Since 1982, over 160,000 youth have been helped with Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) programs. Y.O.U. helps teens and young adults, ages 14-24 living in economically distressed communities succeed by providing educational and workforce opportunities, skills development, and access to career pathways. We offer school-based and community-based programs designed to meet the needs of Northeast Ohio employers, with a focus on those industry sectors that provide the most opportunities for career success. At Y.O.U., we are dedicated to excellence and continuous improvement of the quality of our services to youth, employers, and the community.

Job Purpose

Career Specialist Instructors are responsible for implementing and administering the JOG (Jobs for Ohio Graduates) program in one of our partner public educational institutions. JOG’s curriculum emphasizes the development of soft skills and is credited for graduates’ successful placement, retention, and advancement in the workplace. Career Specialist Instructors take full ownership of delivering the curriculum-based JOG program, which includes classroom instruction, monitoring and mentoring current and follow-up students enrolled in the program and submitting grades to school administration. This position is also responsible for recruiting and enrolling future students, as well as maintaining a positive collaborative relationship with school administration. Career Specialist Instructors serve as mentors and create lasting impressions on youth in the community and assist with guiding them toward their future academic and career goals.

Essential Functions

• Manage a roster of JOG students at an assigned public educational institution.
• Create and deliver the JOG curriculum by utilizing instructional program guidelines and other materials in planning/developing lesson plans and teaching outlines. 
• Pursues a variety of methodology in teaching including lectures, demonstrations, group discussions, and creative experiences. 
• Document and ensure all youth have completed the required community service goals. 
• Lead and assist youth in finalizing career plans by the close of the school year.
• Lead recruiting efforts, declare schedules, enroll, and develop youth for future JOG program courses.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with youth throughout the year. Support and mentor youth during the year and for up to one year after completing the programs.
• Build and maintain positive relationships within the school administration, school community, and parents. Attend professional development workshops and summits as required by other teachers in the school.
• Maintain and update the system database regarding program data and student information for organizational and site analysis.
• Mentor, coach, and support all students as needed. 
• Ensure that JOG graduates are adhering to their career and/or educational plans and assist with the transition from high school to adult life during the 12 months of follow-up after the student’s Senior year of high school.
• Strategize, contact, and re-engage disconnected program youth. 
• Adhere to policies and procedures as outlined by Y.O.U. and at assigned public educational institution where programming will be administered.
• Develop plans with school counselors at the assigned public educational institution to ensure student progress toward graduation.
• Participate in school activities at the assigned public educational institution.
• Provide students with the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials including but not limited to the Ohio Means Jobs Work Readiness Seal, ACT WorkKeys and the National Retail Federation Retail Industry Fundamentals and Customer Service and Sales certifications.
• Where applicable, deliver the Planning and Career Exploration (PACE) curriculum.
• Assist in the determination of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) eligibility & requirements.
• Provide coverage for Career Specialist Instructors when needed
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision benefits available with coverage beginning the first of the month following date of hire.
• Company paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term Disability, Parental Leave, Employee Assistance Program and Long-Term Disability
• 401K Retirement Plan with generous employer contribution
• Generous paid time off package including 19 paid holidays
• Professional Development Assistance
• Access to a gym facility at the Y.O.U. Downtown Cleveland Office
• Paid Parking in Downtown Cleveland

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Social Services or other related fields from an accredited college or university required. 

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 months of experience teaching at-risk high-school students.
• Experience with databases and database management.
• Must have valid transportation to/from school worksite, Y.O.U. offices, and potentially other partner high schools.
• Must pass a background BCI/FBI check as a condition of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Belief and commitment to Y.O.U.’s mission, vision and values.
• Knowledge of principles, theories, methods, techniques, and strategies pertaining to teaching and instruction of high school students.
• Knowledge of behavior management and behavior shaping strategies, techniques and methods, and conflict resolution procedures.
• Within one year of employment, Career Specialist Instructors will receive a JAG/JOG National Training certificate and a Brainwise certificate 

Work Environment

• This position is primarily based in one of our partner public educational institutions throughout the school year and in an office setting for the remainder of the year. The work pace for this position is sometimes fast paced where work is required for up to 2 hours at a time with low supervision from managers with intermittent prompts. Social interaction with students and team members is required frequently.
• This position requires such physical abilities as standing for periods of time in the classroom, sitting for computer and phone work, lifting up to 25lbs periodically and carrying supplies, and walking throughout the school and office buildings. 
• Majority of work is done in a controlled environment. The environment in which the job is performed outside a normal office space may include exposure to extreme temperature, noise, heights, or other hazards. All remains the same for any additional requirements for training.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit on a nearly frequent basis.
• Ability to stand and walk on frequent basis.
• Ability to talk and hear
• Ability to bend, rotate and reach frequently.
• Ability to carry, push/pull and/or lift materials, or supplies, weighing upwards of 25 lbs.
• Ability to ascend/descend stairs safely.
• Ability to manipulate, handle, and/or grip materials required to perform job.
• Must be able to maintain both static and dynamic standing balance to complete various duties associated with job.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision/distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, parental status, veteran status, military service, family medical history, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.