Youth Career Specialist

About the role

The CareerRise Team at Larimer County Economic & Workforce Development (LCEWD) is hiring a Youth Career Specialist to join their skilled, collaborative, and service-oriented team. This individual will support CareerRise services by providing direct employment counseling and job search assistance to youth and young adults ages 14–24 accessing LCEWD services. As the primary contact for walk-in and general youth job seekers, this position serves all CareerRise customers, including youth accessing services independently and participants enrolled in the WIOA inCompass Program, including those on existing CareerRise caseloads.

Working collaboratively with CareerRise case managers, this position delivers employment-focused services that support participants' individual employment and education goals. The ability to provide services both in person and through virtual platforms while building meaningful relationships with youth and young adults is essential to success in this role.

This is a limited-term position through July 2027, based at 200 W. Oak Street in Fort Collins, and will require travel to Loveland Community Spaces and other partner locations to support participant and program needs. This position includes a regularly scheduled day designated to work in southern Larimer County (Loveland Library, 200 Peridot Avenue). Hybrid remote work is available in accordance with Larimer County policies and operational needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized employment counseling and career guidance to youth and young adults, assisting with career exploration, job search strategies, resume development, interview preparation, and employment planning.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for walk-in, virtual, and general youth job seekers, connecting customers to CareerRise services, resources, and community partners.
• Plan and facilitate engaging in-person and virtual workshops, presentations, and career readiness activities while supporting outreach with K–12 schools, employers, and community organizations.
• Coordinate and support CareerRise events and initiatives, including the Spring Employment Event (Teen Job Fair), Jump Start Your Job Search Series, Young Entrepreneur Tournament, seasonal internship programs, and other youth-focused programming.
• Maintain accurate case documentation, service records, and data entry in compliance with LCEWD, CDLE, WIOA, and confidentiality standards while collaborating with CareerRise staff to deliver coordinated customer services.

Requirements

• Two (2) years of experience in a related field or in the performance of similar duties and responsibilities is required.
• High School Diploma or GED, required.
• Direct experience working with youth in a counseling, teaching, or mentoring capacity.
• Ability to work with a wide range of individuals with varying socio-economic backgrounds, skills, education, and interests.
• Proven ability to facilitate and create engaging workshops and presentations using effective training methods.
• Exceptional organizational skills, strong attention to detail, ability to prioritize, and accurately meet deadlines while adhering to policy and procedure.
• Comfort in working both independently and as part of a team, ability to work with a cross-functional team within a department.
• Understand and stay current on the fundamentals and trends of employment counseling (e.g., resume, interviewing, and networking).
• Empathetic with conflict management skills.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changes.
• Digital literacy (e.g., Google, Zoom, Excel, Jot, Adobe, etc.).
• Demonstrated knowledge of professional boundaries, with the ability to maintain them and make appropriate referrals for additional support (non-case management focused).
• Strong communication and coordination skills with both internal and external partners.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits
• FSA or HSA (depending on the medical plan)
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life/AD&D Insurance
• Accident and Critical Illness Insurance
• Retirement Plan 401(a) with employer match
• 457(b) Deferred Compensation
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays

Schedule

The typical schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The CareerRise Team supports a variety of annual and seasonal events as well as fulfilling requests from school and community partners. These opportunities will at times require evening and weekend availability.