Youth Advocacy Specialist

Job Overview: The Youth Advocacy Specialist is responsible for delivering youth services under the Elevate Youth program. The Youth Specialist will work alongside another Youth Specialist and Senior Youth Advocacy Specialist as well as the Youth Leadership Council (YLC), a team of 12 Afghan youth, to inform the community on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention and intervention. The Youth Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for community advocacy activities as detailed below.

Major Responsibilities:

Community Advocacy

• Provide case management and leadership trainings for YLC participants including one-on-one youth services counseling; this includes goal setting, resource mapping, supporting leadership activities, and coaching clients.
• Oversee the four YLC members in the Community Presentations and four YLC members in the Tech School department.
• Lead regular department meetings to plan department activities alongside YLC members to meet program objectives.
• Conduct listening sessions and empower youth to administer surveys to community members, collecting data on substance abuse in the community.
• Provide at least 15 tailored community presentations annually to reduce stigma and increase awareness around substance use and prevention.
• Work in tandem with school districts and other community-based organizations to create opportunities for the YLC to share and recruit additional youth to participate in activities.
• Communicate with the YLC Community Presentation Department to update presentations, ensuring that content is consistently revised to meet the needs of the target population.
• Lead YLC leadership development and activism training retreat.
• Support planning and execution of youth events throughout the year open to all community youth. Support YLC in recruitment of youth attendees and marketing of the events.
• Engage youth on the Youth Leadership Committee (YLC) in all aspects of community advocacy including in-person and digital outreach events, presentation preparation, and the selected of outreach events.
• Support in planning, execution, and leadership of bi-monthly YLC meetings including development of lessons, curriculum, and teambuilding.
• Document client participation and progress, adhering to grant requirements.
• Track all grant progress including hours covered in leadership trainings per participant, as well as hours per participants in Tech School to ensure all grant outcomes are met or exceeded.
• Track and approve accurate timesheets for YLC department members ensuring accurate spend down of funds and ensuring all work documents and appropriate signatures are collected.
• Organize and execute the annual Social Media Showcase community event showcasing youth’s prevention work and advocating to policy makers.

Other

• Complete administrative responsibilities including tracking time and effort, annual development of professional goals, and the 90-day onboarding plan.
• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC Sacramento.
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Senior Youth Advocacy Specialist

Position directly supervises: Youth Leadership Council members, interns and volunteers

Indirect Reporting: Ashley Crandall, Youth and Education Program Manager

Internal and/or external contacts: Coordinates regularly with Sacramento Workforce Development team and local partners

Job Requirements:

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree a plus

Work Experience:

• 1-3 years experience with youth counseling, case management, or coaching strongly preferred.
• 1-3 years experience working in or managing grant funded programs.
• 1-3 years experience in ATOD prevention or intervention.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Multi-cultural experience and demonstrated ability to communicate well with youth of varied backgrounds required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentation creation
• Proven ability to take initiative, creatively problem solve and lead with versatility in a fast-paced work environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required
• Experience using data and fiscal tracking systems strongly preferred
• Flexible availability necessary

Language Skills:

Proficiency in a refugee language such as Dari, Farsi, or Pashto a large asset

Working Environment:

• Standard office environment
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
• Stable Wi-Fi with hybrid model

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12-month time period.