What are the responsibilities and job description for the Career & Youth Development Specialist position at JCCA?
JCCA is seeking a passionate, driven, and youth-centered Career & Youth Development Specialist to empower young people in foster care as they prepare for adulthood. This role is rooted in a Positive Youth Development approach and focuses on equipping youth with the independent living, career readiness, and self-advocacy skills they need to thrive.
The Career & Youth Development Specialist partners directly with youth (ages 14 ) to:
- Assess strengths, interests, and needs
- Develop individualized Preparing Youth for Adulthood (PYA) goals
- Provide one-on-one coaching and group workshops
- Create employment, internship, and vocational opportunities
- Ensure compliance with PYA mandates and quality standards
You will collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams, external employers, workforce programs, and community partners to build meaningful pipelines to success.
Youth Development & Independent Living
- Facilitate PYA workshops (financial literacy, job readiness, advocacy, independent living skills)
- Conduct Ansell Casey assessments and NYTD surveys
- Coordinate independent living groups and experiential learning excursions
- Support youth with obtaining vital documents, bank accounts, credit checks, and DMV documentation
- Assist with discharge planning and transitional supports, including Medicaid documentation
Career & Workforce Development
- Conduct career assessments and vocational planning
- Support resume development, mock interviews, and job applications
- Develop on- and off-campus employment and internship pipelines
- Oversee job readiness and internship programs (e.g., YA WORC, Mentored Internship Programs)
- Build relationships with employers and workforce programs
- Support non-college-bound youth in exploring alternative career pathways
- Track employment persistence at 3, 6, and 12 months
Collaboration & Leadership
- Attend Family Team Conferences (FTCs), permanency planning meetings, and vocational reviews
- Train agency staff on Youth Development and Independent Living curriculum
- Partner with LGBTQ organizations and other external stakeholders
- Ensure accurate and timely documentation in CONX, Evolve, and Fair Futures platforms
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Minimum 2 years’ experience working with disadvantaged youth
- Experience in youth development, workforce development, or foster care strongly preferred
Skills & Competencies
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Experience motivating and mentoring young people
- Ability to work independently and take initiative
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills
- Trauma-informed and youth-centered practice mindset
- Strong collaboration and relationship-building abilities
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Hours: Monday - Thursday 10AM -6PM; Fridays - 9AM-5PM
Ready to Empower the Next Generation?
If you are passionate about creating opportunities, building futures, and walking alongside young people as they define their goals — apply today.
Salary: $31.32 per hour ($57K annually) - differential offered for Spanish language skills
Salary : $57,000