Education and Employment Coordinator

Organization Overview

United Friends of the Children empowers current and former foster/justice involved youth on their

journey to self-sufficiency through service-enriched programs, advocacy, and consistent

relationships with a community of people who care.

Founded over 40 years ago, United Friends’ is a leading provider of youth development services to

current and former foster youth in Los Angeles County. Through its housing and education programs,

the organization has helped thousands of young people imagine and actualize their own dreams and

futures. United Friends’ programs focus on commitment, trauma-informed care, and empowerment by

prioritizing a whole-person-development approach. Through a Social Justice Positive Youth

Development (SJPYD) model, we center building relationships with youth over an extended period to

achieve greater outcomes. Around those relationships, United Friends wraps an array of supportive

services to help youth successfully transition to adulthood. As a result of services, United

Friends alumni have greater housing and economic stability, higher educational attainment and a

stronger sense of community and emotional wellbeing.

Position Overview

Pathways is a low-barrier to entry housing program that provides intensive case management and

support services to transitional aged-youth (TAY), ages 18-24. The Pathways program utilizes the

Housing First Approach in which, assertive engagement with our youth is essential to ensure youth

are aware of and participate in a myriad of resources and supportive services offered by the

program. Reporting to the Director of Housing, the Education and Employment Coordinator will be

responsible for increasing youth access to meaningful employment and various forms of workforce

development, such job placement and vocational training. The coordinator will lead career readiness

and education workshops and identify resources to support the creation of services and development

of external relationships and collaboration.

The ideal candidate will have a keen understanding of best practice service models, such as trauma-

informed care, harm reduction, and social justice positive youth development. Specific knowledge

related to transitional aged youth experiencing housing instability is a plus.

United Friends currently implements a hybrid work environment – schedule is determined at the

discretion of management and the needs of the program and/or agency. This position will work

full-time hours, Monday-Friday and on weekends and evenings as necessary. United Friends’ downtown

office will serve as a hybrid work location to the Education and Employment Coordinator for

administrative and meeting purposes (as specified). Travel between United Friends’ housing sites

across Los Angeles County is required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Community Engagement

• Develop partnerships with local businesses and organizations to create employer partner

opportunities.

• Network and collaborate with other providers to increase the pool of resources for workforce

development and education opportunities.

• Coordinate and plan events to increase exposure to education and employment opportunities (e.g.

Career Day Event, college tours, etc.)

• Contribute to creating and maintaining an engaged, safe, and thriving community within our

housing sites.

• Build and maintain meaningful relationships with residents; promote personal growth,

independence, responsibility, and accountability and inspire individuals to reach their full

potential.

Workforce Development and Education Support

• Administer career and education assessments
• Facilitate sessions to coach residents through job readiness tasks
• Provide services and referrals to increase resident awareness and placement of vocational

training programs, job postings, internships, etc.

• Create and facilitate monthly workshops to provide guidance on various required life skills

topics, such as financial aid assistance, college applications, resume building, etc.

• Oversee a caseload of residents who need support in obtaining their high school diploma, or need

specialized support to attain a goal (e.g. completion of a financial aid application, a college

transfer, or other education and employment specific service)

• Complete site visits at job placements to evaluate youth’s performance and provide feedback

Administration and Reporting

• Complete weekly case notes
• Submit monthly outcome reports, and as requested

Other

• Other duties as assigned.

General United Friends Responsibilities

• Act as a role model within the organization to uphold and implement United Friends’

organizational values:

• Embrace program evaluation that leads to excellence and impact.
• Build effective and empowering partnerships with the youth, community, and each other.
• Create a fun and exciting environment that inspires learning and innovation.
• Communicate openly, honestly and with humility across all groups.
• Work together as one organization.

• Staff hold a commitment to:
• A culturally responsive Trauma-Informed Approach to our population and client centered advocacy
• Strong knowledge of the communities served and centralize this cultural understanding into the work.
• Support in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)
• Evaluating the completeness, accuracy and relevance of data to determine information value and improve client services.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, psychology or related field preferred. Related work or lived experience will be strongly considered in place of or in addition to a bachelor's degree.
• 2+ years of experience in job development, employer recruitment, and/or managing relationships with employer partners
• 2+ year of experience working directly with vulnerable populations to provide workforce development and education services
• Experience working with vulnerable populations
• Establishes and cultivates respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
• Activates network to produce results that benefit program participants
• Demonstrated experience engaging groups and individuals in effective learning activities
• Works collaboratively and cooperatively as a member of a multi-disciplinary service team
• Works responsibly with sensitive and confidential information
• Balances multiple competing priorities with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Holds self-accountable, sets high expectations for self and others, works independently and collaboratively
• Conveys thoughts and ideas clearly, listens well, communicates in a solution-oriented manner, and incorporates others’ views into work
• Trauma-informed and client-centered advocacy
• Understand the communities served and centralize this cultural understanding into the work
• Passionate about United Friends’ mission
• Must have valid California Driver’s License and an insured and reliable vehicle

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in a related field
• 2+ years in housing setting with TAY population
• An understanding and sensitivity to issues concerning former foster care youth
• Knowledge of the TAY resource landscape in Los Angeles
• Knowledge of the Los Angeles County Coordinated Entry System
• Knowledge of Positive Youth Development