Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Youth Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Youth Coordinator is responsible for designing, implementing and evaluating youth-focused programs that promote development, safety, engagement and educational or employment readiness. This role combines program management, stakeholder engagement (families, schools, funders, community partners), direct youth interaction, case management and administrative oversight. The ideal candidate applies trauma-informed practices and positive youth development principles to increase participation, retention and measurable outcomes for children and young people aged typically 8–25.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Youth Worker / Youth Support Worker
Program Assistant / Program Support Coordinator
After-School Program Leader
Volunteer Coordinator

Advancement To:

Senior Youth Coordinator / Program Manager
Youth Services Manager / Youth Development Manager
Director of Youth Programs / Head of Youth Services
Fundraising & Grants Manager (for youth portfolios)

Lateral Moves:

Community Outreach Coordinator
School Liaison / Family Services Coordinator
Volunteer & Events Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, plan and deliver evidence-based youth programs and curricula (after-school, mentorship, life skills, employment readiness, sports, arts) that align with organizational goals, funder requirements and measurable learning outcomes.
Lead day-to-day program operations: schedule activities, assign staff and volunteers, manage participant enrollment, ensure materials and equipment are available and ensure high quality delivery.
Conduct outreach and recruitment to engage diverse youth populations, including targeted marketing, school partnerships, community presentations, social media outreach and door-to-door or street outreach where appropriate.
Build and maintain trusting relationships with youth through one-on-one mentoring, group facilitation, conflict mediation and positive behavior supports that promote social-emotional learning and resilience.
Implement intake and assessment processes for participants, including needs assessments, risk screening, baseline outcome measures and individualized service planning.
Provide case management: coordinate referrals, monitor progress, liaise with families, schools and social services, maintain confidentiality and document interactions according to policy.
Apply trauma-informed, culturally responsive and strengths-based approaches when interacting with participants, families and community partners to create safe and inclusive environments.
Supervise, train and evaluate program staff, interns and volunteers: run onboarding, deliver ongoing professional development, create schedules and conduct performance reviews.
Develop and manage program budgets: track expenses, process purchases, forecast needs and ensure cost-effective use of resources within grant or organizational constraints.
Monitor program performance using quantitative and qualitative indicators, collect data, prepare progress reports and use insights to refine activities and improve outcomes.
Write grant applications, draft funding proposals, and contribute to donor reporting by preparing narratives, budgets and evidence of impact.
Ensure compliance with child protection, safeguarding, confidentiality and health & safety policies—conduct background checks and maintain required certifications for staff and volunteers.
Coordinate transitional planning for older youth (career counseling, job placement, résumé support, post-secondary navigation) including partnerships with employers, training providers and educational institutions.
Plan and manage events, outreach campaigns, youth conferences, showcases and family engagement nights to increase visibility and community investment in programs.
Facilitate workshops and curricula on life skills, leadership, conflict resolution, sexual health education (where applicable), substance misuse prevention and civic engagement.
Establish and maintain partnerships with schools, social service agencies, law enforcement liaisons, local businesses and funders to create referral pathways and expanded opportunities for participants.
Maintain accurate participant records in databases/CRMs (attendance, incident reports, service plans) and prepare data exports for program evaluation and funder reporting.
Respond to crises and behavioral incidents: de-escalate situations, coordinate emergency responses, and refer participants to specialized supports (mental health, housing, legal) as needed.
Lead continuous quality improvement initiatives: facilitate stakeholder feedback loops (youth, families, partners), conduct program evaluations and integrate learnings into program design.
Advocate for youth needs at community tables, coalition meetings and within policy forums to increase support for youth services and remove systemic barriers to participation.
Develop and distribute communication materials (newsletters, social media content, program flyers) to increase enrollment, donor support and community awareness.
Ensure equitable access by adapting programs for youth with disabilities, language barriers or transportation challenges and coordinating supports like interpreters or accessible venues.
Track and report on key performance indicators (retention rates, educational attainment, employment placements, behavioral outcomes) to leadership and funders with clear visualizations and executive summaries.

Secondary Functions

Support strategic planning for growth and scaling of youth services, including market scans and feasibility studies.
Assist with recruitment and onboarding of partner organizations or subcontractors supporting program delivery.
Maintain inventory of program supplies and coordinate procurement in partnership with operations staff.
Provide backup supervision and coverage for other youth programs during staff absence or peak activity periods.
Participate in cross-functional committees (safety, inclusion, data governance) to align youth programs with broader organizational priorities.
Contribute to marketing campaigns and SEO-optimized content for the organization’s website highlighting youth program impact.
Facilitate community feedback sessions and youth advisory councils to co-design programming and set priorities.
Engage in professional development: attend conferences, trainings and certification courses to stay current with youth development best practices.
Assist in preparing annual program budgets and contribute to financial audits related to youth program grants.
Coordinate logistics for transportation, meals and field trips that support program participation and enrichment activities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Program design and curriculum development for youth education, life skills and leadership programs.
Case management and client documentation (intake assessments, service plans, progress notes).
Data collection and program evaluation: experience with surveys, logic models, KPIs and reporting to funders.
Grant writing and grant management: preparing proposals, budgets and donor reports.
Budgeting and financial tracking for small-to-medium program budgets; familiarity with expense reporting and procurement.
Child protection and safeguarding protocols; knowledge of mandatory reporting laws and background screening processes.
Behavioral intervention strategies and de-escalation techniques; certified training preferred (e.g., CPI).
Familiarity with youth-focused CRMs or databases (Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, Efforts to Outcomes, CIVICRM) and standard office tools (Excel, Google Workspace).
Event planning and logistics coordination for youth events, field trips and community outreach.
Digital outreach and social media management to recruit youth and engage community stakeholders.
Case referral networks and understanding of local mental health, housing, employment and education resources.
Basic first aid and CPR certification (or ability to obtain) and knowledge of emergency response procedures.
Bilingual communication skills (Spanish, French or other community languages) — highly desirable.
Training and facilitation skills for adult volunteers and youth participants.

Soft Skills

Strong interpersonal communication: active listening, empathy and culturally responsive engagement with youth and families.
Relationship-building and stakeholder management with schools, community organizations, families and funders.
Leadership and team supervision: coaching, mentoring and performance feedback for staff and volunteers.
Problem solving and adaptability: ability to pivot programs in response to needs assessments or crisis situations.
Time management and organization: multi-tasking across program delivery, reporting and stakeholder needs.
Conflict resolution and mediation skills suitable for youth and group settings.
Cultural humility and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in program design and delivery.
Emotional resilience, self-awareness and a trauma-informed approach to supporting vulnerable youth.
Influencing and advocacy skills to represent youth needs to policymakers and community leaders.
Initiative and proactivity: ability to work independently and drive program improvements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience in social work, youth development, education, psychology, sociology, community development or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW), Education, Youth Development, Counseling, Human Services or Public Administration.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Social Work
Youth Development / Child & Adolescent Development
Education / Teaching
Psychology / Counseling
Community Development / Nonprofit Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5 years of direct experience working with youth in after-school, community, school-based, or clinical settings. For senior roles, 5+ years.

Preferred:

Experience designing and leading youth programs, supervising staff/volunteers, managing budgets and writing grant proposals.
Demonstrated track record of improving measurable youth outcomes (e.g., attendance, graduation, employment placement).
Prior experience with trauma-informed care, safeguarding policies and engagement with diverse communities.