Come join YSS as an Youth Specialist - PT! You'll help create a safe, supportive, and stable environment where young people can rest, grow, and build independence. During your awake shifts (8:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.– 8:00 a.m.), you'll provide supervision, guidance, and crisis support while ensuring each youth's basic needs are met. Between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., you'll remain on-site in a sleep period, available to respond to emergencies as needed.
This position has a unique schedule: Wednesday, overnight shift, 8:00 pm - 8:00 am and Friday, day shift, 9:00 am - 8:00 pm.
Through compassion, consistency, and encouragement, you'll help youth feel respected, supported, and empowered as they work toward a brighter future.
Support & Supervise Youth
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Provide awake overnight supervision from 8:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.– 8:00 a.m., remaining on-site and available to respond to emergencies during designated sleep hours (1:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m.).
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Build trusting, supportive relationships while consistently enforcing program expectations, boundaries, and safety guidelines.
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Monitor daily routines, including curfew, bedtime, wake-up, chores, personal hygiene, and visitor activity to maintain a safe, structured living environment.
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Support youth in meeting their basic needs, including access to food, clothing, hygiene products, bedding, transportation, and other essential resources.
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Teach and reinforce independent living skills such as budgeting, cooking, meal planning, laundry, job searching, transportation, healthy relationships, communication, problem-solving, and self-care.
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Connect youth with community resources and assist with referrals when appropriate.
Ensure Safety & Respond to Needs
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Conduct emergency bed intakes, urinalysis testing, and room searches as appropriate to maintain a safe, substance-free environment.
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Respond to medical needs, administer medications as authorized, and notify on-call staff of emergencies or significant incidents.
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Remain prepared to respond promptly to emergencies throughout the overnight shift.
Maintain the Program Environment
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Keep the facility clean, safe, and welcoming by completing housekeeping tasks, preparing vacant units for new residents, performing laundry, and conducting routine safety inspections.
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Identify maintenance concerns, report repair needs, and assist with inventory of household, food, and personal care supplies.
Documentation & Communication
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Complete accurate and timely documentation, including shift logs, incident reports, medication records, and required program paperwork.
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Assist youth with completing required assessments, applications, and other program documentation.
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Provide phone and front desk support during non-office hours and ensure the program phone remains accessible throughout the overnight shift.
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Participate in team meetings, supervision, and required training to support effective communication and high-quality services.
This is not a complete list of the responsibilities of this position. Duties may change at any time.
You're calm under pressure, compassionate by nature, and believe every young person deserves a safe place to land. You know that the overnight hours can be some of the most important, providing stability, consistency, and reassurance when it's needed most. You're dependable, observant, and ready to step in with encouragement, guidance, or support whenever the moment calls for it.
We invest in people—because when you thrive, so do the communities we serve. At YSS, you’ll find meaningful work, strong support, and benefits designed for real life.
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Employee Assistance Program
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Employee Recognition Program
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Personal Wellness Programs
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Pet Insurance Discounts
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Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
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Retirement Savings Opportunities
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Ongoing Training and Professional Development
We want to create a world where youth are valued and empowered to stand strong. To do this, we ask our staff to embrace YSS core values - Commitment, Collaboration, Compassion, Innovation, Integrity, and a “Can Do” Spirit.
Required Qualifications - MUST HAVES:
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High School Diploma/equivalent.
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At least one year of experience in the human services field is required.
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You’ll be driving a YSS vehicle, so we need you to:
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Be at least 21
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Have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record
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Carry insurance that meets YSS standards
Preferred Qualifications - SHOULD HAVES:
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Strong active listening skills with the ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
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Sound judgment and critical thinking skills to assess situations and make thoughtful decisions.
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Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build rapport and share information effectively.
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Ability to collaborate with teammates, community partners, and youth to achieve positive outcomes.
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Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and use resources effectively.
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Excellent time management skills with the ability to balance competing priorities and work independently.
The IDEAL Candidate
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Is dependable, self-motivated, and great at taking initiative
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Is rooted in purpose and driven by equity, inclusion, and positive social impact.
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Brings humility, respect, and cultural awareness to every interaction.
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Speaks a second language (especially one spoken in our communities).
We Celebrate Your Story...
Have you navigated recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, or housing instability? Your lived experience offers a unique, compassionate perspective that can inspire real change. By sharing your story and serving as a role model or mentor, you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families. Your journey matters. If you’re ready to use it to uplift and empower others, we warmly encourage you to apply.
We’re YSS—one of Iowa’s largest and longest-standing nonprofits dedicated to putting kids first. Our mission is simple but powerful: spark hope, create opportunity, and help young people thrive.
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From life-changing programs to a new 50-acre recovery campus, we’re expanding fast and thinking big. Learn more at yss.org.
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We value the unique backgrounds, identities, and experiences each team member brings. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we’re committed to building a respectful, inclusive, and supportive workplace where everyone can grow and succeed.
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YSS is a nicotine-free workplace.
We communicate with applicants via email - straight from our Paycom system address: [email protected]. Please check your inbox regularly (and your spam/junk folder just in case). If the message does end up in spam/junk, make sure to add [email protected] to your list of safe senders. We may also send you texts if you give us that permission when you apply. Questions? Reach us anytime at [email protected]
Our Hiring Process - Here’s What to Expect...
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Apply – Submit your application at yss.org/ysscareers
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Assessment – We review your skills and experience
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Interview – Phone, video, or in-person conversation
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References – We’ll connect with 3+ professional references
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Screening – Background check, driving record check, and license verification if required
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Offer – If it’s a match, you’ll receive a formal offer through Paycom
