Type: Exempt, Full time

Supervisor: Director of Youth and Alumni Services

Location: 430 Rindge Avenue, Suite #202

Salary Range: $60,000 - $70,000

POSITION PURPOSE:

As a Case Manager you’ll work with opportunity youth (ages 16-24) from the Boston Metro North region providing wrap-around supportive services and referrals ensuring that participants attain their High School Equivalency credential and secure high quality, good paying jobs. The Case Manager is a key team member on the YouthBuild Just A Start team. Their scope of work includes but is not limited to: 1) providing trauma-informed case management services to trainees and alumni, 2) collaborating with the Director of Youth and Alumni Services (DYAS) to design Life Skills curriculum for trainees, and 3) supporting  with leadership development training. The Case Manager works closely with the Director of Youth and Alumni Services to provide strength-based coaching to ensure trainees remain in good standing and successfully complete the program. This is an exciting career opportunity for an experienced equity-centered case manager with an interest in supporting young people achieve their personal and professional goals. The Case Manager will join a growing team of supportive service youth workers committed to YouthBuild trainees and our growing portfolio of young adult training programs.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:

Just A Start is a community development corporation dedicated to promoting equity by creating access to stable housing and building pathways to economic opportunity. We build and preserve affordable housing, offer education and workforce training, and provide housing resources and services to low-to moderate-income people in Cambridge and nearby communities. Founded in 1968 as a teen summer jobs program, Just A Start has a long history of serving young people in Cambridge. YouthBuild Just A Start is a full-time, comprehensive youth workforce development program for ages 16-24 in the Boston Metro North region. Our program is one of 11 independently operated YouthBuild programs and members of the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition. As a proud affiliated member of the global YouthBuild movement, we help young people reclaim their education, gain job skills, and become community leaders. We define students by their potential, not their challenges, offering mentorship, counseling, and support. Utilizing positive youth development and trauma-informed practices, we provide wrap-around services and academic and career training to out of school youth. 

CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

• Manage an average student case load of 15 active students as well as alumni by providing 1:1 case management services across Youth Programs (YouthBuild and Solar Start).
• Develop and administer the basic needs survey, develop Supportive Action Plans (SAPs), and Student Success Plans.
• Coordinate progress reviews ensuring that trainees receive timely feedback on their progress across all program components.
• Promote respect and responsibility by upholding YouthBuild policies through strength-based coaching. 
• Provide supportive service benefits to trainees such as the program stipend, MBTA passes, driving lessons, and other student milestone incentives.
• Maintain relationships and communicate with trainees, family members, guardians, as well as other service providers ensuring continuity of supportive services.
• Advocate for trainees who are court-involved through coordination and communication with lawyers, court-room advocates and accompanying youth to court appearances as necessary.
• Develop supportive service strategies in collaboration with other Just A Start departments as well as with Career Pathways, Education and Construction teams ensuring that trainees meet their educational and career goals.
• Support the effective placement and transition of eligible trainees in and out of Just A Start’s participant-designated transitional housing apartment units and coordinate as needed with JAS’ Resident Services and property management.
• Complete case notes and other required case management documentation in a timely, accurate, and strengths-based manner.
• Stay informed about community resources and eligibility requirements (e.g. unemployment, SNAP, housing, mental health services, food resources, etc).

LIFE SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

• Support the development and facilitation of 1-2 Life Skills classes per week focused on socio-emotional wellbeing. 
• Collaborate with the Director of Youth and Alumni Services to develop and co-facilitate the Youth Policy Council (YPC) and Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) design thinking social impact projects and the podcast.
• Co-design and plan program-wide activities (e.g. Pre-orientation, Graduation) and other celebrations that foster a sense of community.
• Work with the VISTA team to ensure that community resources and partnerships are cultivated that align with student needs and lead to successful outcomes.

QUALIFICATIONS / KEYS TO SUCCESS:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of related experience in case management/advocacy is strongly preferred.
• Love, equity-centered, sense of humor, and passion for working with young people and ability to build positive relationships with young people.
• Experience working with young people (ages 16-24) dealing with significant barriers or obstacles to success. 
• Demonstrated experience with group facilitation.
• Exposure to, or awareness of, principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI), Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a plus.
• Strong verbal and written communicator who is capable of managing up, down and across the department and organization to deliver quality and integrated services.
• Growth-mindset, patience, and understanding of the evergreen nature of youth needs and goals.
• Familiarity with Google Workspace, Box, Zoom, and Salesforce (or other CRM) preferred.
• Willingness to work flexible in-person/remote work hours outside of Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM as needed in service to young people.
• Acceptable CORI/SORI is required.

We know that no individual candidate will possess every skill or experience listed. Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all qualifications. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement. If you’re excited about this role and our mission, we want to hear from you!

TO APPLY / WHAT TO EXPECT:

Please submit a resume in order to be considered for the role. In lieu of a cover letter you will be asked to respond to a prompt question during the application process. 

Qualified candidates may expect the following interview process:

• 45-60 minute Zoom interview with the hiring manager
• 60 minute in-person interview with program directors and trainees

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The starting annual salary for this role is $60,000 -$70,000. In addition to a competitive salary, Just A Start offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, Paid Time Off, Volunteer Time Off,  VTO, 13 paid holidays and a 401(k) retirement plan with a 3% employer contribution. Just A Start YouthBuild employees receive a minimum of $500 per year for professional/leadership development activities. In addition, Just A Start has implemented a “Find Your Joy Fridays” benefit that allows staff to leave early on Fridays. 

Just A Start is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Our staff represents a wide range of ages, races, interests, and backgrounds coming together in pursuit of common goals.  We value diversity and work together to create an inclusive culture where people from all backgrounds can thrive and belong.   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics or any other characteristic protected by law.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Normal office conditions and classrooms. The noise level in the work environment is moderate and can occasionally be loud.