Youth Development & LGBTQ Specialist

About this position

Join a Legacy of Hope and Empowerment at Covenant House New York (CHNY)! For over 50 years, CHNY has been at the forefront of transforming lives by providing comprehensive shelter, housing, and wrap‑around support services for vulnerable homeless, runaway, and exploited youth. As the largest provider of these essential services in New York City, CHNY impacts the lives of more than 1,500 young people aged 16‑24 each year.

Our doors are open to all young people in need, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression.

Our dedicated team offers shelter, housing, education, employment, health, mental health support, youth development, anti‑human trafficking initiatives, and more. We operate with harm‑reduction and trauma‑informed principles to ensure the best care for our youth. In addition to supporting our programs, we advocate for systemic change and influence public policy to raise awareness surrounding youth homelessness.

The Youth Development & LGBTQ Program Specialist (“YD Specialist”) reports to the Youth Development Coordinator and is responsible for creating and implementing youth development and LGBTQ programming initiatives across Covenant House New York’s crisis shelter, new transitional sites in the Bronx (Rights of Passage), and permanent housing programs (New Covenant and Transitional House/Rapid Re‑Housing). The YD Specialist is an energetic, creative, and detail‑oriented self‑starter who thrives on building trusting relationships with adolescents and young adults.

Key responsibilities include:

• Work collaboratively with the Youth Development Team to plan, implement, and evaluate life‑skills programming that provides opportunities for growth and development to all CHNY youth.
• Collaborate with the Youth Development Team and Volunteer Partners to develop or coordinate agency‑wide events and workshops.
• Manage CHNY’s Restorative Justice Practice.
• Assist in managing CHNY’s LGBTQ initiatives, including convening the weekly Gender and Sexuality Alliance, organizing Pride Month activities, and strengthening partnerships with LGBTQ‑affirming non‑profits throughout the city.
• Facilitate New Resident Orientation.
• Coordinate and manage the agency‑wide youth events calendar.
• Promote programs so residents are aware of and motivated to participate.
• Seek out new activities to meet youth needs.
• Provide staff coverage for scheduled nightly program activities to ensure compliance with regulations.
• Comply with the relevant policies and procedures of Covenant House and Rights of Passage.
• De‑escalate conflicts among clients through non‑violent intervention.
• Instruct youth on Covenant House’s Mission and Five Principles.
• Attend meetings and participate in committees as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

In addition, the YD Specialist will devote 40% of their time to LGBTQ initiatives, fully actualizing our vision of an affirming, empowering, and voice‑giving community for LGBTQ youth of color experiencing homelessness. Flexibility, proactivity, and willingness to work evenings and weekends occasionally are required.

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 2 years of youth development experience required.
• Experience supporting a childcare non‑profit organization preferred.
• Bilingual a plus.
• Flexible schedule required; ability to work evenings and weekends required.

The pay range for this role is: 21 USD per hour (41st St – Shelter).