Youth Employment Specialist

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization that funds job training, education, and other community programs by selling donated clothing and household items in Goodwill stores and online. We offer life-changing work on a mission-minded team. We are 1,000 working as one and each of us is essential to helping our community thrive. For three years running, Goodwill has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s “Most Inspiring Companies”.

We offer a wide range of career opportunities ranging from entry-level to management in retail, human services, and administrative fields. Learn more about working at Goodwill. You can help. We can show you how.

Position Summary :

The Youth Employment Specialist plays a key role in supporting adjudicated and/or at-risk youth by providing career exploration services and job readiness training that aligns with the department and individual program objectives. This position delivers services both on-site and in the community, helping participants to identify and
work towards goals, develop skills, and access employment opportunities that in turn increase and aid in the likelihood of retention and successful program outcomes. The Employment Specialist works closely with youth participants to ensure their needs are met, a safe and supportive environment is maintained, and individual
progress aligns with program goals. In addition to connecting participants with relevant services and resources, the Youth Employment Specialist facilitates JumpStart Success—a job readiness and career exploration training program—designed to prepare youth enrolled in programming for long-term success in the workforce.

Essential duties include, but are not limited to:

• Complete enrollment paperwork on new participants as well as providing job readiness assessment to address needs and/or barriers.
• Input and maintain all information related to participant activity such as attendance records, contacting employers to verify employment and conducting job site visits.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local labor market and employer trends to identify available employment and work-based training opportunities as they relate to the needs of youth job seekers and partner employers, including but not limited to job seekers’ physical, social, cultural, and transportation needs and employers’ workforce needs.
• Conduct on-going face to face meetings with participants to ensure quality service delivery and conduct progress reviews of goals in accordance with program/contract guidelines.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with all stakeholders (participants, schools, employers, funders, fellow Goodwill employees and departments, etc.) to ensure quality service delivery and successful outcomes, including attendance at meetings, training, etc. as needed.
• Conduct outreach activities to develop, enhance and maintain relationships with community employers and the public, including but not limited to conducting workshops and information sessions and acting as a liaison to Goodwill Departments, customers, employers and other community organizations and stakeholders.
• Visit participants at work sites to provide job specific training, support and supervision to youth while ensuring that individuals’ needs are met, goals are implemented, and a safe environment is maintained.
• Monitor and report all outcomes including: placement, employer, wages, benefits, hours, job retention and other stated outcomes (such as education, training, etc.) per the contract.

External hiring range: $18.25 - $18.98/hour

Travel required: Yes, local travel is required. 

Schedule: Monday - Friday. some evenings and weekends will be required. Schedule can vary depending on department needs. 

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent AND 4 years of experience required. OR 
• Associates' degree AND 2 years of experience required. OR
• Bachelors' degree AND 1 year of experience required.
• High school diploma or equivalent AND 4 years of experience required. OR 
• Associates' degree AND 2 years of experience required. OR
• Bachelors' degree AND 1 year of experience required.
• Required Degree(s): must be in Communication, Human Services, Education or Related field.
• Required Experience: Experience related to working with youth and/or young adults, with low income and at-risk youth, and/or
• experience with foster care and/or adjudicated youth

Required Clearances, Licenses, And Certifications:

• Qualified candidates must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation for local travel.
• Candidates are expected to provide current valid clearances (Child Abuse Clearance, FBI Fingerprints Clearance, and PATCH) prior to first day of employment.