Youth Leadership Coordinator

Position Summary

Part-Time, Hourly | Average 20 hours per week | $20-25/hour based on experience

Are you someone who feels passionate about cultivating youth leadership through inclusive, engaging activities? Do you wish educational systems did a better job of supporting youth and were more effective at meeting their real needs? Do you believe that youth voices should be heard in spaces where decisions about education are being made, in order to move us toward a more just and equitable future?

If you answered yes to those questions, this position might be right for you.

Deep’s Youth Leadership Coordinator is an hourly part-time position (averaging 20 hours/week) based out of our office in Savannah, GA. This position reports directly to the Director of Restorative Practices and Culture.

Through year-long programs, special events, and short-term projects, the Youth Leadership Coordinator develops and leads programming for and with young-people so they better understand and can advocate for practices and policies to serve their communities, with a special focus on the public education system.

This position requires an individual who is committed to youth voice, equity, and community-centered learning. The successful candidate will have experience facilitating youth leadership and learning experiences and a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion. They should possess a foundational understanding of how historical and contemporary structural inequities shape community experiences and outcomes, along with the ability to help young people explore these issues through inquiry, dialogue, research, and action.

The ideal candidate recognizes that how we understand communities and social issues is often shaped by dominant narratives and assumptions. They understand that meaningful change often begins by helping communities see themselves, their strengths, and their challenges in new ways.

Above all, the ideal candidate is a skilled facilitator who can build trust, foster belonging, and support youth in developing the skills, confidence, and agency to lead meaningful research, creative projects, and community change efforts.

The Youth Leadership Coordinator is responsible for leading Deep Center’s Youth Participatory Action Research Team as well as Deep Center’s Freedom Schools for youth in Savannah-Chatham County.

Deep Center’s Action Research Team (ART) is made up of a cohort of high-school aged young people (ages 13-18). Each year ART designs and carries out a youth participatory action research (YPAR) project, engages in local and state-level advocacy, and hosts learning and community-building events open to young people in the community. The Youth Leadership Coordinator designs events, plans and facilitates special events and ART’s weekly meetings and maintains ongoing communication with ART members in a youth- and equity-centered manner.

Aren’t sure if you meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that people from marginalized communities are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Deep Center, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and equity-driven workplace. So if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Key Responsibilities

Youth Leadership Program Design and Management

• Plan and execute a yearly Youth Participatory Action Research project
• Design curriculum plans and lessons
• Facilitate ART weekly in person meetings
• Coach and mentor individual young people who are taking on leadership roles for special events
• Coordinate program logistics and annual evaluation process
• Support ART members in finding opportunities for leadership and youth community organizing
• Assist young people with the creation of external communication products
• Recruit young people from across Savannah as ART members, and to participate in ART special events
• Create project-management tools for youth leaders to organize and guide their work to ensure that projects stay on-task and on-time
• Lead planning for annual Freedom School and Youth Summit
• Develop long-term, sustainable plans for creating a pipeline of future ART members as well as for ongoing engagement with the growing number of ART alumni
• Model and support youth organizers, community members, and ART members in incorporating equity-oriented, reflective, community-building practices

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Strong facilitation skills, including the ability to engage individuals with different backgrounds or roles in learning and discussion
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Experience in designing and implementing workshops and trainings for youth
• Project and event coordination skills
• Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and produce quality results on time
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable
• Commitment to Deep Center’s culture of collaboration, inclusivity, openness, and mutual respect; and to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Part Time - Average of 20 hours per week

Status: Non-Exempt

Reports to: Director of of Restorative Practices and Culture

Location: On Site in Savannah, GA

Start date: (position open until filled)

This position is IN PERSON in Savannah, GA. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Much of the work of this position is completed while sitting at a desk, using a computer and phone. Requires talking, hearing, and visual acuity sufficient to perform these major functions. Role frequently requires navigating a physical office space and attending meetings and events at alternate locations. Requires walking, driving, and climbing stairs in some settings.

About Deep Center

Deep Center is a Savannah-based nonprofit that empowers young people and their families to thrive as leaders, creators, and advocates. Through writing, arts, storytelling, organizing, and policy advocacy, we amplify voices that are too often silenced and drive systemic change toward equity and justice.

If you’re passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered. We want to hear from you!

To Apply

Deep Center is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to join our team. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and those with lived experiences that reflect the Savannah community to apply.

We are conducting rolling interviews as eligible candidates apply and hope to fill the position as soon as possible. Do not wait to submit your application.

To apply please email 1) cover letter, 2) and resume to jobs@deepcenter.org. Applicant review will continue until the position is filled. Please indicate “Youth Leadership Coordinator” in the subject line. Resumes without a cover letter will not be considered. No phone calls, please.