Violence Interrupters (VIs) are full-time, on-campus staff responsible for preventing and responding to violence involving students and their surrounding community. VIs use their credibility, lived experience, and strong community ties to mediate conflicts, support youth impacted by trauma, and build a safer and more connected school environment. They collaborate with school administrators, staff, students, and caregivers to promote healing, safety, and positive youth development.

Status: Full-time, hourly

Compensation: $31.53/hour

Campus Presence & Engagement

• Maintain a consistent full-day presence on campus (M-F: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
• Attend school-based meetings such as COST, CARE Team, or Student Support Teams
• Build trusting relationships with students, particularly those at high risk or impacted by violence
• Offer mentorship and consistent check-ins with students
• Make timely referrals to supportive services, including:
  • Life coaching
  • Therapeutic services
  • Mentorship and case management programs

Conflict Mediation & Violence Interruption

• Record daily engagement and intervention activities accurately and on time
• Proactively identify and mediate conflicts before they escalat
• Use trauma-informed and restorative practices to de-escalate situation
• Collaborate with school staff on student safety and response planning
• Provide a 7-day follow-up for every conflict mediated or incident intervened in, ensuring continued support and documentation

Collaboration & Reporting

• Communicate daily with the School-Based Senior VI about any emerging safety issues, interventions, or needs. Meet regularly with Senior VI for supervision to receive feedback and professional development
• Attend weekly shooting and homicide review meetings with the intervention team (hosted by the Department of Violence Prevention [DVP])
• Coordinate closely with teachers, administrators, and support staff to maintain a unified approach to campus safety

Training & Professional Development

• Attend all required Youth Alive trainings and additional skill-building sessions as assigned
• Attend all contract required DVP trainings
• Represent Youth Alive in a professional and community-rooted manner in all school and public settings

Required Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of Oakland neighborhoods and lived experience relevant to the community
• Strong relationship-building and de-escalation skills
• Experience working with youth in schools, community centers, or outreach settings
• Understanding of trauma-informed care and restorative practices
• Ability to document interactions and manage follow-up responsibilities
• Self-directed, dependable, and able to maintain professionalism under pressure
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to effectively communicate, connect with, and motivate youth and/or young adults away from impulsive behavior that will lead to violence.
• Ability to stay calm in response to emergencies.
• Experience working with at risk, gang involved or impacted youth and/or adults is required.
• Applicants with personal experience in overcoming violence/ incarceration / violence-related injuries/ gang involvement / the criminal justice system are especially encouraged to apply. However, candidates should have a minimum of 24 months since their release from incarceration.
• Knowledge of urban youth issues, specifically youth violence and juvenile justice;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Must have strong communication and organizational skills, and possess the ability to communicate effectively with staff members, clients, vendors and the public;
• Ability to work well with diverse populations;
• Proactive, and demonstrates initiative, flexibility, and willingness to try new approaches
• Punctual and extremely reliable;
• Highly organized and detail-oriented;
• Candidate must be computer literate;
• Must be able to present self and program in a professional manner;
• Flexibility to work evenings & weekends;
• Ability to work in stressful situations;
• High School Diploma or GED preferred; applicants working toward completion of GED/diploma will be accepted.
• Must have reliable car, valid insurance and DMV clearance throughout your time of employment;
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working with at-risk gang involved or impacted youth is required. A minimum of 2 years violence interruption experience is strongly preferred.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

As School-Based VIs work in schools with minors, individuals who are hired for this position will be required to successfully pass a background check and fingerprinting process.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Talk, hear. Clear vision at 25 inches or less to view computer screen and read documents. Must be able to sit at desk and work on a computer for 1-2 hours/day. Must be able to lift and carry 25 pounds. Working conditions typical of an office environment while in the office; a majority of the work day may be spent outside the office in Oakland neighborhoods.

https://www.youthalive.org/