What are the responsibilities and job description for the Youth Specialist, Weekends (54029) position at YSS?
YSS is searching for a Weekend Youth Specialist who is ready to guide, support, and inspire youth while keeping every shift running smoothly! The schedule for this position is:
- Friday: 3:00pm - 11:00pm (8 hrs)
- Saturday: 7:00am - 11:00pm (16 hrs)
- Sunday: 7:00am - 3:00pm or 3:00pm - 11:00pm (8 hrs)
Join our team in North Iowa and make a real difference in the lives of youth! You’ll provide hands-on supervision and care in a safe, supportive environment, lead daily group sessions and recreational activities, track client progress, and assist with meals and routines. In this role, you can expect to:
- Lead and supervise daily activities, keeping clients safe, supported, and engaged.
- Facilitate group sessions, life skills lessons, recreation, and meal prep with energy and care.
- Guide clients through household chores and daily routines, teaching independence along the way.
- Model positive communication, healthy boundaries, and behaviors that help clients thrive.
- Handle crisis situations and incident reports with calm confidence.
- Maintain safe and welcoming living spaces, and coordinate facility needs.
- Manage visitors and take referral calls, connecting clients to YSS and community resources.
- Complete admissions and maintain accurate service plans to meet licensing standards.
- Support overnight shifts (11pm–7am), ensuring clients are safe, accounted for, and supported.
- Log essential details to keep your team informed and every shift running smoothly..
Please know this is not a complete list of the position’s responsibilities. Duties can change.
What We Provide...
We believe in your potential, we meet you where you are, and we invest in your future. Beyond the meaningful work, YSS provides the following benefits:
- Supportive leadership team and mission-driven culture.
- Flexibility and autonomy in a collaborative environment.
- Competitive salary
- Comprehensive benefits.
- Health insurance
- Voluntary dental insurance
- Voluntary vision insurance
- Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
- Supplemental accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance
- Professional liability insurance coverage
- Flexible spending account/health savings account
- Supplemental compensation award
- Generous Paid Time off and Leave
- Four weeks of paid time off (PTO)
- Volunteer time off
- Paid holiday leave
- Birthday holiday
- Wellness Program Opportunities
- Paid membership to the Athletic Club of Ames
- Employee Assistance Program for all employees
- Flu shots
- Mental health support
- YSS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer.
- 403(b) retirement offerings
To create a world where youth are valued and empowered, we ask staff to embrace YSS core values - Commitment, Collaboration, Compassion, Innovation, Integrity, and a ’Can Do’ Spirit. We also ask for the following:
MUST HAVES - Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or higher.
- Two years of related experience (the real-world kind that proves you can handle the job).
- Ability to travel and transport clients as needed. For insurance purposes, you must:
- Be 21 or older
- Hold a valid state-issued driver’s license and a clean driving record
- Carry insurance that meets YSS standards
SHOULD HAVES - Preferred Qualifications
- Strong communication skills—verbal, nonverbal, written, and the subtle art of “I see what’s going on here.”
- Ability to collaborate with people across all backgrounds and identities.
- Solid critical thinking and problem-solving chops.
- Good at managing resources without wasting time, energy, or snacks.
- Strong time-management skills (for yourself and when guiding others).
The IDEAL Candidate Will:
- Be rooted in purpose and driven by equity, inclusion, and positive social impact.
- Bring humility, respect, and cultural awareness to every interaction.
- Speak a second language (especially one spoken in our communities).
Who You Are...
You’re a weekend warrior who stays cool under pressure and brings a supportive, respectful vibe to every interaction. You can read a room, build trust quickly, and handle tough moments with equal parts empathy and clear-headed problem-solving. You’re dependable, detail-minded, and not afraid of a little paperwork or laundry if it keeps things running smoothly. Most importantly, you’re someone who shows up, cares deeply, and believes every young person deserves safety and dignity—day or night.
We celebrate the strength in your story.
Have you navigated recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, or housing instability? Your lived experience offers a unique, compassionate perspective that can inspire real change. By sharing your story and serving as a role model or mentor, you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families.
Your journey matters. If you’re ready to use it to uplift and empower others, we warmly encourage you to apply.
Who We Are...
We’re YSS - one of Iowa’s oldest & largest nonprofits dedicated to putting kids first. Our mission? To spark hope, create opportunities, and help young people thrive. With life-changing programs, an enthusiastic leadership team, and our brand-new 50-acre recovery campus, we’re growing fast and thinking big. Check us out at yss.org!
At YSS, we celebrate the unique backgrounds, identities, and experiences that each team member brings. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we’re dedicated to creating a respectful, inclusive, and empowering environment where everyone can grow and succeed. And we’re always working to do better together.
YSS is a nicotine-free workplace.
Heads Up! Don’t Miss Our Messages! - We communicate with applicants via email - straight from our Paycom system. So be sure to keep an eye on your inbox (and your spam/junk folder too). Got questions? Email yss@yss.org - we’re happy to help!
The YSS Hiring Process
- Apply - Fill out the online app at yss.org/ysscareers.
- Assessment - We’ll check out your skills and experience.
- Interview - Phone, video, or in-person - we’ll chat and get to know you.
- References - Send us three people who can sing your praises.
- Screening - Background and driving checks (plus license verification if needed).
- Offer - If it’s a match, you’ll get a formal offer through Paycom.
Keywords: Behavioral, Case, Documentation, Conflict Resolution, Counselor, Crisis, De-escalation, Direct Care, Emergency, Human Services, Intervention, Nonprofit, Overnight, Residential, Shelter, Social Services, Trauma-Informed, Treatment, Youth
Salary : $20