Website UTEC
Job Title: Youth Worker for Transformational Beginning (TrB)
Reports to: Transformational Beginning (TrB) Program Manager
Type: Full Time
Category: Transformational Beginning (TrB)
Background on UTEC, Inc.
UTEC’s promise is to ignite and nurture the ambition of our most disengaged youth to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success. UTEC’s outcomes-focused model begins with intensive street outreach, reaching proven high-risk youth where they’re at. UTEC engages youth in workforce development and educational programs and provides mental health services and intensive case management. Social justice and civic engagement are embedded in all programming. For more info, please visit www.utecinc.org.
UTEC is committed to its vision for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion which pledges to honor the lived experiences and expertise of individuals; create community and celebration of cultures; challenge all forms of oppression; and embody a culture that leans into discomfort and recognizes it as a growth opportunity. UTEC is dedicated to fair and equitable compensation practice, the health, mental health, and overall well-being of young adults and staff and to creating an environment that supports work-life balance and the individual and professional growth of all.
Job Summary
The Youth Worker for Transformational Beginning (TrB) guides and supports all young adults who participate in the Mattress Recycling Enterprise, the first phase of UTEC’s Workforce Development Program. Seventy-five percent of the position will be hands-on, coaching and supervising young adults in the Mattress Recycling Warehouse, while twenty-five percent of the position will be dedicated to planning, collaborating, and meeting with other staff within the organization, and data entry. The Youth Worker for TrB is responsible for the provision of career readiness services at the Mattress Recycling Warehouse and for co-facilitation of workshops, mediation, and restorative justice circles in the Lawrence Center. This position is responsible for providing daily transportation to the TrB young adults throughout Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill. The Ideal candidate is passionate about youth work, positive youth development approach and teaching/facilitating curriculum.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Directly supervises and support a crew (two 2 hours shifts of 6-8 young adults) in the mattress recycling warehouse
Duties/Responsibilities
● Provide daily transportation to TrB young adults throughout Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill o Provide a safe and positive environment, and communicate with the TrB Team of any concerns/potential conflict that would help the team prevent any future incidents o Ability to fill out incident reports as necessary
- Ensure all UTEC’s transportation rules and policies are followed
- Ensure the TrB van is properly cleaned and maintained after each trip
● Develop, plan, and facilitate Transformational Beginnings orientation and weekly workshops for new enrollees to UTEC’s workforce development programs
● Provide support to the Recycling Operations Supervisor, Transitional Beginnings Program Manager and Director of Workforce Development in developing and maintaining operations process and protocols in Mattress Recycling
● Supports the development of young adults so that they can progress to the next stages of the program and eventually complete the program
● Exemplifies youth work best practices to young adults and colleagues
● Completes performance reviews for all young adults in programming; communicates progress to young adults through performance review and check-in meetings
Required Skills/Abilities
- Experience developing lesson plans and an understanding of group dynamics
- Understanding of young adult development required; prior experience with high-risk young adults preferred
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to build relationships with both program participants and colleagues
- Knowledge of career readiness skills, workforce programs, or social enterprises
- Knowledge of and experience in teaching social-emotional skills with an anti-racist lens
- Strong knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks and/or practices
Education and Experience
- At least 1 year of working with young adults (17-25) required; three or more years of work experience strongly preferred
- Experience with justice-involved young adults preferred
- Prior experience supervising young adults preferred
- Experience with operational duties pertaining to running a program preferred
- Bilingual/bicultural preferred
- Bachelor’s Degree preferred but not required
Physical Requirements
- Must have a valid, unencumbered MA driver’s license and a good driving record with no moving violations in the last 3 years. A driving record will be verified
- Must be at least 5 years of driving experience
- Ability to safely drive 15 passenger van throughout Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill
- Must be able to lift 30 plus pounds
- Must be able to be on your feet for the majority of the day
Salary range is $47,000-$55,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include retirement 401K plan, health and dental (50-85% subsidized), 3 weeks paid vacation, holiday, and paid sick/personal time. Benefits include retirement 401K plan, health and dental (50-85% subsidized), 3 weeks paid vacation, holiday and paid sick/personal time, opportunity for a paid sabbatical after 3 years, first-time homebuyers funding, and free counseling for all staff. Please see www.utecinc.org/jobs for more details.