Youth Programs & Workforce Development Coordinator

Youth Justice; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Youth Justice Network is expanding its workforce development services in Brooklyn and Queens, supporting youth in detention settings and post-release programs. The Program Assistant will manage calendars, track enrollments, coordinate workshops, and assist with logistics.

The role requires collaboration with partners across government, education, nonprofit, and employers, while maintaining confidential records and providing participant support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, human services, social work, public administration, youth development, or related field; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• At least 2 years of experience coordinating youth development, education, workforce development, reentry, or community-based programs.
• Ability to engage young people whose lives have been impacted by the justice system, child welfare system, school disconnection, or other barriers.
• Strong organizational and follow-through skills with multi-stakeholder coordination.
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication with government, nonprofit, and employer partners.
• Experience maintaining confidential case or program records; data-entry accuracy; proficiency with MS Office or Google Workspace.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate schedules, enrollment steps, orientations, workshops, tutoring, GED prep, college-readiness, vocational training, internships, and employer events.
• Maintain program calendars, participant rosters, attendance, referrals, consent forms, and required documentation.
• Arrange program logistics: space, materials, technology, transportation, meals, and partner communication.
• Track action items and deadlines; provide updates on progress, risks, and operational needs.
• Support purchasing, invoices, stipends, and routine administrative processes with finance/ops staff.
• Serve as day-to-day contact for funders, staff, and subcontractors; prepare agendas and documents.

Skills

Organizational skills

Written & verbal communication

Data entry & confidentiality

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Cross-sector collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Location: ACS facilities (Crossroads Juvenile Center, Non-Secure Detention, Limited Secure Placement in Brooklyn and Queens)

Objectives of this Role

Organization Description

Youth Justice Network (formerly known as Friends of Island Academy) was founded in 1990 on the school floors of Rikers Island to anchor, support and develop capacity among young people newly released from jail in New York City. Our mission is to break cycles of incarceration and build an equitable justice system by providing young people with individualized advocacy, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, thrive, and lead. Youth Justice Network builds on connections developed with young people whose lives have intersected with the justice system, and leverages those relationships to provide post-release, neighborhood-based supportive services. Young people become members of Youth Justice Network for the long-term and develop personal milestones and goals in health and well-being, education, employment, youth leadership and community participation.

New Initiative

Youth Justice Network is honored and excited to have been selected by the NYC Administration for Children’s Services/Division of Youth and Family Services to offer Workforce Development Services for young people held in secure detention at Crossroads, and limited secure and Close to Home placement settings in Brooklyn and Queens. The award represents an investment in the promise of so many of the City’s most resilient young people and reflects YJN’s experience in supporting justice-involved young people in and out of custody. This initiative will launch September 1, 2026. Youth Justice Network is building a team to provide young people in ACS custody with high quality career exploration, work readiness, vocational training, tutoring, and related supports. The vision and goal of this initiative is to leverage young peoples’ time in detention and placement by offering relevant, necessary skills and tools to build self-efficacy and agency. In collaboration with ACS, DOE, and key community partnerships, this initiative will provide justice-impacted young people with individualized advocacy, mentorship, coaching, and opportunities to grow, thrive, and lead.

Position Overview

Tutors play a critical role in Youth Justice Network’s (YJN) ACS-funded Career and Education Pathways initiative by providing individualized and small-group academic support to justice-involved youth ages 13–21. Tutors reinforce classroom instruction, deliver targeted literacy and numeracy remediation, and prepare youth for GED/HSE exams and credit recovery.

Working closely with Lead Tutors, Coaches, and DOE/Passages Academy teachers, Tutors ensure that youth remain academically engaged during their time in ACS custody and have clear educational plans for reentry into school, training, or postsecondary pathways. Tutors use trauma-informed, culturally responsive instructional strategies that affirmyouthidentities and strengthen both academic skills and confidence.

Key Responsibilities

Instruction and Academic Support

• Provide direct tutoring in literacy, numeracy, GED/HSE preparation, and credit recovery for middle and high school content.
• Adapt instructional strategies to individual learning needs, including accommodations for students with IEPs.
• Reinforce classroom instruction provided by DOE/Passages Academy teachers, ensuring alignment with credit-bearing coursework.
• Incorporate project-based learning, real-world applications, and culturally relevant materials to increase youth engagement.
• Support each youth in developing theirCareer Readiness Portfolio, documenting academic progress as part of broader career and education planning.

Collaboration and Service Integration

• Coordinate with Coaches and DOE/Passages Academy staff to ensure seamless academic support.
• Participate in case conferencing and team meetings to address barriers to academic success and support individualized education plans.
• Collaborate with Coaches to ensure tutoring connects to career goals, sector-based training, and workforce readiness.
• Refer youth toadditionalresources (e.g., vocational training, mental health supports) in collaboration with program staff.

Training and Professional Development

• Participate in quarterly training sessions developed by the Education Operations Consultant and Academic Advancement Coordinator.
• Engage in professional learning communities with other Tutors, sharing best practices in trauma-informed pedagogy, literacy/numeracy instruction, and culturally responsive education.
• Incorporate ACS’s LGBTQAI+ best practices and restorative approaches into daily instruction.

Data and Accountability

• Maintainaccuraterecords of tutoring sessions, academic progress, and milestones in YJN’s Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) database.
• Track and report on literacy gains, numeracy improvements, GED/HSE readiness, and credit recovery progress.
• Contribute to quality assurance processes by providing feedback to Lead Tutors and Academic Advancement Coordinator on trends and challenges.
• Participate in regular supervision and coaching sessions with the Lead Tutor.

REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Literacy, Mathematics, or a related fieldrequired; current graduate students in educationalsoconsidered.
• Minimum 2–3 years of experience in tutoring, teaching, or academic support for adolescents, preferably including justice-involved or opportunity youth.
• Strong content knowledge in literacy and numeracy; experience with GED/HSE curriculum and credit recovery strategies strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and engaging instruction.
• Familiarity with NYC DOE/Passages Academy systems a plus.
• Strong communicationand relationship-building skills with adolescents.
• Commitment to advancing equity and affirming the identities of justice-involved youth.

Youth Justice Network is privileged to have a profoundly committed and caring staff – one which believes unconditionally in our members’ ability to do right and do well. We take our work very seriously, but we strive to make time for self-care and joy. We look for staff from all walks of life who have integrity, humor, a strong work ethic, are passionate about our mission and work, and who are committed to address the harms caused by mass incarceration.

Depending on full or part-time status, benefits include a competitive vacation/sick leave policy including three days off between Christmas and New Year's Day, four-day summer weeks through July and August, generous health insurance, 403b match.

Salary Range:$25 per hour

Target start date:September 1, 2026

For purposes of internal equity, we are unable to go outside of the salary posted.

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to: