Student Staff

Program Overview

The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) provides youth development programming that supports academic success, leadership development, and positive engagement. Student Staff assist program leadership in maintaining a safe, structured, and supportive environment for youth participants. Student Staff provide direct guidance and support to youth participants throughout their workday.

Position Summary

Each Student Staff member assists with the day-to-day operations of YEP. Responsibilities include supervising youth (ages 5-15 years old) participants, assisting with program activities, supporting academic work, and helping maintain a safe and organized program environment. Program activities primarily consist of observing youth, intervening when necessary to maintain safety, organizing and executing group activities, cleaning dishes, serving food, light cleaning such as sweeping/mopping floors, taking out trash, etc. Other duties related to program operations will be assigned as needed. Student Staff gain valuable job readiness and leadership experience while serving as positive role models for youth in the program.

Key Responsibilities

Demonstrate professionalism and positive communication while interacting with participants, staff, partner agencies, volunteers, and the community.

Provide supervision of youth participants during program activities on-site, during outside recreational activities, and during play periods.

Provide homework help and academic support daily.

Monitor youth behavior and help maintain a safe and respectful environment. Alert the supervisor immediately to any concerning behavior(s).

Offer mentoring and positive engagement to participants.

Assist with meal preparation and cleanup.

Help with general cleaning and organization of program space, kitchen, and activity areas.

Assist with moving supplies, boxes, and materials when needed.

Follow daily job assignments provided by the supervisor. Rotate through assigned tasks and responsibilities as scheduled.

Attend staff meetings and trainings as assigned.

Communicate relevant participant progress, concerns, and updates to appropriate team members in a timely and professional manner.

Act as a liaison for YEP and VOAPA by maintaining a positive and professional image in the community.

Assist with administrative duties, including answering doors or phones, filing, and maintaining program materials.

Respond appropriately to crises and consult with the supervisor when policy clarification or emergency intervention is needed.

Clock in and out daily and ensure accurate submission of working hours.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule

YEP operates as two distinct programs. YEP offers after-school programming to youth throughout the school year, Monday–Friday, from approximately 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM. YEP also operates a summer camp for 8 weeks between June and August, Monday–Friday, from approximately 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. There is a week-long break in the summer and another week-long break in the winter for the holiday season. Student Staff have flexibility to increase hours during the summer months.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Skills:

Must be able to work cooperatively with staff and peers.

Must be able to accept feedback, instruction, and corrections from supervisors.

Must complete all assigned duties during scheduled work shifts.

Must be flexible and willing to rotate job responsibilities when requested.

Must demonstrate responsibility, reliability, and positive behavior while working with youth.

Must be patient, empathetic, and have an interest in seeing youth succeed.

Professional Expectations

Student Staff are expected to serve as positive role models for younger participants by demonstrating:

Respectful behavior

Responsibility and reliability

Strong teamwork and communication

A willingness to help others

Leadership and mentorship qualities

ADA Essential Functions:

Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, talk, hear, and smell.

Must be able to withstand being outside in all weather conditions

Regularly lift and move up to 25 lbs.

Ability to identify and/or distinguish people, places and things.

Ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while remaining fixed on a given point.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This position operates within a youth program setting that includes offices, classrooms, and play spaces, as well as a shared kitchen and bathroom. The role routinely uses standard office and program equipment, including computers/PCs, 3D printers, gaming systems, phones, photocopiers, printers, and educational or recreational materials. The noise level may vary from moderate to loud depending on program activities and the number of youth present. This position may also require travel to offsite locations, including field trips, community events, schools, parks, pools, recreational facilities, and partner organizations. The employee may be required to supervise youth while walking, standing, riding in agency vehicles or buses, and participating in indoor and outdoor activities in varying weather conditions.

Education / Experience

The employee in this position must be between the ages of 14 and 18 years old, be enrolled in school, and maintain compliance with the school district’s attendance policy.

About Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania

Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania’s (VOAPA) ministry of service is to empower vulnerable communities, families, and individuals through support and resources that lead to health and stability. We use evidence-based, data-driven information to develop community-based, contextualized, holistic, and empowering interventions. Our core values are: Person-Centered; Empowering; Community-Based; Responsive. VOAPA has regional offices located in Northeast, Lehigh Valley, Central, and Southwest Pennsylvania Communities.