Youth Pre-Employment Specialist I

About the Role

Bridges from School to Work is recognized by leaders in education, government, and business as a fundamental resource for helping young adults with disabilities transition from school to the competitive workplace. Established by the Marriott family, Bridges operates in ten major cities across the United States, serving young adults who often face barriers to employment. The program’s mission is to transform the lives of youth with disabilities through the power of a job.

The Youth Pre-Employment Specialist will be part of a team responsible for implementing and delivering Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and will report to a Senior Youth Pre-Employment Specialist. The role focuses on increasing student awareness of the world of work, providing exposure to work experiences, and preparing students for employment and postsecondary success. This work complements Bridges’ traditional youth transition services, which include direct job placement and long-term follow-up.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the site Director, Senior Youth Pre-Employment Specialist, and Pre-ETS team to implement the Bridges Pre-ETS model in assigned schools, ensuring responsiveness to student needs.
• Introduce the Bridges Pre-ETS model to schools, community partners, youth, and their families under the guidance of the site Director and Senior Youth Pre-Employment Specialist.
• Engage with the local business community to build meaningful partnerships in collaboration with the Director and Bridges team.
• Work closely with local vocational rehabilitation offices to ensure program compliance, satisfactory service delivery, and fulfillment of contractual obligations.
• Conduct student intakes, communicate with families and stakeholders, and develop individualized student service plans.
• Plan, create, coordinate, schedule, and deliver service plans, including skills workshops, industry expert sessions, job shadowing, worksite tours, mock interviews, and other work-based learning experiences.
• Collect and maintain student eligibility and enrollment information; accurately track and report monthly student outcome data for billing and compliance.
• Administer the Bridges Pre-ETS model covering five key areas: Job-Exploration Counseling; Work-Based Learning Experiences; Workplace Readiness Training; Self-Advocacy & Peer Mentoring; and Counseling on Post-Secondary Education & Training Opportunities.

Requirements

• Four-year college degree or equivalent qualifying work experience.
• Formal training and/or significant experience in at least two of the following areas:
  • Work with students with disabilities;
  • School-to-work transition;
  • Job development, employment support, or case management;
  • Education, teaching, or counseling, including in a special education setting;
  • Educational/learning theory and/or instructional design and delivery;
  • Youth mentoring or counseling in education or human services;
  • Networking and creating partnerships, especially within a school or employment setting.

Skills

• Experience with curriculum design and delivery, including:
  • Room management;
  • Creating learning objectives and lesson plans;
  • Teaching and adapting instruction for diverse learners;
  • Differentiated instruction.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent time management, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including:
  • Ability to relate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders;
  • Ability to build, facilitate, and participate in collaboration between diverse groups;
  • Ability to interpret and address the needs of diverse constituents.
• Self-starter with initiative and follow-through; ability to work under pressure, adapt to changing priorities, and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
• Positive attitude, professional demeanor, strong customer service orientation, excellent judgment, discretion, diligence, dependability, and work ethic.
• Computer skills, including basic to intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to maintain security and confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Valid driver’s license and required insurance level (if driving is preferred over public transportation).
• Bilingual ability is a plus, with Spanish being a major advantage.

Benefits

Bridges offers a comprehensive benefits package. For details, visit the careers page.