Youth Worker, Employment

Location: Ellerslie, Auckland (with dynamic community delivery across Onehunga, Glen Innes, Mt Wellington, and Panmure) Work Type: Full Time Classification: Community Services & Development | Youth Services About the Role Are you passionate about turning lives around and walking alongside young Pacific people who need it most? SIAOLA is seeking two dedicated, agile, and culturally grounded Youth Employment Navigators to lead the delivery of our Kaha’u Lelei Programme – To’utupu (Good Future for Young People) . This is not a standard school-to-work transition role. You will be engaging directly with the hardest-to-reach 15–24-year-old Pacific NEET youth who face complex urban barriers, structural challenges, or a history of school exclusion. Operating responsively when and where our youth need us, you will deliver a minimum of 15 hours of direct engagement per participant each week. This dynamic role combines structured office-based delivery at our Ellerslie site with intensive, mobile one‑on‑one pastoral care in neutral, safe community spaces like local libraries and cafés. Key Responsibilities You will guide a small cohort of young people through a highly structured, two-phase 26-week capability and stabilization framework: Phase 1: Foundation & Skill-Building (Weeks 1–13) Engagement & Pathways: Conduct baseline assessments, design Individual Education/Employment Plans (IEPs), and facilitate warm enrolments into training. Barrier Stripping: Systematically address personal, digital, and educational barriers, supporting participants to achieve 2+ micro-credentials. Work Readiness: Facilitate final work experience placements, lead workplace orientations, and procure essential work gear (uniforms, tools, clothing). Phase 2: Post-Placement & Autonomy (Weeks 14–26) Workplace Integration: Execute high-intensity tracking (including 5 touchpoints in the first week of employment) to resolve transition shock, shift anxiety, and transport issues. Financial Capability: Deliver targeted budgeting sessions utilising the Financial Wellbeing Programme framework (reviewing payslips, tax codes, KiwiSaver, and Mamahi’i me‘a). Cultural Mediation & Whānau Support: Act as an on‑call cultural intermediary to resolve workplace misunderstandings. Leverage the Famili Vā Lelei framework to ensure deep‑stet home stability. Career Mapping: Partner with both the youth and their employer to map out long‑term wage progression, advanced trade certifications, and final integration into the Siaola youth alumni network. What You’ll Bring (Skills & Experience) Proven Youth Experience: A strong background in youth development, social work, or employment coaching, particularly with high‑needs or disengaged Pacific youth. Cultural Competence: A deep understanding of Pacific cultural frameworks, values, and community dynamics. Ability to engage authentically with to’utupu, fāmili, and church leaders. Entrenched Barrier Management: Experience navigating complex social landscapes, including youth justice exposure, trauma, neurodiversity, or digital exclusion. Network & Collaboration: Ability to manage warm handovers and work collaboratively with core partner agencies like MSD, Oranga Tamariki, and the Ministry of Justice. Flexibility & Drive: A clean driver’s license and the adaptability to work responsively outside standard hours to match the availability of the youth. Why Join SIAOLA? At SIAOLA, we don't just patch over cracks—we take on the complex social pressures standard interventions fail to resolve. You will join a supportive, impact‑driven team that values professional growth, structured milestones, and authentic community transformation. We offer a competitive remuneration package, ongoing professional development, and the chance to be at the forefront of innovative, participant‑centric social service delivery. #J-18808-Ljbffr