Lead Diversion Facilitator & Youth Support Coordinator

Beyond the Bars

Lead Diversion Facilitator & Youth Support Coordinator

Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt (30 Hours Per Week)

Compensation: $45,240 annually (equivalent to $29.00/hour)

Reports To: Program Manager / Program Director

Location: Philadelphia, PA (community-based with travel to partner sites and one weekly jail-based program)

About Beyond the Bars

Beyond the Bars is a student-driven, community-based music and resource connection organization dedicated to interrupting cycles of violence and divestment while helping young people recognize their potential and build bright futures.

Through music, mentorship, workforce development, leadership opportunities, and a citywide ecosystem of support, Beyond the Bars partners with schools, shelters, diversion programs, community organizations, justice-involved settings, and neighborhood hubs to help young people build meaningful connections to their communities and futures.

We believe that every young person deserves access to creative expression, caring adults, supportive opportunities, and pathways to success.

Position Overview

The Diversion Facilitator & Youth Support Coordinator serves as the lead educator, mentor, and coordinator for Beyond the Bars' diversion programming.

This role combines music education, youth mentorship, family engagement, program coordination, and youth support to ensure that young people receive consistent, relationship-driven guidance both inside and outside of the classroom.

The Diversion Facilitator leads diversion and community-based music programming, supports a small caseload of diversion participants, works closely with families and community partners, and collaborates with Beyond the Bars Resource Connectors to help youth and families access critical resources and opportunities.

This position plays an important role in helping young people strengthen creative skills, develop leadership abilities, navigate challenges, build positive relationships, and identify pathways into education, employment, and the Beyond the Bars Student Teacher Program.

Core Responsibilities

Youth Facilitation & Program Leadership

• Lead engaging music, songwriting, recording, beat-making, and creative expression workshops for diversion and community-based youth programs.
• Teach approximately five weekly diversion or diversion-adjacent programs and additional community programs as needed.
• Facilitate activities that incorporate social-emotional learning, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, identity exploration, and community building.
• Create welcoming, youth-centered spaces where participants feel supported, valued, and empowered.
• Plan and coordinate creative projects, showcases, performances, and youth leadership opportunities.
• Teach one weekly jail-based music program (approximately two hours of instruction plus travel time).
• Develop and adapt lesson plans and curriculum that are responsive to youth interests and needs.

Diversion Caseload & Youth Support

• Maintain an active caseload of approximately 10-15 diversion participants.
• Conduct regular one-on-one check-ins with youth to assess goals, needs, and progress.
• Develop and maintain individualized Student Success Plans that include educational, workforce, creative, and personal goals.
• Support young people in identifying and pursuing career pathways, educational opportunities, leadership roles, and workforce development programs.
• Monitor attendance, engagement, and barriers to participation and proactively support youth when challenges arise.
• Assist youth in connecting to opportunities throughout the Beyond the Bars ecosystem and broader community.

Family Engagement & Resource Connection

• Build and maintain positive relationships with parents, caregivers, and family members.
• Conduct regular family outreach and serve as a trusted point of contact.
• Identify barriers and resource needs related to housing, food security, transportation, employment, education, mental health, legal supports, and other challenges.
• Work closely with Beyond the Bars Resource Connectors to coordinate referrals, warm handoffs, and follow-up support.
• Participate in case consultation meetings with Resource Connectors and program staff to ensure youth and families are connected to appropriate services.
• Support youth and families in navigating opportunities while leveraging Beyond the Bars' extensive network of community partners and resources.

Staff Leadership & Program Coordination

• Serve as the lead facilitator for assigned diversion programming and provide day-to-day support to teaching artists working across those sites.
• Facilitate regular team check-ins focused on youth updates, lesson planning, program coordination, and staff support.
• Support onboarding, mentoring, and professional development of teaching artists and student teachers.
• Help develop shared curriculum themes, lesson ideas, and creative projects while encouraging staff creativity and leadership.
• Work collaboratively with the Program Manager and Program Director to identify program needs, strengthen programming, and develop future opportunities for youth engagement.

Partnership & Community Engagement

• Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned diversion and community partners.
• Communicate regularly with schools, partner organizations, diversion staff, probation personnel, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Represent Beyond the Bars at community meetings, events, performances, and collaborative initiatives.
• Help strengthen connections between diversion programming and the broader Beyond the Bars ecosystem of support.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate attendance records, case notes, referral documentation, and participant records.
• Complete required reports and support data collection for grants and partner requirements.
• Track youth outcomes, resource connections, program participation, and engagement.
• Document student goals, progress, and transition plans.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means:

• Young people feel known, supported, and connected.
• Diversion programming is creative, engaging, and healing-centered.
• Families have a trusted adult they can contact when support is needed.
• Youth are connected to opportunities beyond the classroom.
• Teaching artists feel supported, equipped, and connected to the broader mission.
• Resource needs are identified early and effectively addressed through collaboration with Resource Connectors and community partners.
• Strong relationships are maintained with partner organizations and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with adolescents and young adults, particularly justice-involved, opportunity, or system-impacted youth.
• Experience facilitating music production, songwriting, recording, instrumental instruction, or other creative arts programming.
• Strong group facilitation and classroom management skills.
• Experience with youth advocacy, mentoring, case coordination, workforce development, or resource connection.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, supervising, or supporting staff, volunteers, or youth leaders.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, restorative, and healing-centered practices.
• Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to youth leadership, equity, and community-centered practice.

Typical Weekly Schedule (30 Hours)

The schedule generally includes:

• Five afternoon/evening teaching blocks (Monday-Friday, approximately 4:00 PM-7:00 PM)
• One daytime jail-based music program each week
• Youth check-ins and Student Success Planning
• Family outreach and relationship building
• Resource connection coordination with Resource Connectors
• Partner communication and collaboration
• Staff support and team meetings
• Documentation, reporting, and curriculum development

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual Salary: $45,240
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Employer-Supported SIMPLE IRA Retirement Plan
• Disability Insurance
• Paid Training and Professional Development Opportunities
• Flexible, Community-Centered Work Environment
• Opportunities for Leadership Development and Organizational Growth

Professional Growth Opportunities

Beyond the Bars is committed to investing in staff and developing leaders from within.

As the organization continues to grow, team members may have opportunities to take on additional responsibilities, increase hours, move into management positions, supervise larger program portfolios, or transition into specialized roles focused on workforce development, resource connection, program management, youth leadership, or organizational leadership.

Staff receive ongoing coaching, professional development, leadership training, and meaningful opportunities to help shape innovative youth programming across Philadelphia.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume and a cover letter describing your interest in the role, your experience working with young people, and how music, creativity, mentorship, or community-building have played a role in your work to outreach@beyondthebarsmusic.org

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual Salary: $45,240
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Employer-Supported SIMPLE IRA Retirement Plan
• Disability Insurance
• Paid Training and Professional Development Opportunities
• Flexible, Community-Centered Work Environment
• Opportunities for Leadership Development and Organizational Growth