Youth Coach

About the role

CASES' youth programs support New York City’s systems‑impacted young people (ages 13‑24) through individualized case management, evidence‑based programming, and group activities that build positive peer associations. The Youth Coach provides continued education support, emotional support, career development guidance, and life‑skills development for middle‑ and high‑school‑aged youth and young adults in post‑secondary or career settings.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with 10‑15 young people, using creative, out‑of‑the‑box approaches to engagement.
• Collaborate with key adults in each youth’s life—including case planners, foster parents, school staff, and other significant adults—to support goals and well‑being.
• Help youth explore interests and connect them to relevant opportunities.
• Work one‑on‑one to develop individualized academic and career development goals and take measurable steps toward those goals.
• Connect youth to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities aligned with their goals.
• Support youth in persisting through academic or career challenges, celebrate successes, and plan next steps.
• Facilitate peer‑group support and foster positive relationships among participants.
• Use the Care4 online platform weekly to track contacts, goals, steps taken, and key data.
• Participate in weekly staff meetings.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree + 2+ years of experience working with young people, or Associate or other accredited vocational degree + 3+ years of experience, or “credible messenger” background (e.g., foster care, criminal legal system) with some post‑secondary education and 4+ years of paid professional experience with youth.
• Lived experience in relevant systems is a major plus.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends.

Preferred Skills

• Ability to form collaborative relationships with parents/families, school and agency staff.
• Consistent, reliable, and able to maintain healthy boundaries.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent time‑management, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Problem‑solving, advocacy, and navigation of obstacles without clear‑cut pathways.
• Use of trauma‑informed techniques.
• Flexibility and ability to work independently.
• Valid driver’s license (a plus).

Physical Requirements

• Participate in in‑person and virtual Teams meetings in various settings.
• Meet youth in homes and schools, which may involve climbing several flights of stairs.
• Accompany youth to appointments (e.g., DMV, IDNYC) by walking or public transit.
• Accompany youth on outings to cultural institutions, movie screenings, colleges, etc., via public transit or passenger van.
• Travel across NYC boroughs within a single work day.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Vacation and paid time off starting at 25 days.
• 12 paid holidays per year.
• Retirement 403(b) with competitive matching up to 6%.
• Employee referral program.

Pay

$60,100 per year

Schedule

Full‑time, Monday‑Friday 10 am‑6 pm (35 hours per week, excluding breaks) with flexibility to respond to youth needs, including occasional evenings and weekends.

Location

Community work primarily in Manhattan and the Bronx, with in‑office reporting at 4 West 125th Street, NYC. Travel across CASES offices for trainings and department meetings is expected.

Workplace Flexibility

Partial remote work possible for drafting notes after community visits. Travel is expected throughout the assigned borough or to wherever participants feel safest; at least 80 % of client contact occurs in the community.

Our Values

• People – Hold people’s stories with dignity
• Unity – Commit to a shared mission
• Respect – Celebrate the strength of diversity
• Progress – Always work to improve
• Optimize – Make the best use of resources
• Solutions – Work together to solve problems
• Empathy – Seek to understand others