STEM Specialist

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northwest Suburbs; Carpentersville (IL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northwest Suburbs is seeking a STEM Specialist to design and deliver engaging STEM experiences for middle and high school youth. You'll build critical skills in innovation and problem-solving while serving as a positive role model for students.

This role emphasizes teamwork, accountability, and preparation for future careers, ensuring members connect activities to real-world applications and opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience in mentoring and youth development.
• Ability to design hands-on STEM experiences.
• Skills in collaboration and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Design and facilitate hands-on STEM experiences.
• Serve as a positive mentor and role model.
• Coordinate STEM competitions and field trips.

Skills

Passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

Excellent organization and self-management skills

Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building abilities

Ability to recognize and reinforce positive youth behavior

Job description

Overview

The STEM Specialist designs and delivers transformative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics experiences for middle and high school youth. This role goes far beyond teaching content — it's about building the whole person.

Through hands‑on challenges, real‑world problem‑solving, and career‑connected learning, the STEM Specialist helps members develop the critical thinking, collaboration, and workforce readiness skills they need to thrive — in school, in careers, and in life.

Key Focus Areas

• STEM Skills – Hands‑on technical skills that power future careers.
• Life Skills – Character, resilience, and real‑world readiness.
• Career Readiness – Exposure to professions and post‑secondary pathways.

Responsibilities – Youth Development & Mentorship

• Serve as a positive mentor and role model — model the work habits, professionalism, and character traits members will need throughout their lives.
• Recognize and celebrate members' positive behavior, effort, creativity, and accomplishments — build confidence and growth mindset.
• Ensure members receive meaningful instruction and constructive feedback — teach members to receive and apply feedback — a critical workplace skill.
• Continually adapt activities to respond to member interests, needs, and cultural diversity — build cultural awareness and inclusive collaboration skills.
• Record daily attendance and maintain accurate participation records — develop members' accountability habits through consistent structure.
• Demonstrate leadership in conduct, safety, life, and employability skills development goals.

Responsibilities – STEM Program Design & Delivery: Technical Skills

• Innovation
• Problem‑Solving
• Design and facilitate hands‑on STEM experiences promoting innovation, critical thinking, and problem‑solving — members tackle real engineering and design challenges.
• Lead activities in robotics, coding, engineering design, electronics, digital literacy, and scientific exploration — build technical competencies aligned to in‑demand career fields.
• Facilitate project‑based learning experiences that encourage collaboration and creativity — mirror authentic workplace team dynamics.
• Coordinate STEM competitions, challenges, showcases, and special events — members build presentation and performance skills.
• Utilize technology and educational software to enhance learning experiences — digital fluency for the modern workforce.
• Maintain STEM equipment, technology, and learning spaces safely and organized — responsible stewardship of shared resources.

Responsibilities – Workforce Readiness: Program Teamwork & Operations

• Pathway Exploration
• Introduce members to STEM careers and post‑secondary opportunities — connect every activity to real jobs and real futures.
• Assist members in developing technical skills supporting college, career, and workforce readiness.
• Collaborate with schools, colleges, businesses, and community partners to provide STEM enrichment opportunities — bring guest speakers, site visits, and mentors into the learning experience.
• Oversee STEM‑related field trips, competitions, community service projects, and special events.

Responsibilities – Collaboration

Through your leadership, members will develop:

• Accountability
• Community
• Collaborate actively as an Impact Center team member to meet shared program goals.
• Prepare written experience plans detailing activity purpose, materials, process, and skills addressed — build personal planning and documentation skills while modeling professionalism.
• Participate in implementation of other Impact Center activities as needed.
• Maintain the Impact Center facility — cleaning, organizing, and preparing activity spaces — shared responsibility and community pride.

Life & Work Skills

Critical Thinking: Analyzing problems, evaluating options, and reasoning through solutions.

Resilience & Grit: Iterating through failure in engineering challenges builds persistence and a growth mindset.

Collaboration: Team projects teach members to communicate, negotiate, and achieve shared goals.

Responsibility: Managing equipment, meeting expectations, and following through on commitments.

Self‑Management: Goal‑setting, time management, and self‑monitoring in structured activity environments.

Cultural Awareness: Working alongside diverse peers and exploring inclusive design practices.

Creativity: Maker‑space and design projects build imagination, originality, and innovative thinking.

Employability & Work Skills

Communication: Presenting projects, explaining processes, and collaborating with peers and mentors.

Professionalism: Attendance, reliability, conduct standards, and positive relationship‑building.

Feedback Reception: Giving and receiving constructive critique — a cornerstone of workplace success.

Digital Literacy: Using technology, software, and online tools fluently and responsibly.

Project Planning: Breaking goals into steps, managing materials, and executing multi‑stage projects.

Leadership: Taking initiative, supporting teammates, and stepping up in team challenges.

Workplace Safety: Understanding and applying safety protocols in hands‑on environments.

The STEM Specialist connects daily activities to real professions — helping members see themselves in meaningful careers and understand the pathways to get there.

Position Skills & Traits

• Passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• Coachable, adaptable, and flexible team attitude.
• Excellent organization and self‑management skills.
• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship‑building abilities.
• Ability to recognize and reinforce positive youth behavior.
• Creativity and enthusiasm for helping youth discover their strengths and future careers.

Organizational Values

• Innovative & Adaptable: Embracing change and creativity.
• Resourceful: Finding solutions and staying informed.
• Coachable: Being open to feedback and growth.
• Accountable: Taking responsibility and building trust.