Full-Time Youth Specialist

Agency Overview:

Doorways is an Arlington-based non-profit agency helping individuals and families create pathways out of domestic violence, sexual assault, and homelessness, leading to safe, stable, and empowered lives. We envision a community where all people live free of violence and have safe and stable housing regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, age, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, abilities, language, or national origin. We see a future without domestic and sexual violence or homelessness.

Doorways began in 1978 when a group of concerned community members saw there was no safe place in Arlington for families in crisis. What began then with one shelter and one response has grown into a series of pathways individually tailored for adults, youth, and children seeking safety and shelter. From immediate crisis intervention to counseling, housing, and employment support, we offer real options and multiple pathways for people of all ages and genders—women, men, youth, and LGBTQIA+ people.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Community Education Manager, the Prevention Specialist is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing primary prevention initiatives in Arlington County. The primary role of the Prevention Specialist is to develop and facilitate multi-session domestic and sexual violence prevention programming, with a particular focus on serving under-resourced and marginalized youth and their families. This position will also collaborate with community partners to support a coordinated response for domestic and sexual violence and prevention efforts. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in providing community-based primary prevention and prior direct experience doing training and public speaking; previous experience working with teens and young adults; exceptional organization and communication skills; knowledge of trauma-informed principles; an understanding of social determinants of health; as well as the ability to work independently and make decisions on behalf of the program. While many of the duties of this position will occur during core business hours, events and meetings will often require work outside of business hours, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends.

This position is either full-time exempt or part-time non-exempt.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with Prevention and Outreach Program team to develop and facilitate multi-session domestic and sexual violence prevention educational programming to underserved and marginalized youth and their families throughout Arlington County.
• Review and research existing curricula and attend relevant professional development trainings to ensure Doorways Prevention Program is up to date with best practices.
• Implement community wide campaigns and educational programs in collaboration with strategic partners.
• Ensure all educational programming is tracked and documented and feedback is collected from participants to support reporting requirements.
• Develop new relationships and maintain current relationships with various community professionals, service providers, and partner agencies as well as promote public awareness and access to Doorways and prevention programs.
• Serve as a leader, advocate and liaison representing Doorways in community coalitions, committees, and speaking engagements as they pertain to enhancing prevention services, children and youth, and community advocacy.
• Serve as an expert on prevention services and provide training and technical assistance to Doorways staff and volunteers as needed.
• Communicate and collaborate consistently with every level of program team to ensure strategic and coordinated approach to programming.

Agency Responsibilities :

• Demonstrate alignment with Doorways core values and mission.
• In partnership with Doorways staff, assist with Doorways client and community events (i.e. community events and speaking opportunities).
• Attend and actively participate in meetings, as required.
• Compile and report relevant data and statistics as necessary.
• Maintain current industry knowledge and best practices.
• Adhere to agency policies and procedures.
• Maintain CPR/First Aid Certification
• Other duties, as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills Needed:

• Bachelor or Master's Degree in Social Work, Public Health, Education, or a Human Services and at least two years' experience working in the field of sexual assault and/or intimate partner violence prevention and/or advocacy preferred; OR a minimum of five years of related direct work experience.
• Bilingual (English and Spanish or Amharic) required.
• Experience collaborating with school systems, campus and/or community resources.
• Experience working with youth
• Ability to write and edit effectively and communicate in all forms (written, verbal and nonverbal) with tact, diplomacy, compassion, and clarity.
• Flexible and a self-starter.
• Must demonstrate an acceptance and respect for cultural diversity in all its forms, including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, abilities, and religious backgrounds and an ability to work collaboratively in an ethnically, linguistically, and culturally diverse environment
• Must possess basic computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, email, and the internet (Microsoft Suite).
• Experience working with diverse populations (persons with LEP, immigrant communities, LGBTQIA+, etc.).
• Experience working independently and taking initiative a must.
• Current or ability to get CPR/First Aid Certification.
• Completion of Fingerprints, Criminal, Sex Offender and CPS Background Check.
• Must live in the DMV area.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Compensation: $57,000 to $60,000 for full-time, commensurate with experience. Hourly rate for part-time.

Doorways is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All our employment decisions are based on merit. We do not discriminate in any employment actions based on race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status.

Doorways is a drug-free workplace committed to the safety and well-being of all employees. Doorways prohibits the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of controlled substances or marijuana within the workplace.