Program: Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)

Position: Program Mentor

Location: Virtual

Employment Period: June 1, 2021, to August 13, 2021

Hours: consultant schedule

Background

The City of Newark’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is in need of inspiring and tech-savvy Program Mentors to coach and engage with youth and young adults ages 14- 24 in their summer career exploration and preparation journey.

The Newark SYEP is six-week initiative operated by the Newark Youth One Stop Career Center that for the past 3 decades has expanded the horizons of thousands of motivated youth and young adults and equipped them with practical tools to convert their sparked professional interests into real pathways towards thriving careers and economic independence.

SYEP offers work experience, teaches valuable employment skills and financial literacy, and provides young Newarkers with a summer income. SYEP educational and coaching activities enhance the summer experience, allowing participants to develop career awareness, understanding of personal money management, and work- related social skills. Summer Youth Employment gives students a unique opportunity to explore their interests and discover new ones through various pathways. Providing positive work experiences and opportunities for students to identify interests, gain exposure to new skills, and explore options is core to the success of the program, and begins with the development of strong foundational work-ready skills. Those work-ready skills, in turn, are dependent upon quality training and dedicated mentorship.

While the mentoring portion of the program has always been conducted through in-person encounters, the COVID-19 pandemic has rendered it infeasible to proceed with this model for the summer of 2020. SYEP is committed to continuing to serve Newark youth this summer and, in order to remain viable – and safe – for all involved parties, has shifted to web-based programming, whereby in-person engagements will be replaced with web-based instruction, activities and advisement.

Roles and Responsibilities

Program mentoring is client-centered and goal-oriented to ensure that Newark youth have access to the skill-building they need for success in life.

Professional Development:

• Participate in online orientation to learn about the SYEP program, goals, and expectations for Program Mentors and their assigned youth.
• Participate in daily group Program Mentor check-ins via online platform. Work with fellow Program Mentors to solve problems and ensure a high-quality youth work program.

Relationship Management/Liaising:

• Develop and manage relationships with Newark employers and community-based partners. Train employer points of contact on the protocols and processes of the Newark SYEP.
• Serve as the first point of contact to both youth and employer participants assigned to your case. Resolve issues and questions related to the program as they arise.
• Serve as a liaison between employers, employed youth, and the City.

Guidance and Coaching:

• Coach and mentor youth as necessary (1:1 Virtual Office Hours and small group advisement) on a spectrum of work readiness topics. Examples include: financial literacy, career exploration, career preparation, resume writing, portfolio development, interviewing, workplace communication, navigating the workplace, personal branding, social media etiquette, leadership development, health and wellness etc.
• Guide youth on how to apply specific teachings and insights from webinars, career development town halls, and expert panels to their proposed career pathway.
• Reinforce work readiness skills presented during webinars, career development town halls, and expert panels; helping participants apply in real-life/real-time scenarios (e.g. project-based learning assignments).
• Ensure youth participants are engaged in meaningful project-based learning assigned by the employer and guide them in understanding and completing to the best of their ability, applying newly-learned skills. Projects are designed to be fun and interactive, maximize the use of technology, and add value to the company.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Develop mentoring relationships with students through informal and formal online interactions including weekly check-ins, follow-up and trust building activities.
• Analyze student tasks and performance and confirm that they meet program guidelines.
• Certify and appropriately handle all youth and employer participant paperwork digitally.
• Verify and manage time and attendance of all youth participants via daily time sheets and enter it into a computerized payroll system.
• Enter quantitative data daily and measure against program objectives.
• Write and submit weekly reports of youth highlights, issues/challenges in the workplace, and youth growth in key workplace skills.

Candidate Requirements

Skills and Qualities:

• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with youth and adults. Experience working with youth ages 14-24 is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to use good judgment and solve problems as they pertain to youth and employer needs.
• Excellent communication skills, especially engaging the audience of youth and young people, but also with professionals and teammates.
• Tech-savvy. Knowledge of software such as MS Office Suite, Google Products, Zoom, Email, Internet navigation, Social Media
• Responsible, organized, and punctual
• Intuitive, encouraging, and supportive
• Attention to detail and the ability to handle sensitive information appropriately.
• A commitment to youth development and creating opportunity for Newark youth.
• Knowledgeable of financial literacy, work readiness, and career exploration topics a plus.
• Must be able to work remotely and independently

Education:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree is preferred. Current college students or candidates with experience working with youth programs may also apply.

Experience:

• Youth Development
• Mentoring/Coaching
• Monitoring or reviewing youth activities/programs for compliance with established standards and working with youth in formal school or extra-curricular settings for a minimum of one year is preferred.

Tools/Equipment:

Must have access to the following:

• Computer
• High-speed Internet access

Background Screening:

All mentors working directly with youth under the age of 18 will be required to submit to a criminal background screening through the Newark Police Department to promote safe, effective mentoring relationships. Costs associated with background screening will be covered by The City of Newark.

Time Commitment

20 hours per week

Compensation

$15 per hour at 20 hours per week.

Application Instructions

· Please submit:

o an up-to-date resume outlining your experience working with youth and young people

o a brief cover letter detailing the importance of mentorship to youth development

· Send via email to Clarissa Anderson at: andersoncl@ci.newark.nj.us with the subject line: “SYEP 2021 – PM Application”.

The application deadline is April 9, 2021.

We look forward to receiving your application and building a team of engaging Program Mentors dedicated to supporting our mission of preparing young Newarkers for 21st century success!