Youth Specialist

Pay: $23.00 - $24.00 per hour

Job description:

Groundbreakers provides healing and training with youth for a productive life. We work with boys and girls ages 14–17 who have experienced tough beginnings—and we're looking for passionate, hands-on people to join us in making a difference.

What We Do:

Our approach is simple but powerful:

• 50% Healing through creative, movement-based therapeutic activities
• 50% Work Ethic Development through real-world job training

Healing happens through things like: Clay modeling, painting, and music production. Culinary arts and coffee/customer service. Bicycle repair and life skills coaching.

Work ethic is built through:

Landscaping projects for real clients

Specialized training

Career Readiness

About the Role:

As a Youth Specialist, you'll lead and participate in daily activities with our youth—everything from art and cooking to working alongside them on job sites. You’ll also support healing through trauma-informed care, using Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®), which we will train you in fully.

This is a very active role—expect to be outdoors, moving, and fully present with the youth each day.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead small group sessions in hands-on healing activities
• Support youth on landscaping crews (no experience required)
• Create fun, engaging moments throughout the day
• Use trauma-informed approaches and TBRI to build trust and emotional safety
• Track and report youth progress

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher (required)
• 2 years experience working with at-risk youth or families
• Physically active and comfortable with outdoor labor and recreational play
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Able to work as part of a close-knit, mission-driven team
• Skilled with technology (email, Microsoft Office, basic data entry)
• Must complete a Kids Crossing employment application.
• Must pass a CBI & FBI and Central Registry background investigation.

· Kids Crossing requires employees to use their own vehicles for transporting clients and conducting business. Therefore, this employee must possess a valid drivers license, have a clean driving record, maintain a safe vehicle and current automobile insurance to cover business use of a private vehicle. (If employee is unsure about the extent of his/her automobile insurance coverage, employee should contact his/her insurance agent.)

Schedule:

During the School Year:

• Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
• Wednesday–Friday: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM
• Saturday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Summer Schedule:

• Tuesday–Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Benefits

• 401(k) with match
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life Insurance & HSA
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development support
• Mileage Reimbursement

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person