Youth Empowerment Specialist

The New York State Youth Justice Institute (YJI) is seeking to hire a Youth Empowerment Specialist to lead our Youth Justice Peer Advisory Council (PAC).  The PAC was launched in 2022. Its members include systems-involved youth from across New York State who provide meaningful feedback and advice to our state agency partners, New York State localities, and other stakeholders.

• The ideal candidate for this position has:
• Substantive experience working with systems-impacted youth and/or their families;
• Experience in planning and facilitating meetings in a virtual environment or in person;
• Demonstrated skills in curriculum development, especially for non-traditional populations;
• Deep understanding of the needs and best practices in:
• supporting this population
• effectively recruiting and sustaining their engagement in advisory roles
• empowering youth by developing their voice and building their skills and knowledge for successful interactions with various stakeholders
• Demonstrated commitment to equity.
• Ability to work outside of traditional office hours (Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm) to accommodate youth availability.
• Ability to occasionally travel in New York State for conferences, meetings, and/or training opportunities

The successful candidate will also assist in the professional development of diverse cohorts of graduate and undergraduate students admitted for internships at the Institute and will provide opportunities for cross-pollination between the lived expertise of PAC members and the academic expertise of YJI interns.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Under the supervision of the YJI's Executive Director, and working closely with the Directors of Research; Training and Technical Assistance; Grants, and Finance, the responsibilities of the Youth Empowerment Specialist include: 
• Planning and executing multiple aspects of the PAC: 
• Ensuring continuity of the PAC's structure, mission, and curriculum 
• Monitoring a web-based application portal  
• Monitoring and conducting continuous recruitment plans and selection processes 
• Providing onboarding support and training to members 
• Organizing and facilitating meetings as well as other daily tasks, including organizing payment forms and other administrative support
• Conducting continuous quality improvement assessments to ensure the PAC meets the needs of youth participants and the YJI's partners and stakeholders 
• Assisting in the supervision of undergraduate and graduate students and creating opportunities for collaboration between YJI interns and PAC members;  
• Performing special assignments and other related duties as needed; and 
• Participating in meetings with State and local-level partners and stakeholders

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• MA in Criminal Justice, Social Welfare, or related discipline plus two years of full-time experience working directly with systems-involved youth. Alternatively, a BA in Criminal Justice, Social Welfare, or related discipline plus a minimum of 5 years of full-time experience working
• directly with systems-involved youth. 
• Substantive knowledge of juvenile justice and emerging adulthood practices and policy in the United States. 
• Demonstrated experience working with and providing mentorship and support to youth, specifically emerging adults (18-25 years old). 
• Demonstrated workshop and curriculum development experience.
• Knowledge of and experience in youth development principles and trauma-informed practices. 
• Demonstrated ability to respond effectively to multiple assignments and priorities supporting multiple projects and activities. 
• Strong organizational and time management skills, oral and written communication skills, and advanced interpersonal and relationship-building skills working in a team environment.
• Demonstrated group facilitation skills in in-person and virtual settings.
• Strong administrative skills.
• Comfort with technology in all forms for communication, project management, and content creation. (e.g., Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams, and social media). 
• Commitment to the Institute-wide principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the position. 
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community.
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role.
• Applicants must address their language skills in their application, as fluency in English is required.  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and youth leadership development and empowerment. 
• Candidates with personal/family lived experience in the justice system are encouraged to apply. 
• Strong cultural competency regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ability, and other social identities, with an existing ability to communicate and collaborate with people across lines of difference. 
• Bilingual or ASL skills highly desired. 

Additional Information:

Professional Rank and Salary Grade: Senior Staff Assistant, SL3; $60,000-65,000