Youth Leadership and Engagement Specialist

Sermetro; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Sermetro in Detroit, MI seeks a Youth Leadership and Engagement Specialist to manage leadership councils, alumni, and service-learning teams, mentoring participants to engage in service-learning and civic engagement across high school, GED, and out-of-school programs.

The role oversees leadership development programming, coordinates civic engagement events like Legislative Days at city/state/national levels, and supports youth voice and advocacy in collaboration with policymakers.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or higher with youth experience
• Three years minimum experience in youth development
• Three years minimum work in customer or community service
• Commitment to skill development of program youth
• Knowledge of local community services and agencies
• Strong initiative, problem solving, and independence
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Valid Michigan Driver's License and reliable transportation

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute leadership activities and team building for youth participants
• Coordinate civic engagement initiatives including Legislative Days at city/state/national levels
• Lead Youth Leadership Council(s) with active youth voice and development
• Coach and mentor participants to build confidence, accountability, and resilience
• Prepare youth to engage with policymakers and advocate on community issues
• Coordinate youth-led initiatives and community projects
• Facilitate advocacy and public speaking opportunities, including event prep
• Provide mentorship to support voice, self-advocacy, and decision making
• Hold regular meetings with youth leadership and alumni to maintain engagement
• Represent SER Metro- Detroit at local and national events in collaboration with youth
• Model positive leadership and ethical conduct and guide youth participants
• Maintain accurate records of youth activities and engagement in databases
• Support core youth development programs including Challenge Week and service learning
• Transport and chaperone participants as needed
• Assist recruitment by attending events and connecting with prospective youth
• Contribute to team by performing other duties as assigned

Skills

Youth development

Customer service

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Dependability

Driving license

Transportation

Education

Associates degree in a related field

Four-year degree in human services field

Tools

Database skills

MS Office

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Youth Leadership and Engagement Specialist

Special Programs SMD Full-Time Hourly 9215 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI, US

Salary Range: $21.63 To $26.44 Hourly

JOB TITLE:Youth Leadership and Engagement Specialist

DIVISION:Youth Services

DEPARTMENT:Youth Services

REPORTS TO:Director of Education and Vocations/Superintendent

FLSA STATUS:Non-Exempt/Hourly

CLASSIFICATION:Full-Time Regular

APPROVED DATE:01/22/2026

JOB SUMMARY:Manages the SER’s leadership council(s), alumni, and service-learning teams. Encouraging, and mentoring program participants to engage in service-learning, and civic engagement while identifying and building skills necessary to represent themselves well. Oversight of all leadership development programming for opportunity youth in SER’s High School, GED and out of school programming.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan and execute leadership activities, community engagement opportunities and team building sessions for all youth participants.
• Coordinate and lead civic engagement initiatives, including the planning and execution of “Legislative Days” at the city, state (Lansing), and national (Washington, D.C.) levels to provide youth with meaningful advocacy experiences.
• Coordinate and facilitate SER’s Youth Leadership Council(s), ensuring active youth voice, participation, and development.
• Foster self-confidence, accountability, and resilience through consistent, strength-based youth coaching.
• Prepare youth participants to engage with policymakers, share their stories, and advocate on issues that impact their communities
• Coordinate youth-led initiatives, including community projects, program events, and peer recognition activities.
• Facilitate opportunities for advocacy and public speaking, inclusive of preparation for identified events.
• Provide mentorship to support students in building voice, self-advocacy, and decision-making capacity.
• Conduct regular meetings with youth leadership members and program alumni to maintain engagement and continuity.
• Represent SER Metro- Detroit and its subsidiaries at local and national events in collaboration with youth participants.
• Model positive leadership and ethical conduct while providing direction and guidance to youth participants.
• Maintain accurate records of youth activities, attendance, and engagement in applicable online databases and internal systems.
• Support implementation of core youth development programming, including Challenge Week, service learning, peer leadership, and orientation.
• Transport and chaperones participants to activities and transports participants as requested.
• Provide outreach support to the recruitment team by participating in events and connecting with prospective youth.
• Contributes to the team effort by performing other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:None

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associates degree in a related field with at least 3 years’ experience working with youth OR a four-year degree in human services related field.
• Three years minimum experience and knowledge of best practices in youth development
• Three years minimum work experience in customer service or community service-oriented environment.
• Commitment to sharing expertise to assist in the skill-development of program youth.
• Working knowledge of local community services and agencies.
• Skilled at taking initiative, problem solving, and working independently.
• Dependable with ability to maintain a positive attitude and react to change productively.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to effectively communicate with staff, participants, volunteers, and partner agencies.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Computer skills are necessary to effectively maintain a database, create related reports and develop program materials.
• Mental ability to handle pressures related to multiple individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of need.
• Must possess and have a valid Michigan Driver's License. Incumbent must also have reliable transportation to make required visits and travel to off-site locations.
• Must be able to get Michigan Chauffer license and willing to operate 10-14 passenger van to transport participants.
• Must obtain an AmeriCorps background check and official clearance within 30 days of employment.
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule (evenings/weekends/ and travel for legislative days).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, bend, stand, sit, and talk or hear. The employee will be frequently required to lift and/or move 20-25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move 35-50 pounds. The employee will be occasionally required to withstand hot and cold weather for an extended period as needed when engaging in outdoor events and activities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. -This job operates in a normal school environment with a noise level, which is at times moderately loud with little discomfort due to noise, dirt, dust and the like. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties and responsibilities that may be performed by a person so classified. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.