Youth Engagement Specialist

Shelby American, Inc.; Portland (OR); On-site; Full time

Job summary

Join a mission-driven organization dedicated to empowering Latino youth and families! As a Youth Engagement Specialist, you will play a vital role in fostering positive cultural identity and supporting youth in their academic and career journeys. This dynamic position involves collaborating with schools, families, and community partners to deliver impactful programs while ensuring a nurturing environment. If you are passionate about making a difference and possess strong bilingual communication skills, this is an exciting opportunity to contribute to meaningful change in the community. Be part of a team that values diversity, inclusion, and professional growth!

Benefits

Health Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

401k Plan with Match

Employee Assistance Program

Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance

Paid Leave (Vacation, Sick, Sabbatical)

$300 Home Office reimbursement

$75 Monthly internet reimbursement

Self-Care perks

Team and family events

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of experience in youth programming and community leadership.
• Bilingual skills in English and Spanish are essential for effective communication.

Responsibilities

• Manage individual cases for youth participants, ensuring their development and safety.
• Collaborate with schools and community partners to enhance program effectiveness.

Skills

Bilingual communication (English and Spanish)

Organizational skills

Time management

Data collection and tracking

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Education

Experience in youth programming

Community-based training

University courses and degrees

Tools

Database management

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Description

Position Title: Youth Engagement Specialist

Reports To: Program Manager, Educational Access Programs

Classification: Full-time, Non-Exempt, 1.0 FTE

Compensation: $23.08 per hour

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND

Latino Network’s mission is to provide transformative opportunities, services, and advocacy for the education, leadership, and civic engagement of our youth, families, and communities. Our work springs from the core belief in Latino community self-determination that is, the ability of community members to participate meaningfully in the decisions that affect their lives and the lives of their families. We actively partner across a variety of city, county, state, and community organizations to deliver training and support, a wide range of services, as well as influence policy.

BENEFITS & PERKS

Latino Network provides a generous benefits package that includes:

• Health Plans including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Alternative Care
• FSA - Flexible Spending Account for Medical & Dependent Care expenses
• 401k Plan with Match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employer sponsored Life, AD&D, and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Leave (Vacation, Sick, Sabbatical)
• $300 Home Office reimbursement
• $75 Monthly internet reimbursement
• Self-Care perks
• Team and family events

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Latino Network seeks a bilingual, mission-driven, and service-mindset professional with bi-cultural familiarity and proven nonprofit and community leadership experience. As part of the Economic Justice Department at Latino Network, the Youth Engagement Specialist will collaborate with staff, community, and other stakeholders to achieve program goals, meet and document measurable outcomes, contribute to a collegial and productive work environment, and promote the organization’s vision and mission, prioritizing team well-being and fostering a culture of collaboration, harmony, and joy.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Youth Engagement Specialist will carry out culturally specific programming either at the middle or high school level. While programming at both levels has some similarities, including grounding students in positive cultural identity development, middle school programming focuses on assisting students in building pro-social skills that strengthen student/family connections and helps build social capital and provides academic coaching. High school programming has a greater focus on college and career readiness, including providing information about college saving and planning, financial aid, college and scholarship application assistance programs and processes, and career exploration. Summer programming is focused on supporting rising 9th graders for high school or rising 12th graders for their senior year. Summer Bridge is a program which serves Escalera graduated seniors to support summer engagement and post-secondary enrollment in the Fall. Responsibilities include outreach and recruiting, logistical planning, curriculum development and implementation, and individual case management. The Specialist also collaborates with Family Engagement Specialists, partner organizations, schools, local government, and the community. Specialists will be based at one or more school sites and must be familiar and comfortable with how to navigate within a school system. This position requires excellent follow-through; high attention to detail; professional writing skills; and excellent communication through one-on-one meetings, phone, e-mail, and group communication with Latino Network community partners, staff, and program participants. The Specialist must have facilitation experience and be able to guide conversations clearly and fluently in both English and Spanish.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides individual case management to around 34 youth participants including meeting at least twice a month with students to complete initial assessments, developing and updating individual development plans, and providing referrals as needed.
• Maintains individual participant case files, communicates with parents when needed, conducts home visits, collects data throughout the school year and summer, and documents in multiple databases as required by funders on a weekly basis, including, but not limited to: contact information, attendance, entrance/exit surveys, individual development plans.
• Demonstrates outcomes in participant recruitment, engagement, and retention.
• Performs outreach, recruits, logistical planning, curriculum development and implementation, and individual case management.
• Supports participants to improve school performance, attendance, and decrease disciplinary referrals.
• Ensures and promotes youth safety, growth, and leadership.
• Collaborates with team and managers to develop and implement skill-building curriculum that engages and motivates youth.
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with participants, school teachers, counselors, community partners, and stakeholders.
• Collaborates with Family Engagement Specialists, partner organizations, school administrators, staff and teachers, local government, and the community.
• Works with other Youth Engagement Specialists and Family Engagement Specialists to coordinate and carry out field trips and/or other special events.
• Provides necessary referrals to participants as needed.
• Works collaboratively with the Family Engagement Specialist to keep families engaged and informed with the goals of 1) increasing two-way communication between schools and families, 2) increasing student learning in the home, and 3) monitoring of students’ discipline, academic progress, and attendance.
• Collaborates with staff and independent contractors to gather data as needed for research and evaluation of program outcomes.
• Designs programming in accordance with approved budget and maintains accurate records of program spending.
• Meets deadlines for mileage and program expense reimbursements and timesheets.
• Works evenings and weekends as required, and maintains flexible work hours to accommodate program implementation and long hours during peak periods.
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum of two years of experience in developing, implementing, and facilitating classes for youth and/or implementing programs for Latinos; Examples of experience, education and training that fulfill this requirement include, but are not limited to, volunteer or paid work, internships, community-based training and workshops, community college, trade school, university courses and degrees. Experience, training and education from inside and outside of the United States are considered equally. Transferable skills and lived experience will be considered.

• Excellent bilingual written and oral communication skills in Spanish and English.
• Knowledge and experience in navigating educational institutions, resources, programs, social services, and government agencies.
• Knowledge of culturally based world view, adaptive reasoning, and problem-solving practices of Latino individuals, families, and community living in urban neighborhoods impacted by crime, poverty, and racial inequity.
• Demonstrates ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with schools, students, families, and community support systems.
• Strong organizational, time management, data collection and tracking, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates ability to work both independently and as part of a team and consistently follows instructions and implements strategies.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptive to successfully achieve the functions of the position as described in the job responsibilities.
• Reliable car, driver’s license, and automobile liability insurance; must be eligible to be an insured driver under Latino Network’s Commercial Auto Liability.

ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Regularly work in the office and in the community as needed.
• Evening and weekend availability may be required, and work hours are flexible to accommodate program implementation; long hours during peak periods.
• May work in the community including client homes, schools, churches, parks, community centers, etc.
• Undergoing criminal and passing background check is required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit and climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. May require heavy lifting and walking during events and outreach activities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Latino Network strives to communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.

Latino Network is a highly engaged work environment with satellite operations and positions performing work both onsite and remotely. We actively seek opportunities for professional development for our staff and promote a willingness to change for continual improvement.

TO APPLY

If you, or anyone you know, are interested in joining us in supporting our mission to positively transform the lives of Latino youth, families, and communities, please submit your application, resume, and cover letter at: Careers

Successful completion of initial and ongoing employment screens, including but not limited to criminal background and vehicle record as required. Latino Network is an equal opportunity employer. We value and support diversity and inclusion to create a culture of dignity and respect.