Youth Employment Specialist

Job Summary
The role of a Youth Employment Specialist I is to help young adults find competitive employment and build their strengths in different areas related to the workforce. The role requires the recruitment of participants and helping them find competitive employment that matches their strengths and interests, while also keeping detailed records of all job-related activities completed. To do this, it is necessary to build relationships with state agencies, schools, parents, students, and employers.

• Meet assigned Bridges outcome goals.
• Foster and maintain youth relationships to establish their commitment to utilizing our services as a resource. Provide assessments and individualized training and guidance to assist youth toward their career goals, identifying and addressing barriers to employment and providing follow-up services to facilitate growth.
• Accurately maintain records to document program activities.
• Manage and represent the “Bridges” brand. Maintain relationships and communication with school districts, school personnel, employers, parents/guardians, counselors, state agencies, and colleagues.
• Regularly attend meetings with various stakeholders.
• Facilitate transportation for participants.
• Maintain participant files and records as required in a timely, complete, and accurate manner.
• General administrative responsibilities.
• Other tasks as assigned.

• Enroll sufficient youth to achieve placement and retention outcomes:
  • Sixteen (16) Placements.
  • Twelve (12) 90-Day Retentions.
  • Ten (10) 180-Day Retentions.
• Outcome requirements subject to change based on the organization’s needs.

• Recruit and enroll an appropriate caseload of program participants.
• Assess skills, interests, and experience of each young adult.
• Identify challenges relative to employment objectives and create specific, practical strategies to address them.
• Develop an active pool of employers that can offer jobs consistent with employment objectives of participants.
• Assess critical success factors for specific jobs, and develop job matches that benefit both the young person and the employer.
• Re-place youth as needed to achieve retention outcomes and/or assist youth with vocational growth.
• Provide appropriate support to all involved (youth and employers) to assure employment success and vocational growth. Support includes but is not limited to:
  • Assistance with initial training and orientation to the workplace including some job coaching.
  • Guidance regarding modification of training materials and approaches to fit the individual’s learning style.
  • Assistance with public transportation or other peripheral issues that may impact employment success.
  • Appraisal and assistance with employer job accommodations.
  • Facilitation of regular formal appraisals of on-the-job performance.
  • Assistance in identifying and accessing necessary off-the-job supports or development opportunities (training, assistive equipment, etc.).