Youth Specialist - Lowell, MA

Location

Lowell, MA | United States

Job description

The mission of the International Institute of New England (IINE) is to create opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through resettlement, education, career advancement and pathways to citizenship. One of the oldest and largest human services organizations for New Americans in the region, IINE serves more than 4,000 people each year in Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire. Our programs include case management, youth and family services, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), employment and skills training, and immigration legal services.

A dynamic, forward-looking, and rapidly growing non-profit organization, we seek well-qualified, solutions-focused candidates who are experts in their respective fields. Successful candidates will join a committed team of professional staff and volunteers who are devoted to welcoming and serving new Americans.

Overview
The Youth Program Specialist is responsible for the overall coordination of IINE’s Refugee Youth Mentoring Program and Youth GOAL program. The Youth Specialist will coordinate all program activities, deliver youth-centered workshops, connect youth to Hi-Set/GED and/or skills training courses, support youth in gaining Hi-set/GED and/or skills training certificate, administer cash stipends and provide supplemental case management to youth participants engaged in the Mentoring Program, including engaging with the youths’ families. The Specialist will work closely with participating mentors to ensure adequate resources are provided, and program expectations are met. The Youth Specialist will also work with the youth program team and across IINE-Lowell’s teams, including IINE’s case management and employment teams.

This position is temporary and contingent on funding currently lasting through September 30, 2024.

Position: Youth Specialist

• Department: Youth Services
• Reports to: Youth Services Manager
• Supervises: N/A
• Status: Non-Exempt, Full-Time
• Location: Lowell, MA
• Position Format: Hybrid
• Pay Range: $24/hour

Benefits:

Full-time employees will be eligible for all benefits including Personal Time Off (PTO), sick days, and twelve paid holidays. You may participate in all benefit programs that IINE establishes and makes available to eligible employees, under (and subject to all provisions of) the plan documents that govern those programs. Currently, IINE offers medical, dental and vision. Company-paid life insurance, company-paid short-term disability (STD), long term disability (LTD), accidental death and dismemberment and disability coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), other benefits including 403(b) with company match plan(s) pursuant to the terms and conditions of company policy and the 403(b)-plan document. Other perks such as discounts through our vision plan, fitness reimbursement and more.

Responsibilities

• Work with IINE’s case management and employment teams to identify youth ages 15-24 for enrollment in IINE-Lowell’s Refugee Youth Mentoring Program.
• Work collaboratively with the Youth program team.
• Assess youth candidates and enroll eligible participants.
• Recruit appropriate volunteer Mentors, support mentor training and support matching mentor and mentees.
• Develop written mentoring agreements for both Mentors and youth participants.
• Consider mentor/mentee characteristics; arrange initial meetings between the mentor, mentee, and parent/guardian when relevant; ask each party to sign an agreement consenting to the program’s rules and risk management policies.
• Plan and deliver a two-hour pre-match, in-person mentor training on topics including: program requirements; goals and expectations; obligations and roles; relationship initiation, development and maintenance; ethical and safety issues; effective closure of the relationship; sources of assistance to support the mentors; and information on the unique challenges and assets of refugee youth.
• Plan and implement youth/parent orientation.
• Assure constant and effective communication between mentors and youth family members whenever necessary or appropriate.
• Manage weekly communication and scheduling to both youth and mentors.
• Ensure the necessary supports and resources are being provided to participants throughout the program, including mentors, youth, and family members.
• Support youth in Career Exploration, setting goals, goal check ins and goal achievement.
• Plan and deliver topic-specific, youth-centered workshops according to the program’s curriculum; develop new curricula and activities as necessary.
• Plan and implement weekly program activities including preparing IINE’s facilities for group meetings, support for Guest speakers, field trips, and other related activities.
• Support youth in Youth GOAL program in enrollment in the program, enrollment in Hi-set/GED and/or skills training certificate program and completion.
• Capture, manage, and protect client data, and ensure regular and appropriate program documentation.
• Assures that the program is in compliance with funding guidelines, performance measures, and program standards.
• Participate in IINE-Lowell weekly client-focused meetings to identify youth/mentee goals and progress, assure cross-departmental communication to reduce duplication, and assure timely service delivery.
• Participate in a weekly Staff Meeting and Quarterly All-Sites Meeting.
• Perform all other duties assigned by supervisor.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrated interest, enthusiasm, and affinity for refugee and/or youth services.
• Demonstrated high degree of initiative, flexibility, teamwork, attention to detail and a positive can-do attitude. Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently without close oversight.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Office applications.
• Flexible availability— willingness to work evening and weekends as required.
• Bilingual fluency (French, Spanish, Arabic, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Haitian Creole, Dari or Pashto) preferred.

Education & Experience

• B.A. /B.S. degree in Social Work, Education, Social Sciences, Non-Profit Management, or other relevant degree.
• A minimum of two years of work experience in refugee and immigrant services, or youth services with a similar population.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral to include public speaking and presenting to all levels of constituents; ability to build long-term relationships; and willingness to listen carefully.

Work Environment Conditions

• Exposure to bright, overhead office lighting, use of office technology such as laptops, printers, mail machines, and other in-office equipment.
• Frequent interactions with clients and colleagues.

Physical Demands

• Occasional lifting, pushing, and pulling materials (boxes, equipment) of 50 pounds or more.
• Continuous sitting (or standing) at a desk for long periods of time.
• Occasional driving to and from IINE offices as needed.
• Frequent bending, reaching overhead, and reaching at or below shoulder level required.

Covid-19 Policy

IINE does not require applicants for most positions to show proof of Covid-19. Some federal contracts, however, require IINE staff to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination, and some immigration status adjustments, such as a Green Card, require proof of Covid-19 vaccination as well. Consequently, for some positions, IINE staff may be required to show proof of vaccination, and in others, IINE staff will be supporting clients who are required by law to have proof of vaccination in order to adjust their status in the United States.

US Work Eligibility Notice

This position requires lawful authorization to work in the United States, and IINE is unable to provide visa sponsorship in connection with this

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Salary