Engagement Counselor

Since 1984, Larkin Street Youth Services has helped more than 75,000 young adults in San Francisco with outreach, shelter, housing, education, employment, healthcare, and other services.

Today, Larkin Street Youth Services is the largest provider of housing and services to homeless youth in the Bay Area. We serve 1,500 youth annually, operating or partnering to provide more than 500 emergency shelter, transitional, supportive, and subsidy‑based housing beds at several unique sites across San Francisco.

Working at Larkin Street, no matter what department, means making a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. Our team is skilled, diverse, and passionate. Our culture encourages achievement and professional development, as well as teamwork and self‑care. Our focus is always on the young people at the heart of our mission and to nurture potential, promote dignity and support bold steps by all.

Under the guidance of the Program Manager, the Engagement Counselor welcomes clients to our main drop‑in center. Engagement Counselors greet youth visitors and help them access food, laundry, shower, and case management services. It’s the responsibility of Engagement Counselors to monitor the well‑being of drop‑in clients, offer resources, and organize events and activities to learn life skills, build community, and spark excitement about education, employment and creative development.

• Contribute toward the care and welfare of clients, including crisis intervention and maintaining program safety.
• Support the Engagement & Community Center, including front‑desk team and food services.
• Engage with a diverse client population who may be struggling with substance use dependency, untreated mental health symptoms, and survival‑based trauma.
• Handle crisis situations through de‑escalation techniques and assist clients as they process social and emotional problems.
• Facilitate and engage youth in groups and workshops, practicing life skills through modeling, active counseling, motivational interviewing and group facilitation.
• Promote wellness of the community through a harm‑reduction approach.
• Ensure the safety and security of all clients, staff, volunteers and the facility.
• Collect client information through intake, assessment and surveys, enter data into paper‑based and electronic systems, and coordinate with other professional sources.
• Assist individuals by working with other programs to ensure youth move through the continuum of Larkin Street services and/or city services while helping them overcome social and emotional problems.
• Teach or hold group meetings related to Larkin Street Core Curriculum and approved educational material.
• Maintain cleanliness and operations of the facility, including prep and serving meals, maintaining storage, correct activity schedules and signage.
• Oversee shower, laundry, and clothing closet services.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Passionate about Larkin Street Youth Services mission to end youth homelessness.
• Embodies our values:
  Client‑Centered, Trauma‑Informed Care, Restorative Practices, Harm Reduction, Non‑Violent Crisis Intervention, Motivational Interviewing.
• Some social services and/or direct‑service experience; bonus if experience in drop‑in services, shelter, transitional, or permanent supportive housing programs.
• Experience serving transitional aged youth (TAY) aged 18‑25 of diverse backgrounds.
• Self‑starter, team player, compassionate, dependable, patient.
• Preferred to work onsite/in person; willing to work holidays occasionally.

• Full‑time position, eligible for full benefits.
• Hourly rate $23.00‑$24.54, plus $1.50 bilingual incentive pay for fluency in Spanish and English.
• Medical plans (Kaiser and Sutter), dental and vision.
• 3 weeks vacation annually, 11 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses.
• Life insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counseling services.
• Health Advocate Service.
• Paid sabbatical after 5 and 10 years of employment.

Larkin Street Youth Services is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants for all positions without regard to color, ethnic background, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any other legally protected class. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID‑19 as a condition of employment.