YOUTH SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Supervisor: Executive Director
Work Location: The Key and Youth Resource Center (onsite)
Status: Full-time, 32 hours per week (4-day work week)
Salary: $50,000 plus benefits
Start Date: Open until filled
Weekly Schedule
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at the Youth Resource Center
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (1-hour lunch)
Wednesday at The Key
1:30 PM – 9:30 PM (staffing and mental health programming)
Tuesday staff meeting
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM

About Us

Northfield Union of Youth is a youth-led nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting youth voices and building a caring, inclusive, and empowered community. We support young people through programs focused on mental health, substance use prevention, housing access, creative expression, and youth advocacy. Our mission is rooted in equity, lived experience, and the belief that youth should lead the way in shaping the systems and communities that impact their lives.


Position Overview
We are seeking a Youth Support Specialist to join our team and play a key role in launching and leading the Youth Resource Center (YRC). The YRC is currently being purchased, with construction beginning in March and an anticipated opening in April. This position will help bring the space to life and then take ongoing ownership once it opens.
During the build-out and launch phase, the Youth Support Specialist will support planning, setup, and coordination efforts to ensure the Youth Resource Center opens as a welcoming, functional, and youth-centered space. Once open, this role will oversee the day-to-day operations of the YRC, including coordinating mental health supports, working with community partners to access and utilize the space, managing inventory and resources, and maintaining a safe, organized, and responsive environment.
In addition to leading the Youth Resource Center, the Youth Support Specialist will spend one day per week at The Key, providing staffing support, facilitating mental health and wellness programming, and building consistent, trusting relationships with young people at the drop-in center.
This role works closely with youth to identify meaningful goals, navigate systems, and access mental health, housing, academic, employment, and basic needs supports. The ideal candidate values relationship-based work, understands the realities young people face, and can collaborate effectively with youth leaders and community partners to shape responsive, trauma-informed support. This role is for someone who thrives in ambiguity. 


Key Responsibilities
Youth Resource Center Launch & Leadership
-Support the setup, launch, and opening of the Youth Resource Center, including developing initial systems, schedules, and program flow
-Serve as the primary on-site lead for the Youth Resource Center once open, providing day-to-day leadership and oversight
-Establish a welcoming, youth-centered, and emotionally safe environment that reflects trauma-informed and strengths-based values
-Make real-time decisions related to youth needs, safety, programming, and space use

Youth Support & Program Development
-Design and implement strengths-based, trauma-informed programming that addresses youth needs in areas such as mental health, housing stability, school success, and employment readiness
-Provide one-on-one support and goal planning with youth, helping them identify, articulate, and pursue self-defined goals
-Facilitate workshops, healing circles, or small groups on topics such as emotional regulation, coping skills, healthy relationships, or systems navigation


Case Management & Service Navigation
-Assist youth in accessing community-based resources such as mental health providers, housing programs, educational supports, healthcare, and employment services
-Maintain documentation of referrals, goals, and follow-ups in a confidential and respectful manner
-Coordinate with external service providers to ensure continuity of care and warm handoffs


Community Engagement & Partnerships
-Build and maintain relationships with local service providers, government agencies, and community partners to expand referral networks and increase access to holistic supports
-Advocate for youth access to culturally relevant, affirming, and accessible services across systems


Organizational Support
-Collaborate with youth leadership and staff to ensure programming is aligned with youth needs and voices
-Participate in team meetings, strategic planning, and evaluation efforts
-Support crisis response efforts as needed in collaboration with other staff


Qualifications

Required:
-A master’s degree in social work or a related field is preferred
-A bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or education with 3+ years of relevant experience will be considered.
-Experience working with youth ages 12-24, preferably in community-based or non-traditional settings
-Deep understanding of trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and harm-reduction frameworks
-Demonstrated experience supporting youth in areas like mental health, housing insecurity, school re-engagement, employment, and/or substance use 
-Strong knowledge of local systems and resources related to youth wellbeing and social determinants of health
-Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to build authentic, trust-based relationships with youth from diverse backgrounds
-Competency in the Google Suite and Salesforce (can be trained)


Preferred:
-Experience working in youth-led or grassroots organizations
-Training in motivational interviewing, restorative practices, or strengths-based coaching
-Experience with group facilitation, workshop design, or youth development programming

What We Offer

-A youth-centered, collaborative, and flexible work culture
-Opportunities to co-create innovative programming with young people
-Connection to a vibrant network of youth, artists, advocates, and change-makers
-Benefits include a healthcare stipend, cell phone reimbursement, YMCA membership and a 3% match, vested immediately, in a SIMPLE IRA

To Apply:

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter or statement of interest to kelli@unionofyouth.org.
Tell us why you’re passionate about working with youth and how your experience aligns with our mission.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience related to the systems we aim to change — including those who identify as LGBTQ+, people of color, and those with experience navigating mental health, housing instability, or other relevant life experiences.