Youth Engagement Coordinator

Youth Engagement Coordinator

Rise Above Colorado, in collaboration with a variety of partners, is continuing its work related to youth civic engagement and positive community change efforts. With a focus on youth and adult partnerships, the Youth Engagement Coordinator will build upon new and existing relationships with youth and the adults who serve them to build capacity and improve outcomes through the facilitation of RAC's Teen Action Council, new and continued work within partner youth councils, and other prevention initiatives to amplify youth voice and agency across the state.

Grounded in Positive Youth Development (PYD), youthadult partnership, and research-informed prevention practice, this role facilitates leadership development, community engagement, policy-relevant youth civic action, and continuous program evaluation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Position Reports to: Director of Prevention Education

RAC Teen Action Council (TAC) Lead Coordination & Implementation (50%)

Facilitate youth leadership development, civic engagement, and collective action that builds youth capacity to influence community and prevention systems.

Engage and collaborate with diverse youth across identities, lived experiences, and geographic regions through the leadership and implementation of RAC's Teen Action Council (TAC) and partner youth councils, using culturally responsive and trauma-informed engagement practices.

Lead coordination of Executive Teens, providing structured opportunities for youth to practice leadership, decision-making, ethical responsibility, and peer collaboration.

Coordinate recruitment, onboarding, communication, and ongoing support of youth leaders, assessing youth strengths, leadership readiness, and development needs to inform individualized and group-based programs.

Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, and ethical standards in all youthadult partnerships, modeling ethical and professional behavior consistent with prevention and youth-serving best practices.

Support cross-organizational collaboration involving youth leaders with other adult facilitators to advance shared prevention goals and community change efforts.

Youth & Community Engagement (40%)

Engages in the training and facilitation of RAC's educational resources with partners and direct to youth

Engages in and amplifies campaign efforts with partners and direct to youth

Engages in and improves our direct to youth outreach online (i.e. website content revisions, social & digital media postings, etc.)

Engages with organizations and community partners to strengthen local prevention efforts, providing technical assistance grounded in Positive Youth Development (PYD), equity, and evidence-based substance misuse prevention strategies

Assess community prevention capacity and needs to tailor training, technical assistance, and youth engagement strategies.

Represent RAC on statewide and community committees, coalitions, and boards, contributing youth-informed perspectives to systems-level prevention, funding, and policy discussions.

Support youth civic engagement efforts that connect youth voice to policy-relevant conversations, prevention systems, and community decision-making.

Research & Analysis (5%)

Reviews literature and participates in relevant forums to stay current on research and best practice in youth substance misuse prevention and Positive Youth Development, particularly for the Colorado landscape

Apply research findings and data to inform program design, adaptation, and continuous quality improvement.

Shares relevant research, data and other information to inform RAC programs and activities, including effective prevention strategies being utilized in Constellation communities

Other (5%)

Apply RAC's Strategic Framework to daily practice, aligning youth engagement efforts with organizational goals related to health equity, prevention effectiveness, and systems change.

Position RAC as a statewide leader in youth substance misuse prevention by promoting ethical, research-informed, and equity-centered youth engagement practices.

Advance prevention efforts that address disparities and promote social and health justice by centering youth voice in community and systems-level change initiatives.

Advance RAC's aim of serving adults more intentionally and directly to further our mission and vision for youth (2Gen approach to prevention).

Support the overall growth, sustainability, and mission-driven impact of RAC.

Qualifications:

1-3 years of relevant experience OR a combination of work experience and a degree in a related field; we equally value those who have pursued higher education and those who have developed skills through on-the-job experience

Background knowledge or experience of youth outreach/engagement

Personal values that align with the organization's values and commitment to behavioral health equity; passion for the work as well as willingness to learn and support projects

Proven project management skills; the ability to manage details and logistics for multiple projects and the ability to take ownership of projects; strong written and verbal communication skills

Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with people at all levels of an organization, including agency directors, program staff, and teens

Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a collaborative team member

Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks

Flexible, adaptable, energetic, optimistic team player with a willingness and ability to work independently and in a hybrid work setting (approx. 60% virtual and 40% in-person)

Willingness to work occasional evenings (at minimum 2 virtual youth meetings per month) and weekends (at minimum 4 in-person TAC weekends in Metro Denver area per year)

Periodic statewide travel expected; candidate will need to provide a vehicle for work travel within three hours driving distance (mileage reimbursed)

Preferred Qualifications:

Trained in positive youth development, healing-centered engagement, social justice approaches to youth/community engagement, or similar training on how to relationally engage with communities and youth with an equity lens

Familiarity with Colorado communities, especially those who have and continue to experience inequities

Familiarity with prevention and/or behavioral health initiatives

Experience with educating and supporting youth in advocacy efforts

Bilingual in English and Spanish

Benefits

The salary range for this position is $54,000-$62,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience. Successful candidates are eligible for benefits on the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment. Benefits include options for medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and child-care, and participation in a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with employer matching. Employees also receive paid time off starting at 15 days in the first year, 20 days per year following year 1 anniversary, and 10 paid holidays per year.

How to Apply

Submit a cover letter and rsum, with references, to Ben Edwards, Chief of Staff (View email address on talent.com). The position will remain open until filled with a priority application deadline of June 15th.