Youth Services Specialist

About the role

The Youth Services Specialist provides individualized support and development-focused services to youth clients, especially Opportunity Youth ages 18–24. They build rapport with clients and assist them in overcoming barriers to employment, education, and training. They support clients through mentorship, coaching, and connection to supportive services and career pathways.

The Pathways for Access to Careers and Employment (PACE) program is a new career services initiative funded by NYC's Human Resources Administration working with adults and youth, ages 18+, receiving public assistance. PACE is designed to improve employment and training outcomes and provides individualized career planning, skills development, credential attainment, employment preparation, job placement and retention services.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake and needs assessments with youth participants (18–24 year olds) to determine employment readiness level
• Develop action plans that reflect client goals related to employment, education, and skill development
• Refer clients to employment/training opportunities and to internal and external recruiting events
• Work closely with colleagues to match employer needs/job orders with the skills and qualifications of jobseekers
• Manage a schedule for training, client assessment and individual career advisement with placement targets results
• Maintain a large caseload and manage timely case notes for each client
• Assist caseload with creating or revising resumes
• Review resumes and assess candidates' eligibility for specific job openings
• Conduct workshops to help build candidates' skills and improve their chances of employment
• Input data into database and generate reports for trainings
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; college coursework or degree in a related field preferred, or equivalent relevant experience
• Minimum of 2–3 years of experience in workforce development, social services, case management, human resources, education, counseling, or a related field
• Experience working with diverse populations, including individuals facing employment or socioeconomic barriers
• Experience working with disconnected or vulnerable youth populations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams) and ability to accurately enter data, track outcomes, and generate reports
• Bilingual in Spanish, Kreyol, Russian or Mandarin preferred
• Strong coaching, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate clients toward employment and education goals
• Ability to manage an active caseload, maintain accurate documentation, and enter data into case management or database systems
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, team‑based environment and collaborate with internal staff and external partners

Benefits

• Competitive wages for high performance
• 11 Paid Holidays
• PTO
• Tuition reimbursement
• Guided Professional Development Plans
• Summer Fridays
• Weekly Wellness Sessions
• Medical/Vision/Dental
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• Employer 401k Contributions
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Company Picnics
• Volunteer Experiences
• Access to Free Financial Counseling

About the company

Grant Associates is a national workforce development company that is passionate about raising the economic security for the people, businesses, and communities we serve. Since opening our doors in 1997, we have operated programs in cities large and small, partnering with communities to build the human side of economic development. As one of the largest workforce development organizations in North America, we have provided workforce development services to more than 50,000 companies and helped more than 1.2 million people achieve their career goals.

Our employees consistently rate Grant Associates as a great place to work, and often recommend open positions to friends. We are a culturally diverse company with competitive benefits, frequent opportunities for growth and change, training and fun activities. Innovation and a culture of continuous improvement are built into the fabric of our company. Staff have an opportunity to improve themselves and our company by joining our Fit Forward, Culture, Innovation, and Green teams.