Youth Employment Specialist I

Bridges From School To Work; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Valid8 Financial, Inc. seeks a Youth Employment Specialist I to help young adults with disabilities secure competitive employment and build workforce skills. You will recruit participants, assess strengths, and coordinate with schools, parents, state agencies, and employers to place participants.

The role emphasizes record-keeping, stakeholder collaboration, and transportation facilitation, with growth opportunities in workforce development and supportive services.

Qualifications

• Requires a four-year college degree or equivalent work experience.
• Experience in school-to-work transition or related field is desirable.
• Proven skills in case management and job development.
• Strong communication, organization, and collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and enroll program participants.
• Assess skills, interests, and experience of youth.
• Develop strategies to address employment barriers and match to jobs.
• Build and maintain a pool of employer partners for placements.
• Document program activities and maintain participant files.
• Coordinate transportation and assist with accommodations as needed.

Skills

Written and verbal communication

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder collaboration

Technology literacy

Vehicle transportation

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Four-year college degree

School-to-work transition

Case management

Job development

Sales and networking

Tools

Microsoft Suite

Database management

Internet platforms

Job description

The role of a Youth Employment Specialist I is to help young adults with disabilities find competitive employment and build their strengths in different areas related to the workforce. The role requires the recruitment of participants and helping them find competitive employment that matches their strengths and interests, while also keeping detailed records of all job-related activities completed. To do this, it is necessary to build relationships with state agencies, schools, parents, students, and employers.

Core Work Activities

• To meet assigned Bridges outcome goals.
• Fostering and maintaining youth relationships in order to establish their commitment to utilizing our services as a resource. Providing assessments as well as individualized training and guidance to assist youth towards their career goals. Identifying and addressing barriers to employment. Providing follow-up services to facilitate their growth as they gain more experience/skills.
• To accurately maintain records to document program activities.
• Manage and represent the “Bridges” brand. Maintain relationships and communication with school districts, school personnel, employers, parents/guardians, counselors, state agencies, and colleagues.
• Regularly attend meetings with various stakeholders.
• Facilitate transportation for participants.
• Maintain participant files and records as required in a timely, complete, and accurate manner.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Assigned Outcome Goals

• Enroll sufficient youth to achieve placement and retention outcomes:
  Sixteen (16) Placements; Twelve (12) 90-Day Retentions; and Ten (10) 180-Day Retentions.

Outcome requirements subject to change based on the organization’s needs.

In order to consistently achieve results, Youth Employment Specialists I must effectively:

• Recruit and enroll an appropriate caseload of program participants.
• Assess skills, interests, and experience of each young adult.
• Identify challenges relative to employment objectives and create specific, practical strategies to address them.
• Develop an active pool of employers that can offer jobs consistent with employment objectives of participants.
• Assess critical success factors for specific jobs, and develop job matches that benefit both the young person and the employer.
• Re-place youth as needed to achieve retention outcomes and/or to assist youth with vocational growth.
• Provide appropriate support to all involved (youth and employers) to assure employment success and vocational growth. Support includes but is not limited to:
• Assistance with initial training and orientation to the workplace including some job coaching.
• Guidance regarding modification of training materials and approaches to fit the individual’s learning style.
• Assistance with public transportation or other peripheral issues that may impact employment success.
• Appraisal and assistance with employer job accommodations.
• Facilitation of regular formal appraisals of on-the-job performance.
• Assistance in identifying and accessing necessary off-the-job supports or development opportunities (training, assistive equipment, etc.).

Education and Experience

• Four-year college degree or equivalent in qualifying work experience.
• Formal training and/or experience in the following areas:
• School-to-work transition (work with students with disabilities desirable).
• Case management.
• Job development or employment support.
• Sales, marketing, and networking

Required Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent time management, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact and communicate effectively, specifically:
• Ability to relate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to build, facilitate, and participate in collaboration between diverse groups.
• Ability to effectively interpret and address needs of diverse constituents.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to effectively work with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to frequent changes, perform multiple tasks, and prioritize accordingly.
• Strong time management, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of technology including Microsoft suite applications, database management systems, and other internet-based platforms.
• Ability to maintain security and confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Must be fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC where allowed by local mandate.
• Valid driver’s license (where applicable).
• Ability to safely transport participants to and from interviews, meetings, and appointments(etc.) in a timely manner.
• If using own transportation, will need to pass MVR and insurance requirements.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to navigate inside of schools, business locations, and the local community.
• Ability to operate a vehicle or proficiency in using public transportation for commuting to various locations.
• Ability to operate general office equipment.

We are required by law to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We are also required to measure our progress toward having at least 7% of our workforce be individuals with disabilities. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had a disability. Because a person may become disabled at any time, we ask all of our employees to update their information at least every five years.

Identifying yourself as an individual with a disability is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer will be maintained confidentially and not be seen by selecting officials or anyone else involved in making personnel decisions. Completing the form will not negatively impact you in any way, regardless of whether you have self-identified in the past. For more information about this form or the equal employment obligations of federal contractors under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

Yes, I Have A Disability, Or Have A History/Record Of Having A Disability No, I Don’t Have A Disability, Or A History/Record Of Having A Disability I Don’t Wish To Answer