Teen/At-Risk/Opportunity Youth Services

Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest is looking for a Youth Education & Employment Specialist (YEES) to serve in Anchorage, Alaska. This role involves facilitating job skills groups and assisting youth with resume creation and job readiness skills in a supportive environment.

The candidate will be instrumental in helping youths achieve their education and employment goals while engaging them in Alaska's rich culture and community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Experience with youth preferred.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate job skills groups for youth.
• Assist youth with resume creation and job searching.
• Build relationships with youth to support education and employment goals.

Skills

Job readiness skills

Facilitation skills

Communication skills

Creativity

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Opportunities to serve with JVC Northwest exist in the five beautiful states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska in remote, rural, and urban settings. Click the pins to read about each locale.

Jesuit Volunteers also have the opportunity to serve in other US regions through our sibling organization, Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

Below is a list of opportunities organized by location and by category of service. As part of your application to become a Jesuit Volunteer, we’ll ask about your service preferences, but we ask all applicants to be open to where the need is greatest, and we may ask you to consider options you had not initially thought about. Visit the JV Experience to learn more about the application process and please contact us if you have any questions.

Target populations: Current or formerly incarcerated, Immigrants and Refugees, Indigenous Communities, Individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+ communities, Survivors of DVSA, Teens/At-Risk/Opportunity Youth, Individuals experiencing housing instability and/or houselessness, Other.

Other Issues and Roles

Education (Community), Homelessness/Housing Services, Homelessness/Housing ServicesMental Health

Brief Position Description

The Covey Academy Youth Education & Employment Specialist (YEES) will serve in Covenant House’s Education & Employment (E&E) department and will facilitate job skills groups and meet one-on-one and in small groups with youth to assist with resume creation, job searching, and overall job readiness skills. The Youth Education & Employment Specialist (YEES) will serve with youth daily to reach education and employment goals. This includes motivating them to complete their education, build job-readiness skills and life skills, obtain employment, and practice youth voice. This position offers unique opportunities to experience Alaska, learn about Alaska Native history, cultures and traditions, and get to know its amazing people.

Direct quote from our previous JV – “One of my favorite things about the position is how I can make it “my own” in a sense, and the flexibility to create groups and host activities with the youth such as a book club, Halloween resume day, etc. The potential for creativity and the adaptability of the JV in building relationships and encouraging thoughtfulness and goal building is unique.”

The Covey Academy YEES JV position serves all Covenant House Alaska youth through building relationships and building education, employment, and life skills, accomplished through one-on-one meetings and small-group settings. Relationship-building occurs through time in the Skills Lab, assistance in connection to partner agencies and native corporations in Anchorage and has included individual and group activities such as hiking, fishing, berry picking, and skiing. Our youth from rural areas thrive when they are outside enjoying what Alaska has to offer and when we are able to connect them with Native Alaskan resources.

Day in Life of JV

A day in the life of the Covey Academy JV typically begins at 8:30, with a check in with supervisor and team, regarding upcoming events and individual youth needs/appointments/concerns. The JV is welcome to eat breakfast in the dining area with youth at 9 am. Remaining morning hours are dedicated to connection with youth individually, prepping for upcoming activities and/or trainings, and development of capacity‑building projects.

The JV is encouraged to be present at the Youth Engagement Center when lunch is served at 12 pm. This allows for relationship building with current residents of the Youth Engagement Center and new youth taking advantage of shelter services.

The JV opens and supervises the Computer Lab each weekday from 1:30 pm until 4 pm. Again, relationship building, yet with a focus on education and employment goals, through employment searches, resume creation, and training on interview and job retention skills. This schedule is flexible in that the JV is encouraged to attend all relevant trainings and provide assistance to all programs for activities.

The last half hour of the day is dedicated to wrapping up the day by entering youth engagement notes in our data system.

Required & Preferred Skills

• Education Requirements: Bachelor's Degree
• Driver’s License Requirement: Yes
• Vehicle Requirement: A vehicle owned by your organization or program
• Nature of Driving: Occasional field trips, activities
• Spanish Language Requirement: No requirement other than English
• Preferred Spanish Language Level: No requirement other than English
• Additional Languages and Level Preferred: none
• Required experience, qualities, or specialized training: n/a
• Preferred experience, qualities or specialized training: