Leadership Coach/Mentor at Central States SER – Chicago, Illinois

Duties and Responsibilities

• Adheres to the mission and Core Values of SER.

• Takes the lead in supporting a young person through an ongoing, one-to-one relationship

• Assists in creating SMART goals and timelines to achieve goals within the program period

Plans, organizes, mentors, and leads groups of youth in the mentoring program

• Collaborates with high schools/colleges to plan campus visits, aid in application process, and encourage education continuation

• Organizes student workshops to include parent involvement

• Monitors and gives recognition for student academic and social emotional progress

• Meet with mentees to ensure all needs are being met in order for youth to succeed

• Shows interest and concern for all youth, recognizes youth as “young people” and treats them with respect

• Creates and maintains a program culture that is conducive to meaningful learning

• Provides a safe and welcoming program environment for all students

• Must be willing and able to assist youth with assigned homework and tutoring.

• Travel to worksites and ensure youth program experience is substantial and meaningful.

• Coordinate with all service delivery staff

• Reflect no ethnic, racial, religious, political or sexual bias

• Maintains professionalism in dress and appearance

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Report to Lead Mentor, Youth coordinator ad Co-Director.

Required Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills

• Proficiency in computer applications.

• Must be willing to become a mandated reporter

• Must be able to pass a criminal background check

• Experience working with at-risk youth

Desired Qualifications

• Bilingual (Spanish)

• Knowledge of employment and training programs

• Bachelor’s degree in education preferred, related field accepted such as social work or sociology

• Access to a vehicle and valid Illinois Driver’s License required.

• Willingness to travel and work flexible hours required.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

Staff shall be able to demonstrate the skill and competence necessary to contribute to each child's physical, intellectual, personal, emotional, and social development. Factors contributing to the attainment of this standard include:

• Emotional maturity when working with youth

• Cooperation with the purposes and services of the program

• Respect for youth and adults

• Flexibility, understanding and patience

• Physical and mental health that do not interfere with youth work responsibilities

• Good personal hygiene

• Frequent interaction with youth

• Listening skills, availability and responsiveness to youth

• Sensitivity to youth's socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds, and individual needs and capabilities:

• Use of positive discipline and guidance techniques; and

• Ability to provide an environment in which youth can feel comfortable, relaxed, happy and involved in play, recreation and other activities.

• Skills to help youth meet their developmental and emotional needs; and

• Skills in planning, directing, and conducting programs that meet the children's basic needs.

• Staff shall be willing to participate in activities leading to professional growth in child and youth development and education, and in training related to the specific needs of the youth served.

REQUIRED SCREENINGS/CHECKS:

1) Drug screen

2) CANTS Check

3) Background Check

4) Driver’s Record

5) Fingerprinting

6) Health Check