Workforce Readiness & Post Graduation Specialist

Workforce Readiness & Post Graduation Specialist

Our Club staff members are educators, coaches, mentors, community leaders, and ambassadors. They don't just open the doors of our Clubs they open the door to new worlds and possibilities for kids and communities.

When you join Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica, you are part of a talented, mission-driven team that is singularly focused on making sure every child can achieve their greatest potential. We are curious and compassionate, diverse and dedicated, inspired and inspirational. And we love what we do.

Utilizing leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, Workforce Readiness & Post Graduation Specialist promotes student success, plays a key role engaging youth ages 11-18, and Club Alumni, by supporting outreach efforts that encourage tween/teen club members to actively engage. This Specialist works with the Manager of Teen Programming and colleagues to design and facilitate programs, curriculum, and field trip opportunities, leads as an academic and workforce mentor, and responds to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive program that addresses academic, career, and personal/social development for all students. The Specialist guides implementation of Youth of the Year Programming and graduation events, while supporting connections to scholarship opportunities.

This role also involves supervising and actively engaging club members, fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment built on positive relationships. Additionally, the position designs and leads developmentally appropriate group activities that align with the needs of club members and school goals, creating meaningful opportunities for growth and connection.

Essential Functions of the Position:

• Develops and maintains a written plan for effective delivery of the College & Career Bound program based on the current member's school data.
• Communicates the goals of the comprehensive College & Career Bound program to members, parents, community groups, and school officials.
• Maintains current and appropriate college and workforce readiness resources for all participants.
• Assists all members, individually or in groups, with developing academic, career and personal/social skills, goals, and plans. Accurately and appropriately interprets and utilizes student data.
• Provides individual and group academic or career counseling and guidance including guiding and counseling students through the development of personal, social, educational, and career plans.
• Counsel and assist members/parents in the process of seeking academic financial assistance through workshops, phone calls, and face-to-face interaction.
• Be well informed about the Posse process, available for SAT Prep facilitating, and manage the College Bound Timeline.
• Consults and collaborates with parents/guardians, teachers, and staff about understanding and meeting the special needs of students and makes appropriate referrals.
• Lead recruitment of new students, along with scheduling college visits, and assists students in selecting programs of study to enhance career planning.
• Partners with the school district and high school counselors as needed.
• Administers assessments, analyzes, and interprets test results to provide information about educational, career, and personal/social needs.
• Assists members in building self-esteem and developing decision-making, problem-solving, and positive human relations skills. Participate in special programs and/or events. Plan and guide community activations, field trips, and networking opportunities for older youth. This role may be required to help in other program areas in support of the mission by leading programming, unique curriculum, and supporting transportation between events. This includes evenings and weekends.
• Assume other duties as assigned.

Qualifications for the Ideal Candidate:

• Lived experience navigating workforce development and higher ed opportunities.
• B.A. Required
• Demonstrated experience working in the youth development field with older youth or teens, and experience with case management.
• Ability to design and implement age specific programming and curriculum.
• Good character, integrity and adaptability. Must lead with good judgement, be able to set healthy boundaries, illustrate patience, and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to set a positive example for teens and peers in presence, attitude and behavior.
• Experience working with diverse populations and communities and know how to build an inclusive environment for teens.
• Knowledge of and the ability to establish relationships within the Santa Monica and L.A. nonprofit community, local school districts, colleges, and universities. Have worked with interdisciplinary and collaborative teams.
• Demonstrated experience with recruitment for after school programming, building rapport with youth, and engagement tactics for youth.
• Must participate in required training by the Club, County, State, and/or funders. Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and/or holidays
• Must be able to pass background checks, fingerprinting, and TB test
• Must obtain/maintain a current CPR & First Aid Certification upon employment

Extra Awesome Points:

• You are a Spanish speaker.
• You have more than one year of experience working with young people.
• You have a teaching certificate or background in education.

What we offer you:

• Targeted onboarding in your first 90 days.
• New hire orientation that breaks down the organization and your important, fun, connected place within it. You get to understand how your work drives our mission and makes an impact in kids' lives.
• An employer who invests in its team!
• Commitment to DEI in the workplace, which means ensuring access, opportunity, and advancement for our diverse team.
• Plus: Making a difference by providing a fun and safe environment for youth!