Development Director Jobs in Springfield, LA (NOW HIRING)

Youth Development Professional – Virtual

Role Scope

The Youth Development Professional serves as the primary virtual representative of Opportunity Next and is responsible for facilitating participant growth, engagement, career readiness, and successful progression through assigned services. This position delivers workforce development, career readiness, and transition-related services in a fully virtual environment, creating meaningful and interactive learning experiences that prepare participants for postsecondary education, employment, and long-term success.

Success in this role is measured not only by curriculum delivery, but also by participant attendance, engagement, retention, documentation completion, skill development, and achievement of program outcomes. The Youth Development Professional is responsible for supporting participant success by identifying barriers, encouraging participation, maintaining consistent communication with participants and designated Opportunity Next contacts, and ensuring all required documentation and service requirements are completed accurately and on time.

The Youth Development Professional plays a direct role in supporting participant success, contract performance, compliance standards, and organizational sustainability through high-quality virtual service delivery, communication, and participant engagement.

This position is structured as a ten-month employment agreement, with instructional and participant-support hours generally aligned with traditional business hours and occasional flexibility as needed to accommodate participant schedules and program requirements. The position is fully remote/virtual and requires reliable internet access, a suitable workspace, and consistent availability for virtual instruction, meetings, and participant communication. Work is evaluated through the Performance Management Evaluation System. Performs other tasks as requested.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in vocational rehabilitation, disability studies, psychology, education, social work, or another related field.
• At least 1 year of documented career development, youth development, social services, teaching, coaching, or related experience.
• Experience facilitating virtual or in-person instruction, training, coaching, mentoring, or group engagement activities.
• Experience with educational instructional design, including planning, preparing, and delivering lesson plans and instructional materials that facilitate active learning.
• Experience working with youth, young adults, or individuals with disabilities preferred.
• Experience preparing summary reports documenting participant progress and development.
• Experience maintaining confidential participant/client records.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Windows-based computer applications, and virtual communication platforms.
• Experience providing customer service with a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Reliable high-speed internet access and the ability to maintain a professional and confidential remote workspace.
• Ability to effectively facilitate virtual instruction and maintain participant engagement in an online environment.

Pay and Perks

• $21/hour
• 15-25hrs/wk
• Fully remote/virtual position
• Opportunity to work with a progressive and innovative leadership team.
• Opportunity for potential growth within the company.
• Company-provided computer/equipment.
• No travel between assigned service locations required.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a safe, supportive, and engaging virtual learning environment where participants are provided with a balance of support, structure, and accountability.
• Based on existing contextualized curriculum, prepare and deliver virtual lesson plans by adapting existing materials and incorporating engaging activities and exercises that inspire participants to acquire knowledge and skills they can transfer to employment settings.
• Facilitate virtual workforce development and career-readiness activities designed to prepare participants for employment, postsecondary education, and training opportunities.
• Identify and monitor barriers to participants' active participation and engagement, including barriers related to their personal, educational, social, or employment circumstances.
• Monitor and report participant attendance, engagement, and progress through established participant observation and tracking tools.
• Report individual participant concerns, barriers, and progress to the Program Designee on a weekly basis.
• Follow established policies and procedures for maintaining program integrity, quality instruction, participant safety, behavior management, confidentiality, and security of participant information.
• Work collaboratively with management and administrative staff to establish relevant and measurable goals for participant achievement.
• Adapt teaching styles, communication methods, and virtual engagement strategies to maximize participant learning, retention, and success.
• Provide participants with professional one-on-one feedback regarding their performance, progress, and career development.
• Attend all relevant meetings, supervision, staff meetings, case conference sessions, curriculum development activities, trainings, workshops, and other informational engagements necessary to effectively perform job duties.
• Assist with collecting completed state agency applications and other required documentation needed for participant compliance.
• Maintain accurate virtual program documentation based on assignments from the contextualized curriculum and enter data appropriately and accurately as required. This includes, but is not limited to, goals, career assessments, résumé worksheets, cover letters, and participant progress documentation.
• Accurately complete and submit monthly reports, attendance records, and other required documentation to the Program Designee by the last class day of each month.
• Apply strength-based approaches with a trauma-informed lens when supporting participants with academic, vocational, and employment-related issues.
• Mediate, problem-solve, and coordinate individual services to help participants overcome employment and participation barriers.
• Lead participants through virtual job-search activities, application procedures, résumé writing, interview preparation, professional communication, and job-retention skills.
• Assist participants with navigating online employment resources, job boards, virtual applications, and other digital career-development tools.
• Update all necessary records accurately and completely as required by applicable laws, school district policies, program requirements, and regulations.
• Encourage and monitor individual participant progress and use collected information to adjust instructional and engagement strategies.
• Facilitate virtual program activities, workshops, incentives, and engagement opportunities designed to promote participant development and retention.
• Maintain consistent and professional communication with participants through approved virtual communication methods.
• Use virtual platforms and technology effectively to facilitate instruction, monitor participation, provide feedback, and maintain engagement.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while building positive and supportive relationships with participants.

