Leadership Development Specialist – Safe Passage/Activism Team, 37.5hrs, $19.99-$21.21/hr en Community Action Pioneer Valley, Inc.

Description

DEPARTMENT: Youth and Workforce Development Programs

POSITION TITLE: Leadership Development Specialist – Safe Passage/Activism Team

LOCATION: Primary worksite: Greenfield; To include regular work in Franklin & Hampshire County; Remote Work from Home

STATUS: Non-Exempt

SUPERVISOR: Training and Activism Coordinator 

POSITION SUMMARY:

Leadership Development Specialists facilitate trauma-informed and strength-based programming grounded in positive youth development to provide effective programming with youth and young adults 14-24 in Franklin and Hampshire Counties. Leadership development programming explores social constructs, works to build skills to effect change and provides opportunities for peer support and community building. This work includes planning and implementation of events, group planning, preparation and facilitation, youth transportation and administrative support to build the capacity of programming.

This role works in collaboration with Safe Passage and provides Easthampton area youth, faculty, and parents with skills to prevent violence and build healthy relationships as part of the Say Something Youth Initiative by facilitating evidence-based curriculum. Co-facilitates leadership development and youth activism within the Youth Council and, drop in and co-facilitates YAB, for YYAs experiencing homelessness and is the liaison between youth/young adults and the systems, efforts and coordinated community plan for ending youth homelessness.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBLIITIES:

1. Coordinate youth leadership programing in collaboration with project lead and public school system, focusing on violence prevention and healthy relationships with a focus on LGBTQIA+ students
2. Plan and co-facilitate weekly leadership development programming with a positive youth development approach for Youth Council, YAB and peer leaders. 
3. Provide technical assistance for youth leadership and LBGTQ+ focused aspects of programming
4. Bring culturally specific expertise to programming, promote and support diversity through work in youth leadership development by engaging LBGTQ+ youth in curriculum adaptation and program planning
5. Conduct activities related to this project and serve as the primary partner to Safe Passage staff in program implementation
6. Contribute toward progress reports to partners for inclusion in progress reports, based on funders' requirements
7. Participate in regular project management meetings as organized by Safe Passage partners
8.  Contribute to future strategic planning of programming
9. Attend all required training courses related to funder mandates.
10. Coordinate involvement of youth leaders helping to outreach to potential participants and providing support to both youth and adult members in collaboration with community partners.  
11. Facilitate and foster youth leadership and support the success of outreach, group meetings, implementation, and evaluation of youth activities.
12. Develop respectful, warm, and caring professional relationships with youth. Serve as a role model for youth in language, attitude, and behavior.  
13. Provide support, referrals, and advocacy to youth and families as needed. Provide information, referrals, and education to family members to increase familial support for youth.
14. Develop and maintain positive relationships with area schools and community-based organizations, facilitating program outreach and collaborations.  
15. Represent Community Action Youth & Workforce Development Programs on area coalitions, as assigned. Work with community partners to promote successful and meaningful participation of young people in their coalitions, partnerships, etc.
16. Assist with ongoing program development and assessment to ensure that services are responsive to community/youth needs and are in compliance with all relevant funding and regulatory requirements.
17. Provide transportation to and from meetings and activities, within program guidelines.
18. Consistently apply and uphold guidelines, procedures, and policies of contracts, of Youth and Workforce Development Programs and Community Action.
19. Participate in the planning, development and coordination of Youth Council activities with other Leadership Development staff.
20. Assist in the preparation of grant reports, applications, and proposals, as assigned, including the development and monitoring of measurable outcomes and ongoing program evaluation.
21. Complete and maintain weekly work schedule, regular data entry, detailed monthly reports, monthly calendars and other required documents within established timelines.
22. Engage youth in keeping their meeting spaces clean, orderly, and safe for all.
23. Remote work available complying with the agency’s policy
24. Required to travel regularly throughout the service area to Community Action sites and service locations, locations in the community, and occasionally out of the service area. 
25. Flexible schedule required at times with regular hours until 6pm; Occasionally later evenings and weekends are required.
26. Maintains strictest confidentiality. 
27. Comply with the agency and funders’ paperwork requirements and procedures.
28. Attend regularly scheduled supervision meetings, team meetings, mandatory agency trainings, and participate in professional development activities. 
29. Performs related work as required and assigned by Youth/WFD Programs Director and Leadership Development Manager.

This does not cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may be adjusted to meet the operational needs of the agency.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Interpersonal communication – verbal and written
• Conflict resolution, problem-solving, establishing priorities, navigating change
• Group facilitation. 
• Judgement and decision-making
• Practiced organizational skills and attention to detail
• Openness to understanding participants as experts of their own varied experiences and identities
• Skillful relationship building with participants, staff, and community members
• Ability to engage, communicate, and work effectively with diverse adolescents, parent’s co-workers, school staff, and other youth service providers.  
• Understanding of child/adolescent development and issues confronting youth living with lower incomes in high-risk environments. 
• An understanding and willingness to talk about issues using an approach that is positive, engaging, accessible, and inclusive, such as Positive Youth Development and harm reduction
• A balance of initiative to work independently and collaboration to work with others
• Understanding and willingness to learn data capture and tracking methods

Key Knowledge and Experience:

• Knowledge of social services, advocacy, and navigating resources
• Knowledge of Franklin and Hampshire counties and North Quabbin regional organizations and resources
• Experience working with youth and young adults, individually and in groups 
• Knowledge of and experience with Positive Youth Development approach and programs. 
• Experience building effective collaborations and working with community partnerships or coalitions.   
• Experience engaging youth in leadership opportunities and building youth leadership skills. 
• Experience facilitating youth leadership training and providing youth leadership opportunities for teens. Commitment to youth empowerment, community service, and diversity.   
• Knowledge and experience with social norms marketing, social marketing, or other environmental strategies. 
• Experience with developing art projects (mural, basic graphic design, collective/public art project) preferred. 
• Understanding of child/adolescent development and issues confronting youth living with lower incomes in high-risk environments. 
• Experience working with marginalized communities and individuals with low incomes
• Experience working with youth/young adults who have low incomes, are young parents, are youth of color, queer, trans, disabled, and/or housing insecure
• Experience with data management, data capture, tracking methods and analysis for outcome measurements
• Computer skills (Microsoft Suite-Outlook Email, Calendar, and Teams chat, Discord, Zoom, and databases

To Qualify

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills:

• Two years of experience successfully engaging youth ages 10-21 in group settings. 
• CPR/First aid (will provide if needed – must obtain within three months of hire) 

We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role. We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying. Please be clear and specific in application materials how your background, experience, and transferable skills are relevant to this position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Requires sitting for long periods.
• Working in office environment.
• Some bending and stretching required.
• Extensive use of telephone required.
• Manual dexterity required for use of calculator and computer keyboard.
• Must be able to lift from 20 – 40 lbs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• The work environment includes indoor office environments or comparable spaces, and community spaces, with occasional exposure to outdoor weather when traveling to outreach or meeting sites. The noise level varies by site.

AA/EOE/ADA

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of Criminal Offender Record check (C.O.R.I.) prior to hire and every three years. Evidence of a good driving record and ability to be covered under Community Action’s non-owned and hired vehicle policy.