Youth Specialist - PT (56143

Job Details

Job Location:

YSS of North Iowa
- Mason City, IA 50401

Position Type:
Part Time Education Level: High School/GEDSalary Range: $18.00 Hourly

Travel 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 Mason City crew!

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.

Shifts may include daytime, evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours on a rotating schedule. Available shifts include: 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m., Sunday through Saturday.

• 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.

What We Provide...

We invest in people—because when you thrive, so do the communities we serve. At YSS, you’ll find meaningful work, strong support, and benefits designed for real life.

• 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

To create a world where youth are valued and empowered, we ask staff to embrace YSS core values
- Commitment, Collaboration, Compassion, Innovation, Integrity, and a ’Can Do’ Spirit. We also ask for the following:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Experience working with youth or vulnerable populations
• Basic computer skills and comfort learning systems like EMRs
• Travel is required for this position. For YSS insurance purposes, you must:
• be 21 years of age,
• have a current, valid, state-issued, driver’s license, and
• have a clean driving record.

• Bachelor s degree in human services, social work, psychology, education, or a related field.
• One year of experience in the management and supervision of adolescents in a residential setting.
• Comfortable stepping into high-stress or unpredictable situations and responding with calm, sound judgment
• Experience leading or facilitating groups, activities, or skill-building sessions (think life skills, social skills, or recreational programming)
• Strong documentation skills—you can capture what happened clearly, accurately, and without writing a novel
• Familiarity with trauma-informed care, de-escalation techniques, or behavior…