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with participants, families, colleagues, and community partners in a virtual environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively and receive instructions both orally and in writing.
• Strong technological skills and ability to learn and implement relevant virtual platforms and software.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with participants from diverse cultural, economic, educational, and personal backgrounds.
• Ability to observe, evaluate, and document participant performance and development in a virtual setting.
• Strong creativity and ability to develop engaging virtual activities that make learning interactive and enjoyable.
• Strong dedication to participant success and a genuine desire to support youth and young adults in achieving their goals.
• Ability to develop lesson plans, organize virtual learning activities, and maintain an organized online learning environment.
• Strong emotional control and professionalism when managing sensitive or challenging situations.
• Keen attention to detail and ability to monitor participant progress and recognize changes in behavior, engagement, or attitudes.
• Ability to build positive relationships and rapport with participants, parents/guardians, colleagues, and other staff members through virtual communication.
• Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to address challenges and resolve conflicts professionally.
• Independent, creative, self-motivated, and proactive with strong judgment and time-management skills.
• Ability to remain engaged and attentive during extended periods of virtual instruction, meetings, and computer-based work.
• Ability to manage multiple participants, documentation requirements, and deadlines independently in a remote environment.

Remote Work Environment

• This is a fully remote/virtual position; regular travel to schools, community locations, or participant service sites is not required.
• Must have reliable high-speed internet and a computer capable of supporting virtual meetings, instructional platforms, and required software.
• Must maintain a professional, quiet, and confidential workspace suitable for virtual instruction and participant communication.
• Regularly required to sit for extended periods, operate a computer and other office equipment, and participate in virtual meetings and instructional sessions.
• May be required to communicate through video conferencing, telephone, email, messaging platforms, and other approved electronic communication methods throughout the workday.
• Must be comfortable facilitating virtual sessions with multiple participants and managing varying personalities, communication styles, cultural backgrounds, and learning needs.
• Must be able to maintain participant confidentiality and comply with all applicable privacy, security, and organizational requirements while working remotely.
• Work with a variety of populations, including at-risk youth and adults and individuals with disabilities.
• Be open to appropriate off-topic conversations that support rapport-building and participant engagement while maintaining professional boundaries.

Role Summary

The Youth Development Professional serves as a key contributor to participant success by facilitating virtual workforce development services, supporting career readiness, encouraging participant engagement, and promoting positive outcomes for youth and young adults.

Through effective virtual instruction, relationship building, communication, documentation management, participant support, and accountability, the Youth Development Professional helps individuals develop the skills, confidence, and experiences necessary to successfully transition into postsecondary education, training opportunities, and meaningful employment.

This role extends beyond virtual instruction and requires active participation in participant development, retention, engagement, documentation completion, career preparation, and overall program success. The ideal candidate is comfortable using technology, engaging participants through virtual platforms, working independently, and creating a supportive online environment where participants can build the skills and confidence needed for long-term success.

Job Type

Contract – Ten-Month Employment Agreement