Youth Engagement Specialist

Position summary

Position Title

Youth Engagement Specialist Work Schedule: Part-Time (20 hrs/week) Position Type: 0.5 FTE Supervisor: Program Manager

Description

The Youth Engagement Specialist (YES) supports youth connection and community visibility efforts for youth ages 14–25 in Marion & Polk Counties, including youth experiencing houselessness or housing instability. This role centers outreach, relationship-building, and community presence to increase youth participation, strengthen partnerships, and expand awareness of available services. Rooted in lived experience and the values of positive youth development, harm reduction, and peer leadership, the YES plays a key role in engaging youth where they are through schools, community events, and partner organizations, as well as spaces accessed by houseless youth. This position helps create welcoming, affirming entry points into services and supports ongoing program participation. The YES collaborates closely with Peer Support Specialists and the Program Manager to maintain consistent youth engagement, support group activities, and ensure continuity of care across programs supporting connection between youth and appropriate services through warm handoffs. This role does not provide one-on-one peer support services and does not maintain a caseload. It contributes to a strong, connected, and accessible support network for youth.

Specific responsibilities include

• Outreach &
• Community
• Engagement: Conduct outreach to youth and community partners to increase program visibility and participation, including youth experiencing houselessness. Build and maintain relationships with schools, community organizations, and local partners, including those serving houseless youth (e.g., shelters and drop-in centers). Represent the organization at community events, resource fairs, and tabling opportunities.
• Program &
• Group
• Support: Assist with facilitating or co-facilitating groups, workshops, and activities needed to support youth engagement. Support Peer Support Specialists in preparing and running programming. Help maintain welcoming, inclusive, and youth-centered environments at pop-up spaces and outreach events.
• Collaboration &
• Team
• Support: Work closely with Peer Support Specialists and Program Manager to coordinate engagement strategies and support connection between youth and appropriate services through outreach and warm handoffs. Provide feedback on youth needs, trends, and engagement strategies, including barriers faced by houseless youth. Participate in regular team meetings and communication to align outreach and engagement efforts.
• Resource
• Sharing &
• Education: Share information about available services, resources, and supports with youth and community members, including housing and basic needs resources. Promote harm reduction, mental health awareness, and identity-affirming resources. Connect youth to Peer Support Specialists or other services when additional support is requested.
• Data &
• Documentation: Document outreach activities, event participation, and engagement metrics. Support accurate and timely documentation in alignment with organizational and funder requirements. Track referrals and outreach outcomes to support program reporting and evaluation, including connections to housing-related services.

Requirements

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build authentic relationships with youth and community partners. Experience with outreach and community engagement, including building relationships with youth and community partners. Comfort with public-facing outreach and engagement in a variety of settings. Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends. Willingness to travel throughout Marion & Polk Counties. Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and insurance. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and basic data tracking systems.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in nonprofit work, youth programs, and/or peer support environments, including work with houseless youth. Familiarity with harm reduction and positive youth development practices. Experience facilitating or supporting group programming. Multilingual, especially Spanish/English. CPR, First Aid, and Oregon Food Handler’s certifications (or willingness to obtain). Familiarity with Marion & Polk County communities, especially rural areas and local youth-serving systems.

• About Youth Era Youth ERA is an Oregon-based non-profit that creates lasting positive change in the lives of young people and the systems that serve them. By uniting a diverse collective of young adults and organizations around innovative solutions, Youth Era impacts thousands each year. Our work is fueled by a deep dedication to our staff, the young people we serve, and the system partners we collaborate with, who give their time and voices to empower young lives and improve our communities. Every day, our team creates positive change in countless ways. Whether we're providing one-on-one support to a young person in need, developing programs and resources that help young people thrive, or working with system partners to create change at a broader level, we're driven by our mission to empower and uplift the next generation. Join us and be part of the change! Our Benefits
• We offer 100% employer-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision group health insurance.
• Enjoy 12 paid holidays, including your birthday!
• Take advantage of our 403b retirement plan.
• Access our employee assistance program.
• Generous paid time off plan.
• Professional development assistance.

Application Process

At Youth ERA, we take our hiring process seriously to ensure we find the right candidate for the job. Our interview process typically consists of two stages: an initial phone interview, followed by a secondary Zoom interview with the hiring supervisors. However, the process may be subject to change based on management's decision, and in some cases, an onsite meet and greet may be required to make a final decision. We appreciate your interest in joining our team at Youth ERA. For more information about our organization, please visit our website at www.youthera.org. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement At Youth ERA, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all our employees and applicants for employment. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. We believe in creating a workplace that values diversity, promotes inclusivity, and respects the rights of all individuals. Trauma-Informed Care Statement At Youth ERA, we're committed to providing trauma-informed care to youth in our community, and this commitment also extends to our staff. We believe that by prioritizing trauma-informed care in all aspects of our organization, we can create a workplace that's supportive, inclusive, and empowering for everyone. With this mindset, we aim to grow our team's resilience so we can, in turn, provide the best possible care, support, and experience to our youth participants.