In every job at Rod’s House, our mission and vision are embedded deeply into the responsibilities. A job at Rod’s House is about more than completing tasks; rather, it is about prioritizing building positive and lasting relationships with young people, colleagues, volunteers, and our community.

Our Mission: Rod's House builds authentic connections with young people, encourages them in feeling respected and secure in who they are, empowers them to reach their full potential, and positively connects them to the community.

Our Vision: Rod's House envisions an END to youth homelessness in the Yakima Valley. To break the cycle of homelessness we engage volunteers, donors, and the community to ensure young people's basic human needs are met and that they have a safe, stable home; permanent, positive connections; meaningful education and employment opportunities; behavioral and physical health care; and supports that reinforce their individual abilities.

Position Information

Title: Youth Engagement Specialist

FLSA Status: Hourly, Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Location: Yakima County

Reports to: Youth & Community Engagement Program Manager

Overview (what unique role does this position play within Rod’s House?)

The Rod’s House Youth Engagement Specialist is responsible for supporting and co-designing spaces that inspire and empower young people to create change within Rod’s House programming, using creative and authentic approaches. The Youth Engagement Specialist plays a vital role in supporting young people's ideas and recommendations that will guide and shape the work Rod’s House does on a daily basis, as well as planning for future work. The Youth Engagement Specialist is tasked with supporting young people for various roles based on organizational needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Youth Involvement in Programs

• Recruit diverse participants to participate in giving feedback on Rod’s House programs, specifically young people from the South Valley and Yakama Nation;

• Develop youth-driven program evaluations;

• Schedule regular times to implement onsite program evaluations;

• Attend staff meetings across organization to get better sense of youth voice in programs;

• Train young people to become panel interviewers for vacant Rod’s House positions;

• Collaborate with hiring supervisors to ensure all panel interviews include young people;

• Transport young people to interviews, as needed;

• Coordinate youth participation in surveys, polls, development activities, Point In Time, etc;

• Facilitate focus groups with young people collecting feedback on Rod’s House programs and services;

• Serve as Rod’s House point of contact for non-YAC stipends;

• Create and implement stipend spending plan for all Rod’s House-related activities;

• Maintain stipend distribution as outlined in budget;

• Collaborate with Youth & Community Engagement Program Manager to create, implement, and maintain strategic plan for incorporating youth voice within Rod’s House;

• Support young people to identify concerns and recommendations, then strategize approaches to implement changes at Rod’s House;

• Strategize with Youth & Community Engagement Program Manager on increasing digital media presence containing original content from young people.

Board Advisor Support

• Transport Board Advisors to Board of Directors–related meetings, as needed;

• Communicate with Board Members the schedules of Board Advisor 1-1s;

• Support Board Advisors during their 1-year term through regular meetings;

• Manage stipend process for young people involved in Rod’s House-related activities.

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and quality documentation in Rod’s House databases;

• Create performance reports, as needed;

• Facilitate and participate in program, department, and agency meetings;

• Facilitate and participate in relevant trainings;

• Facilitate and participate in local and state interagency work groups, as needed.

Complete all duties as assigned and other duties as required.

Required or Preferred Education and/or Experience

• Currently receiving, or previously received, services from Rod’s House (required);

• Dedication to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace through competency in equity, race, social justice, differently-abled, and LGBTQIA2S identities (required);

• Bilingual (Spanish-English) (strongly preferred);

• Open to reengaging educational pursuits while employed (preferred).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must be between 18-24 years old (required);

• Pass a Washington State criminal background check (required);

• Pass a Federal (FBI) criminal background check (required);

• Valid driver's license (required, Rod’s House will support new hire to obtain this, if needed);

• Possess skills and ability to work successfully with a variety of people;

• Effective communication and problem solving skills;

• Can employ professionalism and patience in high stress environments;

• Understanding the importance of flexibility in a job;

• Proven ability to create a system or process when one does not exist;

• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships;

• Creative problem solver;

• Willingness to learn and teach new things;

• Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively in a team environment;

• Proficient in using technology;

• Contributes to a positive organizational culture;

• Ability to maintain confidentiality;

• Demonstrate commitment to supporting equity and inclusion;

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for the Rod’s House mission.

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Physical requirements for the position include frequent walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, grasping, climbing, and repetitive motions. This position could require exerting up to 50 pounds of force to lift, carry, pull, or move objects. Ability to safely drive a 14-passenger van is strongly preferred.

Rod’s House will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability so that they can perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace and the threat cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation or if the accommodation creates an undue hardship to Rod’s House.

Salary/Compensation and Benefits

• Starting hourly wage of $20 per hour;

• 25 hours per week, Monday-Friday;

• 3.08 hours of paid time off accrued every 40 hours worked;

• Eligible to receive a yearly raise based on annual performance review;

• 2 hours of sick pay accrued every 40 hours worked;

• FREE CPR/First Aid Certification;

• FREE CPI (non-violent crisis intervention) Certification;

• FREE WA State Food Handler Permit;

• Ongoing program specific training and professional development training;

• Opportunity for career growth and professional development;

• Work/Life Balance: We are dedicated to being flexible for family and self-care;

• Monthly transportation support, if needed.

Rod’s House is all about building authentic connections. We are committed to equity and inclusion and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage people with lived experience of homelessness and those who identify as LGBTQIA2S and people of color to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, marital status, disability, age, veteran status, political ideology, or any other legally protected status.