Youth Specialist - PT (56219

Job Details

Job Location:

Youth Opportunity Center
- Des Moines, IA 50309

Position Type:
Part Time Education Level: High School/GEDTravel Percentage:
Up to 25%

Job Shift: Any Job Category:
Direct Care
- Emergency Services/Shelter Are you quick on your feet, calm under pressure, and passionate about helping youth find their footing? YSS is looking for a compassionate, dependable Part Time Youth Specialist to join our Youth Opportunity Center in Des Moines! In this role, you’ll work alongside a supportive crew to create a safe, structured, and respectful environment where youth can grow, build confidence, and feel supported.

You’ll help guide daily routines, build meaningful connections, lead activities, and support clients through both everyday moments and tougher challenges. No two days are ever quite the same — and that’s part of what makes this work meaningful. One moment you might be leading a group activity, the next helping a client through a difficult moment, and somewhere in between making a late-night grilled cheese run because suddenly everyone’s hungry.

Around here, flexibility, teamwork, and compassion go a long way.

• Supervise and support clients while maintaining a safe, structured, and respectful environment
• Build positive relationships and model healthy communication, boundaries, and life skills
• Lead groups, activities, and daily routines that help clients grow, learn, and stay engaged
• Manage group dynamics and provide calm, effective crisis intervention when needed
• Complete client logs, incident reports, intakes, and other documentation accurately and on time
• Support admissions, referral calls, and team decision-making
• Help maintain a clean, safe facility and assist with meals, safety drills, and daily operations

This is not a complete list of the responsibilities of this position. Duties may change at any time.

You stay calm under pressure, lead with empathy, and know how to set clear, consistent boundaries. You connect easily with youth, think on your feet, and handle challenges with confidence and sound judgment. You’re reliable, team-oriented, and driven to do work that makes a real impact.

• Supportive leadership team and mission-driven culture
• Flexibility and autonomy in a collaborative environment
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees
• Flu shots and mental health support resources
• Supplemental compensation award
• Professional liability insurance coverage
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualified employer

Required Qualifications - MUST HAVES:
Bachelor's degree in Human Services or a related field. Travel, including transporting clients, is required for this position. For YSS insurance purposes, you must: be 21 years of age, have a valid, state-issued, driver's license, have a clean driving record, and have adequate insurance coverage per YSS policy.

SHOULD HAVES:
One year of experience in the management and supervision of adolescents in a residential setting. Ability to communicate, verbally and non-verbally, with excellent observational, listening, speaking, and writing skills. Ability to collaborate and able to work effectively with others regardless of backgrounds, identities, and status. Ability to use critical thinking skills to problems solve. Ability to manage resources effectively. Ability to manage one’s own time and the time of others.

Is rooted in purpose and driven by equity, inclusion, and positive social impact. Brings humility, respect, and cultural awareness to every interaction. Speaks a second language (especially one spoken in our communities).

Have you navigated recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, and housing instability? Your lived experience offers a unique, compassionate perspective that can inspire real change. By sharing your story and serving as a role model or mentor, you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families. Your journey matters.

We’re YSS—one of Iowa’s largest and longest-standing nonprofits dedicated to putting kids first. Our mission is simple but powerful: spark hope, create opportunity, and help young people thrive. From life-changing programs to a new 50-acre recovery campus, we’re expanding fast and thinking big. Learn more . We value the unique backgrounds, identities, and experiences each team member brings.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we’re committed to building a respectful, inclusive, and supportive workplace where everyone can grow and succeed.

YSS is a nicotine-free workplace.

We communicate with applicants by email through our Paycom system. Please check your inbox regularly (and your spam/junk folder just in case). We may also send you text messages if you give us that permission when you apply.

Reach us anytime at yss