Education​/Vocational Specialist - NSP

Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome prospective employees for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission.

Good Shepherd Services does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status or any other applicable protected classification , in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible and accommodating to employees with disabilities. As part of our commitment to providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to participate in the hiring process, please inform us of your needs in advance.

The Educational/Vocational Specialist will provide activities that promote educational engagement and success for youth in both NSP Blum and Rose. As a significant part of the treatment team, the Educational/Vocational Specialist will assist in re-enrolling youth and families in an appropriate school/vocational program, provide school advocacy, and offer support for developing academic, vocational, and job-related skills to promote self-sufficiency.

Title: Education & Vocational Specialist

Reports to: Director of Social Services

Hours: 35 Hours;
Non-Exempt. Monday
- Friday, Flexible hours with the ability to work 12 pm to 8 pm two days a week.

Salary: $50,000 - $57,765 Annual Salary Range. Salary commensurate with relevant post-graduate experience.

Major Duties

• Conduct individual assessments and develop educational plans during intake and at regular intervals to support youth academic success.
• Collaborate with the treatment team to design and implement coordinated, holistic service plans by participating in FTCs and weekly team meetings.
• Drive the (re) enrollment process by actively engaging youth, families, and the NSP team to secure placement in community schools or vocational programs.
• Monitor and document the academic progress of Good Shepherd services _NSP participants enrolled in District 79 – Passages Academy, ensuring timely and consistent follow-up and support.
• Visit Passages Academy twice a month to collaborate with the school staff and to observe, assess, monitor, and support the youth’s academic performance in the classroom.
• Lead the planning and execution of educational and vocational events and projects to promote youth engagement and development.
• Provide specialized support for youth and parents for students with special education needs, ensuring access to appropriate services, assessments, and accommodations.
• Facilitate weekly educational, vocational, and job-readiness groups for NSP participants to support skills for academic success.
• Identify and develop academic tutoring resources tailored to individual youth needs.
• Conduct ongoing individual meetings with youth and families to assess progress and provide guidance and refer them of long-term education resources in the community.
• Build and maintain educational/vocational resource networks, including college access, special education services, post-secondary training programs, paid internships and job training programs.
• Serve as liaison with the NYC Department of Education and ACS to advocate for youth educational needs.
• Develop and refer NSP participants to employment and internship opportunities, including SYEP, Work Learn and Grow, part-time,…