Children and Youth Specialist - Buckner International

About the Role
As a Children and Youth Specialist at our Family Hope Center in Midland, you will impact the lives of children through engaging with youth from ages 7 years old to 18 years old in different capacities. You will be leading all youth programs, such as tutoring, after school life skills programming, mentoring groups, and other initiatives that are deemed significant for the age groups that are being served.

What You'll Do
As a member of our team you will have an impact on our clients through accomplishment of the following responsibilities:

• Discuss needs of children and youth with Family Coach. Based on needs identified by the families, work to bring appropriate empowerment resources to meet those needs through networking and bringing in local agencies that offer services needed and by engaging local church volunteers to meet identified needs of children and youth.
• Assist youth and children in accessing the programs offered on-site as well as other services and referrals identified in the community; recognize and accommodate the clients' varied levels of capability to understand and maneuver the expectations and eligibility requirements for the services.
• Assist program to develop children and youth opportunities for leadership and development, including, but not limited to, assisting with program enrollments, assisting with obtaining school enrollment, and other services.
• Develop professional relationships with institutions and agencies that provide education, living skills training, and children development programs. Develop relationships with community and social service organizations to help guide community assessments, program development, and implementation of new programs.
• Assess needs and concerns of youth and children. Research models of programs with identified needs and concerns; research, prioritize and recruit local programs that address identified needs and concerns.
• Coordinate regular events at the FHC including, but not limited to, sports camps, youth leadership, children camps, Vacation Bible Schools and lead children empowerment events.
• Organize, implement and coordinate a comprehensive children and youth program in conjunction with area schools.
• Serve as liaison between volunteers and Buckner staff to ensure that the on-going need for program volunteers and special event volunteers are met.
• Plan, organize, and implement designated children and youth special events. Coordinate and implement Christmas activities, gift drives, and distribution.
• Work nights and weekends as required to meet business needs.
• Work with culturally diverse youth and families effectively.
• Conduct client and community meetings regularly; attend and participate in staff meetings, other meetings and training as required. Actively participate in regularly scheduled Team meetings and other group processes to ensure professional care for clients. Chair special committees as required.
• Responsible for supporting and representing Buckner at special events, activities and other assigned functions.

What You'll Bring to the Team
To be successful in this role and a great addition to our team we need you to come with the following:

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field required.
• Minimum two years prior related experience required.
• Minimum one-year prior related experience providing community based services, youth and children programs.
• Requires ability to drive assigned vehicle(s) or personal vehicle, with appropriate state license, following all laws applicable; must provide proof of liability insurance and must be eligible to be insured under Buckner's insurance policy. Must be age 21 or older to drive on behalf of Buckner.
• Shining hope in others. (Your friendly attitude and willingness to learn is more important than a year's experience!)

Preferred Qualifications
In addition to the amazing qualifications and experiences listed above, if we had our say, we would also look for:

• Read, write, and speak Spanish 
• Effective communication and great customer service skills
• A commitment to your own professional growth and development to enhance program services.
• A willingness and desire to build and maintain excellent working relationships with your co-workers, volunteers, and the community that we rely on to support our programs.

Job Perks
At Buckner one of the ways we show value to our team members is by offering the following perks:

• Medical and Dental benefits for associates and their eligible dependents.
• Payactiv, early access paid wages
• Life insurance.
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability benefits.
• Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• Retirement Savings Plan.
• The 5 STARS Fun Benefit: encourages employees to spread good cheer to their co-workers and others, creating a happy, healthy environment for all!

Benefits eligibility is based on number of hours worked each week

EEO