Description

Position Title: DFSS Summer Youth Employment Coordinator - Temp Position           

Department: Workforce Development, Summer Project (DFSS SYEP)

Reports to: Project Manager, Workforce Programs

About the Program:

Workforce Development (WFD): help families achieve economic and social self-sufficiency. Career Services' goal is to offer participants the knowledge, skills and confidence to become successful in the workplace by inspiring, motivating and educating clients to pursue a career path, whether or not they are currently in school. Utilizing career interest inventories and workforce assessments, staff are able to assist participants in identifying their strengths and goals so they are able to make an informed decision while pursing employment opportunities. These are some of the additional programs offered within this service. 

Position Objective and Summary:

The DFSS Summer Youth Employment Program Youth Coordinator will monitor and support the summer employment success of youth ages 16-24. The Youth Coordinators will facilitate, direct and supervise all programmatic activities with youth. Including providing virtual/in person job readiness and financial literacy training, monitoring work-based learning placements as appropriate and providing the support necessary to ensure youth arrive to the worksite/online classroom on time daily. This position will also collect supervisor assessment of the youth’s work performance.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Develop and Implement Youth Leadership Activities and Planning

• Youth coordinators will facilitate, direct, and supervise all programmatic activities with youth.
• Build strong, positive relationships with youth participants and facilitate team building between participant cohorts.
• Engage youth in wrap around services within their agency and work with external partners to provide additional support services to youth who are identified as at-risk. Monitor youth participants’ placement at employer work sites or specialized training programs for six weeks to ensure completion.
• Maintain communication and a working relationship with the work sites or specialized training program.
• Develop and implement creative strategies to retain youth participants throughout the program.
• Assist with data collection and entry into Cityspan and other DFSS-designated platforms.
• Implement performance measurement tools with youth participants and ensure completion.
• Attend mandatory trainings and meetings per request of DFSS; including but not limited to training for Cityspan and a DFSS-designated technology platform.
• Engages in facilitation of programs, workshops, and events geared toward youth development and education enhancement delivered via virtual platforms and in person as appropriate
• Document all youth service activities and engagement in appropriate paper and electronic systems UCAN.
• Engages youth in problem solving, life skills, conflict resolution and communication activities to enhance core competencies.
• Ensures that the youth arrive at their respective work sites or virtual classrooms daily.
• Assists in resolving work and peer conflicts and ensuring that youth have a successful summer experience.
• Facilitate job readiness and LRNG curriculum via virtual tools or in person as appropriate.
• Ensures youth and staff observe Covid-19 CDC social distancing guidelines during in person activities, events and while employed at worksites.
• Collect time sheets and submit to payroll processing unit.

Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN.
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with youth
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others
• Supports youth with transitions to employment and/or education upon program completion.
• Reports to work, meetings, training, virtual classrooms, and job-related activities prepared and as scheduled.
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of youth and coworkers
• Accepts feedback and ideas from team and supervisor and is constructive when giving feedback and ideas to others
• Responds in a timely manner to all written correspondence, email, and phone calls.
• Meet program youth and staff timesheet submission, reporting and activity deadlines

Professional Development

• Attend trainings for Cityspan - Youth Employment System, Job Readiness curriculum, MHA Labs training, financial literacy curriculum, and trauma workshops.
• Attends regular supervision, team meetings and other professional workshops to enhance job skills.
• Work with youth to connect them to both educational and/or year-round employment opportunities.
• Connect youth to opportunities through City Colleges, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership and/or CPS (Chicago Public Schools).
• Participate in student tours of City Colleges and host other speakers that can connect youth to critical resources.

Education /Job Experience/Certification: 

• High School Diploma required
• Minimum of 2 years previous experience working in youth development, human services, social services and/or child welfare.
• Must be 24 years of age or older
• Familiarity and proficiency with virtual meetings and classroom tools such as GoToMeeting, Zoom, etc.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:                                                     

• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates the ability to work independently and as a part of a highly functioning team.
• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Must display the ability to handle multiple tasks and perform public presentations.
• Must have reliable transportation.

Work Environment: This position requires weekend and evening work hours and requires consistent availability to support and guide youth in their cohort. This job description is subject to change based on COVID-19 related guidelines to ensure the safety of youth and staff. 

Summary

At UCAN, we prioritize the health and well-being of our team, as it is essential to our mission of serving the community. Our competitive benefits package is designed to help you and your family thrive. Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of the benefits we offer.

Benefits You Can Choose From:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Voluntary Short-Term Disability
• Voluntary Critical Illness Insurance
• Voluntary Accident Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Retirement Plan (401k)
• Tuition Reimbursement

Benefits Provided at No Cost to You:

• Group Life and AD&D Insurance
• Group Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

UCAN is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages candidates with lived experience and diverse backgrounds to apply.