Career Specialist

HOURS: Full-Time (40 hours/week)

REPORTS TO: Senior Director of youth Learning and Career Pathways

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: N/A

LOCATION: NYC

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Youth Justice Network (formerly known as Friends of Island Academy) was founded in 1990 on the school floors of Rikers Island to anchor, support and develop capacity among young people newly released from jail in New York City. Our mission is to break cycles of incarceration and build an equitable justice system by providing young people with individualized advocacy, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, thrive, and lead. Youth Justice Network builds on connections developed with young people whose lives have intersected with the justice system, and leverages those relationships to provide neighborhood-based supportive services. Young people become members of Youth Justice Network for the long-term and develop personal milestones and goals in the arenas of health and well-being, education, employment, youth leadership and community participation.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build relationships with participants with the goal of exploring career interests and employment options. Providing information on professionalism and the workforce.
• Co-create individualized plans with young people to prepare and center pathways developed around their work and career aspirations
• Ensure that youth are connected to career development services and comprehensive wraparound supports following their release
• Facilitate and connect participants with necessary wraparound services, opportunities, and exposure, both in-house and through partner organizations to support individual progress in overall developmental outcomes
• Leverage relationships with formal and informal community members/leaders, local vendors, faith-based supports.
• Address and navigate system-related barriers on behalf of youth and families including justice, child welfare, public housing, benefits, IDs and documents to facilitate persistence and success.
• Facilitate work readiness groups to prepare youth for employment
• Develop and maintain relationships with employers to identify job opportunities for participants
• Build partnerships with businesses, workforce organizations, and community agencies
• Match participants’ skill, interests, and qualifications with appropriate employment opportunities.
• Assist participants with job applications, resumes, interviews and other employment preparation activities.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS

• Associate’s degree (Bachelor’s degree preferred) in social work or a related field, and experience working with City system such as justice, public assistance, child welfare, education, housing;
• Integrity, flexibility and a profound commitment to the youth we serve.
• Committed to working collegially and in a team-based setting.
• Strong interpersonal skills, cultural humility, and an understanding and belief in strengths-based youth development philosophy.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Skilled in meticulous documentation and with an eye for detail; proficient in Microsoft Excel.
• Experience in data entry on online database systems or a willingness to learn online database systems.
• Occasional evenings and weekends required for youth development activities/events

Preferred

• Experience working in a community-based setting providing crisis support and/or case management.
• Experience with or understanding of trauma-informed practices.
• Bilingual; fluency in Spanish highly desirable

Youth Justice Network is privileged to have a profoundly committed and caring staff – one which believes unconditionally in our members’ ability to do right and do well. We take our work very seriously, but we strive to make time for self-care and joy.

We look for staff from all walks of life who have integrity, humor, a strong work ethic, are passionate about our mission and work, and who are committed to address the harms caused by mass incarceration.

Depending on full or part-time status, benefits include a competitive vacation/sick leave policy including three days off between Christmas and New Year's Day, 8 four-day summer weeks during July and August, health insurance, 403b match.

Salary Range: 60k

For purposes of internal equity, we are unable to go outside of the salary range posted.