Learn & Earn - Youth Specialist

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization that funds job training, education, and other community programs by selling donated clothing and household items in Goodwill stores and online. We offer life-changing work on a mission-minded team. We are 1,000 working as one and each of us is essential to helping our community thrive. For three years running, Goodwill has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s “Most Inspiring Companies”.

We offer a wide range of career opportunities ranging from entry-level to management in retail, human services, and administrative fields. Learn more about working at Goodwill. You can help. We can show you how.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

Learn & Earn is a $4.5 million collaborative effort of Partner4Work (P4W) the City of Pittsburgh, and Allegheny County to offer paid summer work experience to youth through a 6-week paid work experience  program. The Learn & Earn program partners with several community organizations including Goodwill of SWPA. Goodwill’s program engages twenty-six employer sites that offer work experience to participating youth.

The program aims to instill the value of work while offering an opportunity for at-risk youth to explore their future career interests. Goodwill engages community employers to provide employment opportunities, based on 14 career tracks that are growing or trending in the Pittsburgh/ Allegheny County area: customer service, education, community development (government and nonprofit), health care, human services, information technology, insurance, park management, public works, recreation, public safety, labor/trades, financial/banking/legal, and marketing.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Learn & Earn Youth Specialist will provide job readiness training and proper work technique at summer worksites.  The Learn & Earn Youth Specialist will teach socialization skills through the completion of job and task analysis as well as implementing necessary educational, behavioral, and/or developmental supports.  This position will be responsible for teaching curriculum and monitoring youth progress at worksites during the program.  The Learn & Earn Youth Specialist will utilize positive motivational strategies and techniques to ensure the needs of the youth are met and goals are implemented

Essential duties include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in developing work-site agreements and preparing or completing agency payroll/timesheets
• Provide on the job training on proper work techniques and socialization skills through job and task analysis
• Assist youth in establishing routines that promote independence
• Deliver, compile and input weekly timesheets for participants and maintains accurate program files and records both manually and electronically.

External hiring range: $20.00/hour

Travel required: Yes, local travel is required. 

Schedule: Temporary role, estimated timeframe February 2026 to October 2026.  Monday through Friday, some evenings and weekends may be required. Schedule can vary depending on department needs.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• High school diploma or equivalent AND 1 year of experience required.

Required Experience: must be related to working with at risk youth 14-21 years of age.

REQUIRED CLEARANCES, LICENSES, AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Candidates are expected to provide current valid clearances (Child Abuse Clearance, FBI Fingerprints Clearance, and PATCH) prior to first day of employment.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.