Life & Workforce Readiness Program Specialist

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Life & Workforce Readiness Specialist

TITLE:Life & Workforce Readiness Specialist

DEPARTMENT:Teen Services

SUPERVISOR:Director of Teen Services

STATUS:Full Time, [Exempt / Non-Exempt]

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta is offering an exciting opportunity for the right person to join our dynamic, forward-thinking team. We rely on the dedication of caring team members to provide a safe, nurturing environment for kids to learn and grow. Our staff are educators, coaches, artists, mentors, community leaders and ambassadors. Are you ready to join a team of passionate individuals who are working to make a difference in the lives of kids in our community?

POSITION SUMMARY:

We are looking for a passionate professional for the role of Life & Workforce Readiness Specialist. The incumbent will design, facilitate, and evaluate the Club’s Life & Workforce Readiness programming for teens in grades 9-12, preparing members for postsecondary education, careers, and financial well-being. Programs include Career Launch, Money Matters: Make It Count!, Diplomas to Degrees, and Up Next Work-Based Learning (in-Club and out-of-Club). The Specialist builds the career, financial, and postsecondary skills of teens through the Explore, Develop, and Apply framework, develops employer, school, and college partnerships, and ensures all work-based learning experiences meet BGCA and legal youth safety requirements.

KEY ROLES & ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

PROGRAM DELIVERY

• Plan and facilitate Life & Workforce Readiness programs that support BGCA’s Academic Success and Life & Workforce Readiness outcomes, with a consistent group of 15-20 teens where possible, and select the implementation model that best fits each Club (grade-based, whole-group, summer, or as the classroom component to Up Next).
• Career Launch: Facilitate the 27-session, three-unit program (Explore, Develop, Apply) covering career exploration, entrepreneurship, STEM fields, soft skills, resumes, cover letters, job applications, interview preparation, and digital portfolios.
• Money Matters: Make It Count!: Facilitate the 22-session, three-unit financial literacy program covering budgeting, saving, investing, credit, debt, taxes, and insurance. Print teen guides for each participant and plan the Reality Store Simulation, beginning preparation when Unit 1 starts.
• Diplomas to Degrees: Facilitate the three nine-session units on self-discovery and postsecondary exploration, planning and preparing for college and other postsecondary options, and the Senior Summer transition to prevent “summer melt.”
• Up Next Work-Based Learning: Design and coordinate in-Club experiences for teens ages 13 and up and out-of-Club experiences at partner job sites for teens ages 15 and up, using the Up Next staff planning guides, teen experience workbook, and planning worksheets.
• Facilitate the Explore, Develop, and Apply career readiness framework, offering all teens career exploration, essential skill development (communication, teamwork, critical thinking, goal setting, decision making), and real-world practice, including job shadowing, career mentoring, and first jobs.
• Provide each participant with the program materials (Money Matters teen personal finance guide, Diplomas to Degrees Teen Guide, and Up Next Experience Workbook) and use session worksheets, reflection questions, and experiential activities to reinforce each teen’s “future self” focus.
• Apply positive youth development practices in every session by giving youth voice and choice, modeling positive workplace behaviors, helping teens connect their interests to career opportunities, and encouraging learning from mistakes.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND YOUTH OUTCOMES

• Develop teens’ Life & Workforce Readiness skills, including time management, financial literacy, digital literacy, networking, postsecondary awareness, and strategic planning, and help youth gain access to gateway credentials required in a number of fields.
• Build essential skills across programs, including self-discipline and self-motivation, perseverance, self-awareness and self-efficacy, collaboration and communication, goal setting, conflict management, and problem solving.
• Promote healthy financial behaviors around budgeting, saving, investing, credit, and debt, and build teens’ confidence in using financial products, tools, and services.
• Guide teens in identifying interests, exploring two- and four-year colleges, community colleges, technical schools, military colleges, apprenticeships, and employment, and in creating a personal plan for life after high school.
• Support seniors through the transition to postsecondary life, including enrollment tasks, FAFSA and scholarship applications, and summer follow-up to prevent summer melt.

