Step Up Youth Services Assistant
Position Overview
The Step Up youth services assistant provides vital support to young people as they begin their participation in the Step Up Youth Employment Program, complete work readiness training, are matched with summer career opportunities and navigate employer hiring and on-boarding processes. This team member serves as a primary point of contact for youth and families who have questions, need to adjust their schedules or update their internship records. They also support the team in a variety of events and initiatives, with a good mix of behind-the-scenes work and face-to-face time with youth.
This is a five-month temporary hybrid position with 35 hours of work per week. The assistant must be available to work a schedule that allows them to communicate effectively with young people who are primarily in school during these months. In later spring, multiple weekday evening hours will be required, as well as a few Saturdays. This position reports to the Step Up youth services manager.
About Step Up
The Step Up Youth Employment Program prepares today’s youth for tomorrow’s careers by recruiting, training and placing more than 1,300 Minneapolis young people (ages 14-21) in paid internships each year with over 200 regional employers, from Fortune 500 companies and small businesses to public agencies and nonprofits. As one of the nation’s leading youth employment programs, Step Up leverages a collective of more than 200 partners spanning 15 industries and multiple sectors. Step Up has provided over 34,000 internships since 2003, yielding a competitive talent pipeline, a stronger economy and millions of dollars in wages for Step Up interns. Step Up is a partnership of the City of Minneapolis, Achieve Twin Cities, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Project for Pride in Living.
The Young People We Serve
Step Up supports historically underrepresented Minneapolis youth who are ready to navigate the professional world. Step Up interns are the leaders of tomorrow, the talent that will power our region and reflect the global fluency of our communities. Nearly 86 percent of Step Up interns are youth of color, and more than 50 percent come from immigrant families. Our recent interns were born in over 15 countries and speak more than eight unique languages.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Track and respond to all phone calls, emails and texts from participants and families, updating database records as necessary.
- Provide high-quality customer service for all Step Up inquiries.
- Send key program information and reminders to participants and families about Step Up events and deadlines, both as mass emails and in individual correspondence.
- Attend and support youth recruitment activities in schools
- Support with work readiness training and internship placement activities and events.
- Accurately maintain files for all participants in the database and responsibly handle sensitive data.
- Build and audit youth progress lists in the database throughout the cycle.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Experience
Required
- 1-2 years professional experience working with populations similar to the young people we serve
- An open, positive attitude and commitment to youth.
- Commitment to anti-racism and equity in accessing postsecondary career and education opportunities.
- Excellent organizational skills with great attention to detail.
- Ability to independently problem-solve, prioritize and balance multiple projects and tasks
- Strong communication and customer service skills.
Preferred
- Experience with youth training or development preferred.
- Microsoft Office experience.
- Experience with relational databases preferred, ideally Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
Wage
$20.50 per hour
To Apply
Applications are welcomed from a broad range of applicants. Send letter of interest and resume to HR@achievetwincities.org. Priority will be given to applications received by December 4. This position is open until filled.
Achieve Twin Cities is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
About Achieve Twin Cities
Achieve Twin Cities (formerly AchieveMpls) rallies community support and delivers best-in-class programs to inspire and equip young people in Minneapolis and Saint Paul for careers, college and life. Our vision is that all young people have full and equitable access to postsecondary education and career opportunities, creating a more just and vibrant community. We direct career and college readiness services in 28 Minneapolis Public Schools and Saint Paul Public Schools high schools; connect students with career exploration opportunities through Step Up high school and Achieve College Internships; host EDTalks, Principal Partner Day and other public engagement events; and serve as the nonprofit foundation for Minneapolis Public Schools. Learn more at www.achievetwincities.org.
Our Commitment to Equity
Achieve Twin Cities is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that is committed to hiring talented individuals who are passionate about our mission and represent the diverse identities of the communities we serve. We acknowledge and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all persons. We do not tolerate discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, culture, religion, ability, veteran status, national origin, age, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, class, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics. We seek to build a staff that is reflective of the students we serve and our values of equity and inclusion to embrace differences, eliminate racism and other forms of bias, and create an inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued, heard and respected.
Applicants’ Rights under Federal Employment Laws