Youth Empowerment Specialist

About this position

At Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto (BBBST), our vision is to build thriving communities by empowering lives through mentorship.

Job Title: Youth Empowerment Specialist (!mpact Boys Mentoring Program and ! Thrive Black Youth Mentoring Program)

Reports to: Manager, Group Programs and Director of Service Delivery

Summary:

The Youth Empowerment Specialist will be responsible for the overall coordination of the Impact (!mpact) Boys Mentoring Program and the I Thrive (! Thrive) Black Youth Mentoring Program, including the recruitment, screening, and training of volunteers (mentors), networking with schools, curriculum development, program support/facilitation and evaluation.

Promote a thriving community of current and future men by:

• Delivering the !mpact and !Thrive program and any future boys’ empowerment mentoring programs at BBBST.
• Modernizing program curriculum and structure to better fit the needs of young boys.
• Provide multigenerational support for current and future men.

!mpact Boys Mentoring Program is a group-based mentorship program designed to engage boys in grades 6 through 8 in the city of Toronto. The !mpact program provides a safer space for participants to build life skills, confidence, resiliency and covers topics such as bullying, gender and masculinity, anti-violence, problem-solving and conflict resolution.  

The ! Thrive Black Youth Mentoring Program is a culturally specific initiative focused on empowering Black students in grades 6 through 8 in Toronto. Through meaningful mentoring relationships with Black mentors, we address cultural and racial barriers while nurturing self-identity. Our program is grounded in an Anti-Black Racism lens, recognizing the daily impact of racial injustice on Black communities.

Responsibilities:

1. Manage and coordinate the setup, operation, and conclusion of multiple !mpact and ! Thrive programs in multiple locations deploying and supervising volunteer facilitators across Toronto.
2. Support !mpact and ! Thrive volunteer facilitators in the successful delivery of the program through quality training, on-site support, and consistent correspondence.
3. Ensure high level proficiency in applying child safety standards, risk management knowledge and agency procedures throughout all aspects of program delivery.
4. Ensure volunteer, host school (and community center) and youth’s satisfaction with the !mpact and ! Thrive program.
5. Address any issues of concern and use problem solving skills to ensure the success and completion of the program.
6. Increase engagement and retention of quality volunteers through consistent communication and volunteer appreciation events/opportunities.
7. Enhance program’s curriculum and delivery through research, providing lessons learned from current issues that plague young boys.
8. Network and build strategic partnerships with similar youth/community services, and like-minded organizations that support boy empowerment initiatives.
9. Abide by BBBST policies and procedures managing both physical files and a confidential database.
10. Collaborate with the Stewardship Group and identify additional partnership opportunities.
11. Perform administration functions promptly including correct use of CRM Dynamics Case Management System and compliance with BBBSC National Standards of documentation and recordkeeping.
12. Maintain strict confidentiality and adhere to the privacy statement as set out in the Policies and Procedures at BBBST

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate Degree in relevant discipline or at least 5 years of experience in social service area in youth programming and development.
• Experience facilitating groups of adolescents in recreational or educational settings.
• Experience working with people of diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong understanding of interests and passions of children and youth; more specifically young boys, including youth from Black communities.
• Experience with recruitment and coordination of volunteers.
• Experience in Case Management, assessment, and intake.
• Familiar with program development and preparing curriculums.
• Demonstrated ability to use creativity to meet the needs of today’s children and youth.
• Interpersonal skills required for canvassing and building networks with other community organizations and schools.
• Strong organizational skills including time management, prioritizing, and multi-tasking.
• Use of own vehicle is highly preferred as travel is necessary to access local schools, communities, and neighborhoods.
• Successful up-to-date Police Clearance and Vulnerable Sector Screening
• Ability to work flexible hours to meet client needs, including 1-2 evenings a week and some weekends.
• Requires in-office work as well as regular travel to Toronto communities, schools and neighborhoods.

Candidate must align with the following set of agency values:

Integrity - Embrace courage. Let honesty guide our actions. Work with purpose and principle.
Trust - Be honest. Show and receive vulnerability. Believe in each others’ abilities. Create a safe space to honour EDI.
Respect - We are equals. Recognize and appreciate one another. Be kind. Listen intently without prejudice. Honour the land we are on.
In our essence we thrive with: transparency, communication, growth, collaboration, and accountability

Why Join BBBST?

• Have a life-lasting positive impact on children and youth in Toronto
• Great work culture with strong values
• Work with a young and dynamic team
• We have a Social Wellness Committee to continue to build BBBST’s great work culture
• 3-week paid vacation
• 14-paid flex days per year
• The office is closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Health Benefits – We have a very comprehensive plan that we pay the premium of 100%, eligible after 90 days of probation
• RRSP – Eligible after one year of service. We match the employees RRSP contribution to a maximum of 4% of their salary.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment where all employees feel valued and respected. We actively seek to recruit, develop, and retain a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.