Director of Youth Services

Position Summary

The Director of Youth Services will provide professional management for the design, implementation and improvement of the systems and structures used to provide EMDC youth clients with necessary tools to achieve their employment goals. The Director is responsible to implement youth recruitment, training, and employment strategies throughout the 10-county workforce regions served by EMDC. The Director will be passionate about our mission and will enjoy working in a team setting that supports our goals.  This position will require travel across the 10-county representation.

Essential Functions

• Provides staff supervision and support to EMDC workforce staff delivering youth services and provides oversight of EMDC sub-contractors in the 10-county EMDC workforce service area.
• Performs personnel related functions including recruitment and selection, performance coaching and evaluation, training, staff development, motivation, communication and building shared vision across all EMDC youth staff.
• Oversees all program services delivery and analyzes activities to improve services to youth clients.
• Works with all staff and service contractors to meet youth service delivery goals established in EMDC contracts and agreements with the Workforce Development Boards in the Northeast and Central Western Maine regions.
• Evaluates, expands, improves and develops youth programs and services consistent with the mission of EMDC and the goals and objectives of the WIOA and related youth programs of EMDC including but not limited to youth and employer outreach, program visibility and community partnership building.
• Works with youth staff to identify employer needs and training opportunities and to create where needed employer-based training activities and projects for youth.
• Serves youth clients, partners, and government agencies in an honest, professional, effective and efficient manner as a representative of EMDC.

Job Requirements

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Ability to develop and implement effective client support systems.
• Possess strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work well with clients, co-workers, and supervisor.
• Understanding of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act youth programs.
• Knowledge of youth learning theory and practice.
• Advanced knowledge of skills assessment.
• Knowledge of community and human services agencies and resources.
• Experience with career and life skills development.
• Ability to work with disadvantaged populations.
• Ability to meet goals in fast-paced environment.
• Valid driver’s license required with regular access to own vehicle.
• Regular attendance required.

Core Competencies

• Computer skills – Skilled in the use of computers, adapts to new technology, learns new programs quickly, uses computers to improve productivity.
• Customer service – Handles customer questions and complaints, communicates with customers, handles service problems politely and efficiently, always available for customers, follows procedure to solve customer problems, understands company products and services, maintains pleasant and professional image.
• Dependability – Meets commitments, works independently, accepts accountability, handles change, sets personal standards, stays focused under pressure, meets attendance/punctuality requirements.
• Integrity/Ethics – Deals with others in a straightforward and honest manner, is accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, supports company values, conveys good news and bad.
• Teamwork – Meets all team deadlines and responsibilities, listens to others and values opinions, helps team leader to meet goals, welcomes newcomers and promotes a team atmosphere.

Position Competencies

• Budget costs and controls – Plans for and uses resources efficiently, always looks for ways to reduce costs, creates accurate and realistic budgets, tracks and adjusts budgets, contributes to budget planning.
• Communication – Communicates well both verbally and in writing, creates accurate and punctual reports, delivers presentations, shares information and ideas with others. Listens attentively to others, asks clarifying questions, stays open to other viewpoints, manages distractions and interruptions.
• Decision Making/Judgment – Recognizes problems and responses, systematically gathers information, sorts through complex issues, seeks input from others, addresses root cause of issues, makes timely decisions, can make difficult decisions, uses consensus, when possible, communicates decisions to others.
• Leadership – Leads through change and adversity, makes the tough call when needed, builds consensus when appropriate, motivates and encourages others
• Managing Conflict – Listens well, diffuses conflict before it starts, finds causes of and solutions to problems, handles difficult people
• Managing Performance – Applies clear/consistent performance standards, handles performance problems decisively and objectively, is direct but tactful, provides guidance and assistance to improve performance.
• Strategic Thinking/Management – Creates and communicates a long-term vision, balances short and long-term goals, keeps own and team’s work aligned with overall goals, understands the market and can predict change, understands the industry and the competition, creates and adjusts strategic plans.

Education/Experience

A degree in education, social work, human services, public administration or related field preferred. A minimum of 5 years’ experience with an emphasis on youth employment and training, assessment, statistics and analysis, counseling or related field.

Working Conditions

General business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, though exempt positions will typically require work to be performed outside general business hours. Work is generally performed in an indoor, professional office environment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or listen, and regularly required to use a keyboard for typing. The employee is often required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The employee must travel to different locations and must be able to provide own transportation.

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.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Eastern Maine Development Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.