YouthBuild Career Coach

SER Metro-Detroit; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 22,041 - 38,572; Full time

Job summary

SER Metro-Detroit is seeking a YouthBuild Career Coach in Detroit to provide intensive case management and wraparound services for youth ages 16–24. You will address barriers to success, coordinate supports, monitor progress, and ensure compliance with program standards.

The role emphasizes trauma-informed practice, leadership development, partnerships with community organizations, and active participation in service-learning projects, with an expected flexible schedule.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience in human services, youth development, counseling, or related fields.
• At least 4 years of experience providing case management, youth development, workforce development, or related human services.
• Demonstrated experience working with opportunity youth, including those facing homelessness, foster care, or justice involvement.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and ability to apply motivational interviewing and strengths-based approaches.
• Strong understanding of workforce development systems, apprenticeship pipelines, and community resource networks in Detroit.
• Bilingual English/Spanish or English/Arabic preferred.
• Working knowledge of local community services and agencies.
• Proficiency with case management databases (OSMIS, GPMS, LaunchPad) and Microsoft Office.
• Interpersonal, organizational, and written/verbal communication skills.
• Must have a valid Michigan driver’s license and reliable transportation; chauffeur’s license within 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Provide intensive case management to YouthBuild participants, ensuring wraparound support addressing educational, vocational, and personal barriers.
• Conduct regular progress reviews, updating ISS in alignment with YouthBuild USA requirements.
• Provide or arrange supportive services such as housing, food security, childcare planning, healthcare/mental health, substance abuse counseling, legal aid, and re-entry services.
• Facilitate or co-facilitate trauma-informed workshops and sessions that build resilience, leadership, and life skills.
• Develop relationships with community-based organizations, employers, unions, apprenticeship programs, and education providers to connect participants with opportunities.
• Collaborate to integrate leadership development, community service learning, and academic/vocational progress into holistic case management.
• Monitor, document, and report attendance, performance, milestones, and outcomes to ensure compliance with SER Metro-Detroit and YouthBuild USA policies and grants.
• Attend service learning and leadership development sessions, often in the community; participate in National training twice annually.
• Maintain records and participate in audits; support data collection and monitoring for grant requirements.
• Assist with retention and follow-up during enrollment and for 12 months post-program; advocate for youth and promote equity.

Skills

Case management

Youth development

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Bilingual English/Spanish

Bilingual English/Arabic

Case management databases

Trauma-informed

Motivational interviewing

Workforce development

Driver's license

Chauffeur's license

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

OSMIS

GPMS

LaunchPad

Job description

About this position

DIVISION: Youth Services

DEPARTMENT: YouthBuild

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt/Hourly

CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time Regular

APPROVED DATE: 10/7/2025

JOB SUMMARY: The YouthBuild Career Coach provides intensive case management, guidance, and support services to youth participants ages 16–24, helps participants address barriers to success, coordinates supportive services, monitors progress, and ensures participants meet program, grant, and compliance standards. This position also supports leadership development and service-learning projects.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide intensive case management to YouthBuild participants, ensuring wraparound support that addresses educational, vocational, and personal barriers.
• Conduct regular progress reviews, updating Individual Service Strategies (ISS) in alignment with YouthBuild USA requirements.
• Provide or arrange for supportive services such as housing assistance, food security, childcare planning, healthcare/mental health services, substance abuse counseling, legal aid, and re-entry services for justice-involved youth.
• Facilitate or co-facilitate trauma-informed workshops and sessions that build resilience, leadership, and life skills.
• Develop strong relationships with community-based organizations, employers, trade unions, apprenticeship programs, and education providers to connect participants with opportunities.
• Collaborate with staff to integrate leadership development, community service learning, and academic/vocational progress into holistic case management.
• Monitor, document, and report participant attendance, performance, milestones, and outcomes to ensure compliance with SER Metro-Detroit and YouthBuild USA policies as well as federal grant standards.
• Attend regular service learning and leadership development sessions, often held in the community.
• Participate in National training and development programming twice annually.
• Adheres to YouthBuild USA policies and procedures as well as SER Metro-Detroit organizational policies.
• Support data collection, reporting, and audit preparation to meet all grant requirements, performance benchmarks, and monitoring visits.
• Actively contribute to retention and follow-up strategies, supporting participants during enrollment and for 12 months post-program as required.
• Attend professional development sessions, staying current with best practices in youth development, trauma-informed care, and workforce readiness.
• Serve as an advocate for youth both inside and outside the program, promoting equity, opportunity, and community connection.
• Develops and maintains a working relationship with program participants and staff to ensure that concerns/barriers to successful program completion are addressed and resolved appropriately.
• Maintains participant records ensuring documentation of all program activities, attendance records, progress reports and other information as required.
• Attends meetings as required to address participant concerns.
• Contributes to the team effort by performing other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience in human services, youth development, counseling, or related fields.
• At least 4 years of experience providing case management, youth development, workforce development, or related human services.
• Demonstrated experience working with opportunity youth (disconnected from school and work), including youth facing multiple barriers (e.g., homelessness, foster care, justice-involvement), inclusive of individuals with lived experience.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and ability to apply motivational interviewing and strengths-based approaches.
• Strong understanding of workforce development systems, apprenticeship pipelines, and community resource networks in Detroit.
• Bilingual language skills in English/Spanish or English/Arabic is preferred.
• Working knowledge of local community services and agencies.
• Computer skills necessary to maintain various records and reports. Proficiency with case management databases (such as OSMIS, GPMS, and LaunchPad) and Microsoft Office.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to build positive relationships with program participants and various support agencies.
• Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills.
• Mental ability to handle pressures related to performing multiple tasks requiring concentration and attention to detail and dealing with multiple individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of need.
• Physical ability to sit at a computer for extended periods of time.
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule, including evenings/weekends as well as active participation in service-learning projects.
• Must have a valid Michigan Driver’s license. Incumbent must also have reliable transportation to attend meetings outside of the office as needed.
• Must obtain a Michigan chauffeur’s license within 90 days of employment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time, and have sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a phone, computer keyboard, and other office equipment. Must be able to lift a minimum of 10 pounds.

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.