Youth Development Specialist (hourly)

Culture at Metropolitan Family Services is community. We empower families to learn, earn, heal, and thrive. We are currently looking to fill hourly Youth Development Specialist roles to join our Community Schools team. Community Schools operate during non‑school hours and expand positive choices and opportunities for youth while achieving academic success. Salary : The average hourly rate for this position falls in the range of $18.00 to $45.00, based on skill and experience. Locations: Midway – 3843 W 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60629; Southeast – 3062 E 91st St, Chicago, IL 60617; North – 3249 N Central Ave, Chicago, IL 60634; Calumet – 235 E 103rd St, Chicago, IL 60628. Essential Job Functions Design and facilitate activities that meet the diverse needs of youth clients and community needs. Utilize a positive youth development and strength‑based approach to empower youth, promote youth voice, and offer leadership opportunities. Mentor youth to foster resiliency, positive growth, life skills, and socio‑emotional learning; promote personal, social, and educational growth. Provide direct service to youth and adult clients (parents, guardians, community members) by creating and leading academic, recreational, and/or life skills activities. Deliver services during school day or out‑of‑school time. Contact parents/guardians to address specific youth needs as needed. Collaborate with team members and supervisor. Attend team meetings, trainings, and agency‑wide events as required. Perform other duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Experience working with youth in youth development or related programs. Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups. Open‑minded and inclusive approach. View youth as experts of their own lives. Understand a strength‑based perspective. Communicate with parents as needed. Proficiency in Microsoft 365/Microsoft Office or ability to learn within 6 months. Availability to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings and some weekends. Qualifications High School diploma or GED, required. 3+ years of youth‑related experience, required. Additional Requirements Satisfactory completion of all required screenings and criminal background checks. Transportation / Travel Requirements Preferred: driving for work with personally owned vehicle; travel between sites required. Physical Demands While performing the essential duties, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel, and crouch. Visual acuity is required for tasks such as preparing and analyzing data, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal. About Us Metropolitan is Illinois' first comprehensive human services agency, reaching more than 122,970 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services that promote education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment. Equal Opportunity Employer. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. #J-18808-Ljbffr