TAY Lead ( SF)

About First Place for Youth, we’re a leading non-profit organization dedicated to supporting foster youth in their transition to adulthood, with a focus on education, employment, and housing. We believe that all young people deserve the opportunity to thrive and lead successful, independent lives. Our comprehensive programs empower foster youth to overcome the unique challenges they face and build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to succeed.

Why Work at First Place for Youth:

• Meaningful Impact:  Help to transform the lives of foster youth on the cusp of adulthood. Your role will support them in their journey to conquer challenges, achieve independence, and fulfill their aspirations.
• Innovative Approach: We thrive on innovation, pushing the boundaries of foster care support. Your voice here matters, and you’ll contribute to programs that redefine the futures of these young lives.
• Collaborative and Supportive Environment: Embrace a dynamic and supportive workplace, where every team member is valued. Together, we're a force dedicated to uplifting youth. Expect professional growth, fueled by teamwork and collaboration.
• Comprehensive Benefits: We value the well-being of our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package. From health and wellness benefits to retirement plans, we ensure that our team members are taken care of so they can focus on their important work supporting foster youth.
• Culture of Diversity and Inclusion: We celebrate diversity in every form. At First Place for Youth, inclusivity reigns, creating a workplace where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The SF TAY Lead is a youth-centered leader who is passionate about supporting transition-aged youth (TAY) experiencing homelessness in reaching independent adulthood. The SF TAY Lead is responsible for high-quality services and effective daily operations of the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) single site programs, which provide direct supportive services to youth experiencing homelessness who are 18-24 years old at entry. Services build skills in tenancy, financial literacy, education, employment, and healthy living to prepare youth for independent living, and include crisis intervention.

The SF TAY Lead ensures program outcomes, trains and supports staff in best practices, leads conflict resolution and crisis support, coordinates with contract partners, supervises direct-service case managers, and completes contract reports as required. The SF TAY Lead also provides direct Resource Specialist services to youth within the PSH and Rapid Re-housing Programs. This includes group workshops and drop-in education and employment support. They also develop and maintain community resources, partnerships, and opportunities that help youth build toward self-sufficiency, such as public benefits, workforce, and career resources. This requires knowledge of youth-centered approaches to employment and an understanding of school, post-secondary, vocational, and apprenticeship systems.

The SF TAY Lead provides leadership congruent with agency policy, values, and mission, and leads projects or functions as assigned. This work is done in person at our San Francisco PSH sites, at our Headquarters in Oakland and in the community, primarily in San Francisco and Alameda County, during the business week and predominantly during business hours. This position is expected to be onsite a minimum of 3 days a week and to support the team in the community as needed.

DUTIES + RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Operations

• Lead assigned programs and projects, ensuring compliance with program, agency, and regulatory policy.
• Provide leadership and guidance to staff, with emphasis on PSH single site programs.
• Oversee documentation and review data to ensure accuracy, integrity, and service quality.
• Help develop, evaluate, and refine service delivery, including field training and support.
• Ensure staff adhere to First Place for Youth standards and competencies.
• With the Manager, support budgeting, contract control, reporting, and renewal.
• Support day-to-day operations of single sites and represent the agency with partners.

Talent Management

• Hire, train, develop, and supervise direct service staff.
• Provide weekly one-on-one supervision, coaching staff in housing retention, resource and referral, workshop delivery, case management, and education and employment coaching.
• Facilitate regular team meetings to build collaboration and program fidelity.
• Ensure program data is entered accurately and on time.
• Conduct annual performance reviews.

Direct Youth Services (Resource Specialist Functions)

• Deliver workshops on career, education, and employment skills such as resumes, interviewing, and job maintenance.
• Provide 1-on-1 drop-in support, coaching youth, identifying barriers, and developing joint plans with Case Managers and youth-identified supporters.
• Prepare youth to use community resources, including application support and information sessions.
• Coordinate community events that build independent living skills.
• Provide conflict resolution, safety planning, and crisis de-escalation support, and cover direct services during staff absence or vacancy.

Community Partnerships

• Vet, establish, and maintain partnerships across Bay Area counties, including public benefits, mental health, workforce, employer, education, housing, and social service providers.
• Assess TAY needs to develop targeted resource outreach, and track referrals and utilization.
• Promote First Place for Youth services to partners and employers to generate placement and referral opportunities.
• Lead collaborative meetings with partners, including Child Welfare and Housing Departments, and participate in coordinated entry and matching meetings.
• Ensure rapid response to vacancies, resident transitions, housing concerns, and landlord/tenant issues.

Documentation and Administrative Duties

• Attend weekly program meetings, monthly agency meetings, and weekly supervision.
• Maintain timely, accurate documentation and case files in One System or Apricot.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the organization.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in counseling, psychology or Social Work is a plus.
• Two years of supervisory/program management experience preferred.
• Experience in leadership capacities, project management highly preferred.
• A strong dedication to cultural competency that creates conditions that remove barriers and increase a sense of belonging.
• Direct Service Experience – at least 4 years of experience working with underserved and disadvantaged populations, preferably transition age youth, individuals with lived experience in foster care system, homelessness or affordable housing. Related MSW or equivalent degree can count for two experience years.
• Knowledge of best practice housing and subsidy models a plus.
• Demonstrated success organizing, managing and evaluating programs, events, campaigns or productions.
• Computer skills -- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including MS Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint, Project and Outlook. Experience with database systems is a plus.
• Strong Communication skills – Exceptional oral and written communication skills including the demonstrated ability to research, assimilate, and analyze information,
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend work and some travel as needed.

Benefits:

• 15 days of vacation time in the first year
• 12 days of sick time
• 2 floating holidays
• 15 paid holidays
• Employee’s choice of Kaiser or UCH HMO/PPO with up to 90% of the premium covered by First Place on certain plans
• Principal dental and vision coverage with up to 90% of the premium covered by First Place
• Healthcare and Dependent care FSA plans
• Principal basic life and voluntary life insurance coverage
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid sabbatical

*We do not offer relocation assistance Local candidates preferred

*Pay will be determined based on Education and Experience.

If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of transition age foster youth and want to join a dynamic and impactful organization, we invite you to apply. Together, let's empower transition age foster youth to achieve their dreams and build a brighter future. To learn more about First Place For Youth and view our current job openings, please visit our website at www.firstplaceforyouth.org/careers.

We are unable to sponsor work visas now or in the future.

First Place will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and applicable law. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the California Civil Rights Department Fair Chance Act webpage or reviewing this guidance provide by the City of San Francisco. For additional information regarding your rights, please also review the Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA.