WOW Transition Specialist - Chicago

About Our Organization

Youth Guidance creates and implements school-based programs that enable children to overcome obstacles, focus on their education, and ultimately, to succeed in school and in life. We believe that no matter what challenges a young person faces, they are more likely to succeed when they have caring adults in their lives. Our highly trained staff guides kids to overcome the life and academic challenges facing the youth. We meet kids where they are — physically and emotionally — to help them focus on their education, make positive choices, and remain on the right path toward life success.

Founded in 1924  today Youth Guidance is a leading provider of outcomes-driven programs serving more than 8,500 youth while touching the lives of more than 14,000 youth, parents, teachers, and community members.

Position Summary**:** This position is responsible for the coordination and implementation of Working on Womanhood program in schools. This includes recruitment, enrollment, program implementation, providing support to families and systemic engagement activities necessary for successful programming, as well as training support for new WOW Counselors. This position is also responsible for supporting the transition of new WOW Counselors in their school. This position works collaboratively with Curriculum Specialist, and Regional Manager to implement WOW Program in schools and to support new WOW Counselors with transition into their roles.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead Working On Womanhood program implementation in identified schools and coordinate conditions for successful program implementation.
• Lead and facilitate 4-5 weekly group counseling sessions utilizing the program curriculum during the school day.
• Provide leadership by participating in, but not limited to, summer program planning, postsecondary and @Work initiatives, exposure opportunities, focus groups, special projects, etc.
• Participates in the recruitment, hiring and onboarding of all new WOW Counselors
• Supports the training and transition of new WOW Counselors in school.
• Provides WOW program implementation support to region.
• Lead WOW onboarding process and ongoing training support.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Experience/Training

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or related human service field from an approved, accredited university.
• Two calendar years of employment with the WOW Program.
• Two years of delivering program curriculum.
• One year of leadership experience leading a project or a team.
• Experience in Clinical and Youth Engagement.
• Experience working with trauma-informed services and framework.
• Experience working in schools or youth related systems, i.e., DCFS, juvenile detention, mental health facilities.

Skills/Abilities

• Must demonstrate high level of understanding of the WOW Counselor Competencies and philosophies.
• Must demonstrate high level of understanding of the WOW Curriculum and conditions for successful program implementation.
• Ability to manage multiple projects.
• Ability to demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting.
• Ability to demonstrate interpersonal skills that excel in cultural sensitivity and respect for differences required; proven ability to model YG values and norms.
• Ability to maintain positive relationships with various stakeholders required, along with outstanding teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Ability to resolve issues that arise while managing projects.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable; open to change, learning, and improvement.
• Passion to motivate and inspire team members across the agency to achieve full potential through sharing success stories and learning from experience.
• Must demonstrate creativity in engaging youth.
• Must demonstrate experience in Crisis Support and Intervention.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) required.
• Interpersonal skills that excel in cultural sensitivity and respect for differences.

Core Competencies

• **Communication:**Uses effective written and oral communication with internal staff, teams, and community served; demonstrates empathy and listening
• **Client orientation:**Recognizes needs of diverse stakeholders and approaches relationships with a service orientation, to ultimately maximize the impact
• **Equity mindset:**Understands and is committed to goals of equity, consistently brings an equity mindset to the organization’s work and workplace
• **Growth mindset:**Views growth as important for personal and professional development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if the change is required, demonstrates curiosity and eagerness to learn
• **Ownership and quality of work:**Effectively manages own work, and work of the team to ensure delivery of high-quality work
• **Supervisory skills:**Effectively manages and develops others
• **Mission drive:**Demonstrates commitment to the missing of the organization as a whole and alignment with organization values

Leadership Core Competencies (Supervisor & above roles)

• Continuous improvement-minded:  Takes initiative to identify and execute strategies and processes to continuously improve one’s leadership to strengthen organization’s overall impact.​
• Develops and motivates others: Motivates others and supports their development through strong coaching and mentoring. Effectively stewards self and others through both small and large scale change**.** ​
• External representation and relationship building: Represents the organization among external stakeholders, and builds strong, trusting relationships with stakeholders​
• Leads with vision: Has an inspiring vision for the future of the organization, beyond the status quo, and communicates it effectively; leads with courage and willingness to take risks in service of impact​
• Manages with data: Understands data; analyzes data and identifies insights and implications​
• Strategic thinking and resource management:  Considers the future of the organization proactively and responsively; weighs diverse inputs to inform strategies; identifies innovative opportunities when relevant; makes and communicates decisions that effectively balance tradeoffs between financial sustainability and impact​
• Team building: Builds strong relationships with teams and colleagues; fosters effective teams and collaborative interactions​

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This job operates in a professional office environment, school setting and working with the public**.**
• Occasional local travel.

Pay Range

$60,000-$72,000

Pay is determined by your educational background, licensure, and relevant professional experience.

Our Values

• At Youth Guidance, we believe that creating a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and respected is fundamental to realizing our vision of bright and successful futures for all young people. We acknowledge that many systems and institutions intended to support youth do not provide fair treatment or access for everyone. We strive to celebrate the unique qualities of youth and recognize them as empowered leaders, problem-solvers, and experts of their own experiences.
• Youth Guidance is an equal opportunity employer. Youth Guidance does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law and is committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.