Youth Experience Advocate - Employment

Youth Experience Advocate – Employment

This is a bargaining unit position represented by the OPEIU. All terms and conditions of employment are subject to change in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement.

WORK SCHEDULE: This position is full-time, regular, and non-exempt. It requires a flexible schedule that may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events. The role is on-site and highly interactive, supporting youth and staff across multiple YouthCare locations.

ABOUT THE ORION CENTER:  YouthCare opened the Orion Center in 1984 and since then Orion Center is dedicated to ensuring that every young person we serve is not only housed and supported but also inspired, connected, and thriving. The program provides a dynamic platform for youth stability to explore their creativity, develop life skills, and build meaningful community connections through structured group activities, workshops, and peer engagement opportunities.

This program functions as a bridge between resource navigation, education, employment, and enrichment, ensuring that youth engagement is a central part of each young person’s journey toward stability and independence. Whether through basic needs, creative arts, leadership development, community service, or social-emotional learning, the program’s goal is to empower young people to take an active role in shaping their futures.

Staff in this program are innovative thinkers and relationship builders, working collaboratively across all YouthCare departments to cultivate safe, inclusive, and empowering environments where youth voice drives the experience. The Youth Experience Advocate plays a leading role in designing and delivering these opportunities—translating youth input and community partnerships into high-impact, memorable experiences that foster belonging, confidence, and hope.

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the Youth Experience Advocate - Employment position plays a part in ensuring that YouthCare programs are not only accessible but inspiring and impactful for the young people we serve. The Youth Experience Advocate - Employment is responsible for working with the engagement team to support the functions of the Orion Center program and provide direct, trauma-informed services to a caseload of no fewer than ten (10) and no more than fifteen (15) clients. This position requires an innovative, youth-centered thinker who is passionate about creating and executing engagement strategies that elevate youth voice, increase participation, and promote connection to meaningful programming.

The Youth Experience Advocate - Employment develops and delivers creative group activities, workshops, and curricula that promote social connection, personal development, and positive identity formation. This position, as a fully integrated part of the Orion Center programming, will assist clients with employment support, resume writing, job search, employment related programming, referrals, and other services based on the needs of the client. This individual partners closely with Program Managers, Client Service Navigators, and community collaborators to ensure that every youth support is intentional, empowering, and aligned with YouthCare’s mission to end youth homelessness.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Development & Youth Engagement

• Provide on-site, in-person support to young people while maintaining professional boundaries. Use and model positive behavior strategies, effective de-escalation, problem-solving, and mediation skills, and be prepared to always apply them, especially during crises.
• Design, coordinate, and implement innovative youth-focused programming, events, and group activities that increase youth participation and engagement across YouthCare sites.
• Develop employment curriculum, group sessions, and workshops that promote life skills, self-advocacy, resilience, and community belonging.
• Provide job assistance support to young people within the broader functioning of the Orion Center. 
• Serve as a creative driver for youth engagement initiatives, generating new ideas and opportunities for youth involvement that reflect youth voice and lived experience.
• Remain adaptable to youth-driven programmatic suggestions to drive engagement and employment support that meet the needs of the clients at the Orion Resource Center. 
• Evaluate engagement strategies through participation data, youth feedback, and outcomes tracking; continuously improve programming based on results.
• Support youth with their transition from emergency services to service navigation, education, and employment programs.
• Collaboration & Systems Integration:
• Partner with program staff to integrate engagement and employment goals into service navigation, housing, education, and employment pathways.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including clinical, housing, and outreach, to coordinate youth involvement opportunities and ensure alignment with individualized service goals.
• Build and maintain community partnerships that enhance youth access to arts, recreation, leadership, and learning opportunities.
• Facilitate internal communication across programs to highlight success stories, cross-promote engagement events, and celebrate youth achievements.
• Support the program needs including meeting basic needs, coordinating meal preparation, and maintaining the safety and cleanliness of the center in accordance with established cleaning protocols. Perform janitorial duties and related tasks as required by site needs and agency guidelines. 

Leadership & Capacity Building

• Serve as a subject-matter resource on youth engagement best practices and trauma-informed approaches to motivation and participation.
• Mentor and support program staff in incorporating youth-driven engagement principles into their work.
• Lead orientation sessions or workshops for staff and volunteers on effective facilitation, group dynamics, and creative programming.
• Participate in regular supervision, client consultations, and staff and agency meetings. Attend and fully participate in meetings, professional development opportunities, and designated training sessions as required. 

Equity, Inclusion & Cultural Responsiveness:

• Ensure all engagement programming reflects YouthCare’s DEI&J values—welcoming diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
• Center youth voice and empowerment in all activities, ensuring representation from historically marginalized communities.
• Foster safe, inclusive spaces that promote trust, belonging, and creativity for all participants.

Data, Documentation & Evaluation:

• Maintain accurate records of participation, such as intake, service plans, program outcomes, curriculum materials, and others in YouthCare’s CaseWorthy or equivalent data system.
• Contribute program evaluation through surveys, feedback forms, and post-event reporting.
• Use data insights to refine engagement strategy and report key outcomes to Program Manager and leadership teams.
• Manage a caseload of 20–25 clients at a time, maintaining a minimum of 20 active cases.
• With the support of the supervisor, identify and build relationships with potential community partners to assist in internship and work experience opportunities.

This job description is not intended to cover every aspect of your job at YouthCare. We are a team that works together to meet the needs of our clients, and every member of the team is expected to pitch in and help even beyond the specific responsibilities listed in this description.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS –

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:    

• Bachelor's degree in social work, education, recreation, psychology, or a related field; OR four (4) years of equivalent experience creating and facilitating youth-centered programs.
• At least two (2) years of experience working directly with youth or young adults in community, educational, or residential settings.
• Demonstrated ability to design, plan, and execute youth engagement activities, groups, and events.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills; ability to inspire, motivate, and build rapport with diverse youth populations.
• Proven creativity and ability to think strategically about program design and youth experience.
• Experience and credentials must comply with program contractual requirements, including but not limited to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) background clearance process and must be at least 21 years of age. DCYF Clearance must be maintained for entirety of employment when working with under-18 clients.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Prior experience in youth development, enrichment, or recreation coordination role.
• Training in trauma-informed care, positive youth development, and culturally responsive facilitation.
• Experience developing curriculum or group facilitation guides for youth audiences.
• Familiarity with case management software such as CaseWorthy or HMIS.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

• Must be able to provide I-9 supporting documentation for employment.
• Ability to provide a negative TB Test (results must be within one year of hire date).
• Employees who drive YouthCare vehicles as a requirement for their position must be at least 21 years old, possess a valid Washington State Driver’s License, meet minimum safe driver criteria established by the agency and our insurance company which includes completion of Van Certification training. Drivers under the age of 25 must have been licensed for at least 3 years and those operating vehicles with a capacity of 15 or more passengers must be at least 25 years old.
• Ability to obtain a current Food Handler’s Card
• Successful completion of pre-service training courses as required by contracting agencies. Training such as CPR & First Aid (Adult/Child), Bloodborne Pathogens, and Behavior Management. 
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, respond therapeutically in crisis situations, and de-escalate conflict.
• Commitment to YouthCare’s cultural proficiency and DEI&J initiatives.

PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

• Ability to perform a range of physical motions, exerting up to 50 pounds. Lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, kneeling, squatting, and stooping; running for brief periods of time; and going up and down stairs.