Youth Engagement Specialist II - Lydia House

Youth Engagement & Community Building

• Facilitate youth activities, groups, and structured learning experiences
• Create a safe and supportive environment that fosters belonging and positive identity formation for all program participants
• Build and maintain strong, trusting relationships with youth, families, and community members
• De-escalate conflict, manage group behavior, and adapt activities based on engagement levels and participant needs
• Mentorship, coaching, and guidance to youth in addressing presenting issues; motivate youth in their decision-making processes
• Model positive group management practices and maintain healthy relationships and appropriate physical and emotional boundaries with youth
• Develop and maintain strong outreach connections with individuals, families, groups, and communities to support program engagement and retention
• Communicate trends, concerns, and observations to supervisors; document incidents accurately and timely

Program Design & Implementation

• Collaboratively lead the conceptualization and development of new program initiatives or enhancements to existing programming
• Craft program plans, outline curriculum, coordinate budget considerations, and ensure alignment with strategic goals and participant needs
• Lead structured learning or skill-based experiences with clear instructional intent
• Track participant engagement, adjust instruction and programming in real time, and maintain accurate documentation
• Support program evaluation activities including data collection, registration and consent form management, and program outcome reporting
• Contribute to logistical implementation of program plans, including data entry, scheduling, and coordination of program resources

Enrollment & Administrative Support

• Assist with participant intake, program enrollment, and the welcoming of new youth and families
• Complete data entry of registration and consent forms, including DocuSign
• Complete basic documentation of activities and participant behaviors
• As needed, provide operations support with program logistics, front desk and phone coverage, NetSuite, mileage logs, and vendor appointments

Team & Community Support

• Mentor and model expectations for YES I staff; support onboarding and coaching of new team members as applicable
• Continually seek additional knowledge and new approaches in Social Emotional Learning, Positive Youth Development, and culturally responsive practice
• Participate in Communities of Practice, team meetings, and organization-wide learning opportunities
• Contribute to a healthy, high-functioning team culture through professional conduct, collaborative engagement, and a growth mindset

Other Duties (Site Dependent)

• Coordinate transportation logistics or supervise participant transitions
• Support specialized program environments (e.g., kitchen, gym, studio)
• Support community partnerships, events, and engagement activities
• Contribute to the Trust's success by accepting new assignments, helping team members, learning new skills, and striving to improve team and organizational results
• Collaborate in pursuit of the Trust's strategic goals
• Participate in continuing education and training opportunities for professional development
• Holiday, evening, and weekend hours required as needed
• Ability to travel as needed for Trust business

Practice Expectations

• Manages dynamic youth environments independently and with confidence
• Supports emotional regulation and conflict resolution using evidence-informed approaches
• Leads structured learning or skill-based experiences with clear instructional intent
• Tracks participant progress and adjusts instruction, programming, and engagement strategies accordingly
• Supports outreach and engagement strategies to recruit participants and expand community presence
• Exercises professional judgment in complex or high-stakes situations, knowing when and how to escalate
• Functions as a model of professional practice and cultural grounding for the wider program team

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Education, or a related field required; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 2-3 years of progressively responsible experience in youth development, community-based programming, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience independently facilitating youth programming, groups, or structured learning experiences
• Knowledge of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) frameworks and Positive Youth Development (PYD) principles
• Experience with case management, documentation, and data systems preferred
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and group facilitation skills
• Demonstrated commitment to working with Native Hawaiian youth and communities
• Valid driver's license, clean traffic abstract, and access to a privately owned automobile with valid no-fault insurance
• TB clearance required
• First Aid and CPR/AED Certification preferred
• Criminal history background check required as part of pre-employment process
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license
• Must provide and maintain a clear driver's abstract acceptable to LT and its insurance carrier
• Must meet LT requirements for operating organization vehicles in accordance with organizational policy and insurance requirements