YOUTH SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT

• Maintain a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment, applying BGCA safety policies, mandated reporting requirements, disclosure of abuse procedures, the BGCA Incident Response Guide, and trauma-informed practice. Recognize and report disclosures of abuse or urgent mental health concerns without acting as a therapist or counselor, and refer youth to appropriate local resources.
• Administer the in-Club and out-of-Club Safety Orientation modules, including the NIOSH 8 Core Competencies training, and ensure every work-based learning participant completes orientation before beginning placement or working with other youth.
• Ensure work-based learning experiences comply with federal and state child labor laws, BGCA membership requirements, local organization policies, and insurance and liability requirements; place participants ages 13-14 as volunteers in clerical roles and not in supervisory roles with other youth.
• Report safety-related incidents according to organizational policy, and use the BGCA Safety Helpline and Crisis Text Line (in collaboration with parents) as appropriate.
• Create welcoming program spaces by establishing group agreements, using emotional check-ins, and following up with youth who appear to need additional support.

PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Develop and maintain relationships with local employers, schools, colleges, technical schools, military recruiters, and community organizations to secure out-of-Club job sites, guest speakers, campus visits, job shadowing, and mentoring opportunities.
• Recruit, screen, and coordinate volunteers, community leaders, and Club alumni to support programming; plan and promote Career Voices panels at least one month in advance and host homecoming speakers who are former Club members.
• Coordinate college and career fairs, campus tours, and financial aid and FAFSA workshops for teens and families.
• Match teens with work-based learning placements and supervisors based on their interests and goals, orient employer partners to Club safety and youth worker expectations, and monitor and evaluate each teen’s experience on site.
• Represent the organization and interpret its programs to the community, and share program successes with Resource Development staff to support donor stewardship.

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

• Hold informational meetings for parents and caregivers, and maintain regular contact through texts, emails, and newsletters about program activities, college information, and important deadlines.

• Provide parents and caregivers, especially those of first-generation college students, with clear information on postsecondary options, costs, financial aid, and work-based learning expectations, and consult with parents about member and Club issues.
• Invite family members to observe programs, and provide additional encouragement to youth whose families are unable to be involved.

DATA, REPORTING AND PROGRAM EVALUATION

• Recruit and retain teens in Life & Workforce Readiness programming, track attendance and participation, and record membership and program data in My Club Hub according to BGCA membership guidelines.
• Collect and analyze program data on skill development and Youth Development Outcomes, complete required reports by established deadlines, and recommend adjustments to improve program quality and impact.
• Participate in continuous quality management reviews with the Director of Teen Services and incorporate feedback from teens, families, and partners.
• Assist with monitoring the program budget, including supplies, Reality Store materials, and work-based learning costs, and comply with grant requirements for any funded programs.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development, including growth in social-emotional skills and youth development practices.
• Participate in special programs, events, and other BGCGA activities as needed.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required or as assigned.

RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal: Maintains close, daily contact with the Director of Teen Services, and regular contact with Teen Site Directors, Unit Directors, Club staff, and Resource Development staff.
• External: Maintains contact with teens and their parents/caregivers, employers and work-based learning sites, schools, colleges and technical schools, volunteers, Club alumni, and community organizations.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, workforce development, human services, or a related field required.

Experience

• Two or more years’ experience in youth development, career or college access, financial education, or workforce development programs preferred.
• Experience with teens and previous experience with Boys & Girls Clubs desired.

Skills

• Ability to plan, organize, and facilitate engaging group sessions for teens using curriculum and workbooks, and to manage multiple programs and tasks with limited supervision.
• Knowledge of career pathways, postsecondary options, financial aid, and personal finance concepts, or willingness to learn.
• Excellent human relations skills and ability to motivate and mentor teens.
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with employers, schools, volunteers, families, and community agencies.
• Understanding of youth safety practices, mandated reporting, and trauma-informed approaches.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and ability to learn My Club Hub and other program data systems.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation preferred.

ENVIRONMENT & WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed at Club sites and in the Support Center-Administrative offices. Travel between BGCGA Branches, schools, employer sites, and community locations is required. Some evening or weekend hours may be required for events and family programming.

DISCLAIMER

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. You may be asked to perform other related duties and responsibilities as needed. You will be required to complete a criminal record check as a condition of employment.