Employment Specialist/Participant Coach - Youth Employment Services

Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) exists to break the cycle of poverty and inequity through education, job training, and employment. Our vision is to strengthen the workforce by serving as a bridge to economic and educational opportunity for individuals in underserved communities. Through our skills-based training, educational services, and direct job placement efforts, we build upward economic mobility for out-of-school and unemployed youth and adults and provide the skills necessary to gain a competitive edge in the job market. Finally, OBT maintains a commitment to fostering and maintaining a work environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven into our organizational DNA.

Position Summary 

The Youth Employment Program is a career pathways program for youth and young adults ages 16-24 that provides work readiness support, occupational skills training, and employment services, along with supportive services such as High School Equivalency (HSE) classes, paid internships, comprehensive case management, and access to post-secondary education and sector-based credential training. 

The Employment Specialist/Participant Coach will complete contractually required enrollment steps, a comprehensive assessment and corresponding service planning. This work will be done in collaboration with each youth participant to elevate their experiences, their strengths, their interests, and their voice. While in the program, each participant will meet with this employee regularly to work on barriers to program persistence and success, including the provision and follow through with referrals to other service providers. This employee will also complete all necessary data entry related to this work and support the larger team with other program activities, such as outreach and recruitment, workshops, post-exit placements, etc. Once the participant completes the program, the employee will complete the exit process in the funder- mandated system. 

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload of approximately 25 participants, providing individualized coaching and support to help participants achieve their academic, career, and employment goals. 

• Conduct comprehensive intake and assessments to determine participant needs, strengths, career interests, and program eligibility. 

• Develop individualized service and employment plans in collaboration with participants that outline academic milestones, career pathways, and employment objectives. 

• Provide ongoing one-on-one coaching and case management, meeting regularly with participants to address barriers to academic persistence, training completion, and employment success. 

• Support participants in achieving academic goals, including persistence in educational programs, credential attainment, and transition to employment or advanced training opportunities. 

• Facilitate referrals to internal and external support services such as education programs, workforce training, mental health resources, housing services, and other community-based support. 

• Monitor participant progress toward education, training, and employment outcomes, documenting milestones and adjusting service plans as needed. 

• Assist participants with career readiness, including resume development, job search strategies, interview preparation, and workplace professionalism. 

• Support participant job placement and post-placement retention, helping participants transition successfully into employment or further education. 

• Complete program exit procedures and ensure participants are connected to positive post-program outcomes such as employment, education, or advanced training. 

• Provide 90 days of follow-up support in accordance with the funder’s mandate, and one year of follow-up support in line with OBT standards. 

• Maintain accurate, timely data entry and case notes in funder-mandated databases and the agency’s Salesforce system. 

• Promote a culture of professionalism and accountability, helping participants develop workplace readiness and professional behaviors. 

• Collaborate with program staff, instructors, and external partners to ensure coordinated service delivery and strong participant outcomes. 

• Assist in identifying program improvement opportunities and developing services that strengthen participant success. 

• Perform all other duties as assigned by the supervisor. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Experience working directly with individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. 

• Demonstrated commitment to supporting young adults in achieving education, career, and employment success. 

• Strong background in case management, career coaching, workforce development, or academic advising. 

• Knowledge of workforce development systems, education pathways, and community-based social service resources. 

• Ability to build trusting relationships with participants while motivating and holding them accountable to their goals. 

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage a caseload and multiple priorities simultaneously. 

• Experience working with New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) contracts or similar government-funded initiatives required.

• Excellent communication and coaching skills, including the ability to guide participants through challenges and barriers. 

• Experience with data tracking, documentation, and performance metrics. 

• Ability to work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to achieve program outcomes. 

Education and Experience/Training 

• Bachelor’s degree required; a master’s degree or additional professional training in workforce development, counseling, social work, education, or a related field preferred. 

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in case management, employment services, workforce development, academic advising, or a comparable role supporting adolescents or young adults. 

• Experience supporting individuals in education persistence, career pathway development, or job placement preferred. 

• Experience working on a NYC DYCD contract a plus. 

  Salary Range : $60,000–$65,000 annually