Railroad Street

Employment Opportunities

Director of Empowerment & Advocacy - Position Summary

Title: Director Empowerment & Advocacy

Location: Great Barrington, MA (the Beautiful Berkshires)

Position: Full-time, leadership 

Compensation: $65,000-$70,000, commensurate with experience

Special Benefits: Berkshire Passport ($1000 annually for cultural, wellness, outdoor or fitness activities), $5000 housing benefit (one time)

 

Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP) is a small, youth-founded youth organization dedicated to youth empowerment, in southern part of the beautiful Berkshires of western Massachusetts. AT RAILROAD STREET, YOUTH TAKE THE LEAD. They explore their full potential and become equipped to meet the challenging transition to adulthood. RSYP’s professional staff expertly pairs youth-generated ideas with community resources, empowering youth to create and oversee a wide range of innovative, life-changing projects. Unmatched in mission and scope, RSYP excels in helping youth find their voice and realize the benefits of their commitment to themselves and their community.

 

The position – The Director of Empowerment and Advocacy is responsible for:

  • Leading a team of experienced youth workers to deliver effective, youth driven programming empowering 800+ South County youth annually. 
  • Facilitating direction, support, outreach and program oversight to program coordinators leading RSYP’s Drop-in Center, Skate Park, Youth Operational Board, RYSE and Mentoring and Apprenticeship Programs. 
  • Providing direct one-on-one advocacy and support to South County youth, cultivating relationships with young people across RSYP programs, and leading an empowerment-based team approach to youth support and advocacy.
  • Enhancing program design and integrating connections across RSYP direct service programs to ensure connectivity and support for all participating youth.
  • Expanding capacity in RSYP’s mentoring program with direct parent support, cross program recruitment design, and mentor/match support and oversight. 

 

Core Qualifications – The Director of Empowerment & Advocacy embodies RSYP’s mission in day-to-day interactions with young people and approach to leadership, program design and implementation, staff supervision and problem solving. This position requires a person to have four core competencies: 

  • Evidenced passion for asset/empowerment-based youth development matching experience in the field of youth work
  • Leadership experience in program design, outreach and recruitment, team-building, and staff supervision
  • Empowerment-based, facilitative advocacy and/or counseling experience, especially related to identity development and/or problem substance use
  • Strong skill sets in social justice and cultural competency literacies and experience working across social differences including age, race, socio-economic status, gender, sexuality and ability
  • Experience building outreach, recruitment and program design for young men and the development of healthy masculinities
  • Ability to build strong collaborative community relationships with individuals and organizations
  • Availability to work occasional nights & weekends

 

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@rsyp.org 

RSYP is an equal opportunity employer. People who identify as working class, people of color, multiracial, women, genderqueer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and differently abled are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

Director of Social Work and Recovery Support - Position Summary 

Title: Director of Recovery and Support 

Location: Great Barrington, MA (the Beautiful Berkshires)

Position: Full-time, leadership 

Compensation: $65,000-$70,000 commensurate with experience

Special Benefits: Berkshire Passport ($1000 annually for cultural, wellness, outdoor or fitness activities), $5000 housing benefit (one time)

 

Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP) is a small, youth-founded organization dedicated to youth empowerment by supporting the creation of youth-generated activities that promote self-worth, responsibility and intergenerational respect and communication. At RSYP youth take the lead. The Director of Recovery and Support is expected to embody this mission in day-to-day interactions with young people, staff and approach to leadership, clinical program design, implementation and problem solving. This position requires a person to be positive thinker with an asset-based approach to collaboration; the ability to connect with young people; leadership capacity in school and partner agency recovery relationships.

 

The Director of Recovery and Support is responsible for directing clinical and recovery coaching program activities, supervises the Parent Group Coordinator; provides clinical services; manages subcontractor, school and partner agency recovery relationships and 

 

Specific duties include:

Leadership 

  • Lead team of Youth Advocate and Parent Support Coordinator in bi-weekly Alternative Peer Group (APG) clinical meetings 
  • Provide direction, support, outreach and program oversight to Youth Outreach Advocate  
  • Coordinate and implement program assessment and reporting in Alternative Peer Group programs
  • Co-facilitate and plan with Director of Empowerment and Advocacy in facilitation of weekly Team Advocacy meeting
  • Lead an interdisciplinary cross program team to develop successful AGP program 

 

Counseling and Youth Support

  • Provide direct one-on-one counseling support to South County youth participating in RSYP programs, activities, drop-in center and/or skate park; and expand outreach to youth throughout the community ages 13-18 as the priority 
  • Build on our existing partnerships with local school districts to offer in-school group counseling sessions.
  • Complete all required assessment intake for each 1:1 counseling support client
  • Maintain confidential client records 
  • Offer both drop-in visits and appointments at times that work best for teens

 

Staff Oversight and Management

  • Provide direction and oversight to direct report- Parent Support Coordinator 
  • Provide input and support to the Deputy Director to develop conduct hiring searches, and recruit/support a team for counseling and support 

 

Qualifications

  • Master’s Degree required 
  • Leadership experience in program design, outreach and recruitment, team-building, and staff supervision
  • Empowerment-based, facilitative advocacy and/or counseling experience, especially related to identity development and/or problem substance use
  • Strong skill sets in social justice and cultural competency literacies and experience working across social differences including age, race, socio-economic status, gender, sexuality and ability
  • Ability to build strong collaborative community relationships with individuals and organizations
  • Must have a valid driver’s license, clean driving record, dependable transportation and the availability to work occasional nights & weekends

 

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@rsyp.org 

RSYP is an equal opportunity employer. People who identify as working class, people of color, multiracial, women, genderqueer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and differently abled are strongly encouraged to apply.