Director of and Services Youth

Position: Director of Employment and Housing Services for Older Youth

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Director of Employment and Housing Services for Older Youth

Recruitment & Retention Full Time Saint Louis, MO, US

Summary of Position

The Director of Employment and Housing Service for Older youth in Foster Care provides strategic leadership and oversight of the Coalition’s Works Wonders® workforce exploration program, supporting youth in foster care and young adults transitioning out of foster care in achieving meaningful employment, career advancement, and long-term economic stability. The Director is responsible for leading the implementation and continued growth of the Works Wonders® model, ensuring that youth have access to individualized career planning, employment readiness, education and training opportunities, employer connections, job placement, and ongoing employment retention support.

Using a youth-centered, trauma-informed, strengths-based, and positive youth development approach, the Director ensures that employment services are responsive to the unique experiences and needs of young people with foster care experience. The position provides leadership and supervision to program staff, monitors program outcomes, strengthens community and employer partnerships, and identifies resources and opportunities to expand workforce development services. The Director also works collaboratively with the Director of Older Youth Readiness, other Coalition programs, and community partners to address barriers that impact youth employment and successful transitions to adulthood.

An important part of the Coalition’s long-term vision is to expand its services to include housing opportunities and supports that help youth access and maintain safe, stable, and sustainable housing. The Director will help advance this vision by identifying partnerships, resources, and opportunities to integrate housing stability with workforce development as the agency’s programs continue to grow.

Ultimately, the Director ensures that young people have the career opportunities, skills, resources, and supportive relationships needed to achieve economic stability and build successful, independent, and interdependent adult lives. Ensuring fidelity to the Works Wonders® model is required.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

Workforce Development and Career Readiness – Works Wonders®

• Oversee the implementation and coordination of the Works Wonders® workforce development strategy, ensuring services support youth in achieving individualized education, employment, and long-term career goals.
• Ensure youth receive individualized career and education planning consistent with established Career Ed plans, including career exploration, vocational assessments, labor market information, and employment readiness activities.
• Oversee access to postsecondary education, vocational training, apprenticeships, internships, work-based learning, job placement, employment retention, and career advancement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with local, state, and federal workforce development agencies, employers, educational institutions, youth employment centers, and community training providers to expand opportunities for youth.
• Ensure staff identify and address barriers to sustainable employment, including transportation, housing instability, educational needs, mental health, disability-related needs, and limited work experience through appropriate resource coordination and referrals.
• Promote youth development in financial literacy, workplace professionalism, self-advocacy, decision-making, and independent living skills to support long-term employment success and economic…