Youth Transition Program Coordinator – Mexico

Misión Mexico, Tapachula, is seeking an exceptional candidate to play as Youth Transition Program Coordinator. This position would require a minimum commitment of 15 months, preferably 18 months. This role is scheduled for a December 1, 2022 launch. This role is based in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico (local) and is paid.

About Mission Mexico

Misión México is a place where many children call home; a place where they are considered part of the family. It is a place where they are loved and have opportunities for growth, development and advancement in all areas of their lives, including education and emotional support.

Since the founding of Misión México in 2001, more than 250 children from various emergencies have been helped. These children, between the ages of three and 18, have been abused, abandoned, neglected and often live in extreme poverty. All have had the opportunity to escape the cycle of abuse and poverty and enjoy a second chance in life.

With no government support, the refuge relies solely on the generosity of individuals, corporations and donations to continue its work. Visit our website lovelifehope.com for more information.

role context

Our Youth Transition Program (YTP) was created in 2014 to help older youth in Misión México transition to semi-independent living and build the skills needed to live independently. Misión México has procured two youth transition houses off-site to allow our young adults to live with on-site coordinators while being supported to complete higher education or pursue other career goals.

The YTP coordinator works closely with our youth living in Misión Mexico (ages 15+) and our young adults living in the youth transition homes (ages 18+) who need intensive support to gain independent living and life skills develop. Our YTP coordinator is expected to be both a role model and a source of authority for our youth and young adults who live locally (in a separate apartment but in the same apartment building) with some of our teens and young adults.

Primary goals of the role

The YTP Coordinator works to provide a safe, secure and stable environment for our youth, with a supportive learning environment that ensures their skills for everyday life are developed. Areas of focus include independent and practical life skills, health and nutrition, educational and employment support, financial planning and budgeting. Personal development is a crucial element of the program to improve their confidence, interpersonal and negotiation skills as well as self-motivation.

The focus includes:

• Independent and practical life skills
• health and nutrition
• Positive role model function
• education and employment
• Financial planning and budgeting
• Practical support when looking for a job

Personal development is also a crucial element of the program to improve their confidence, interpersonal and negotiation skills as well as self-motivation.

Essential Criteria

• Extensive knowledge and experience of working with children or young people from traumatic and/or disadvantaged backgrounds
• Demonstrated ability to engage positively with children and young adults while maintaining a high level of pastoral care and understanding of boundary setting
• Experience in facilitation and group work
• Ability to be an enabler, not a provider
• Strong conflict resolution, negotiation and problem solving skills
• Ability to demonstrate patience, consistency, empathy, flexibility, initiative, humor, honesty and maturity
• Proven ability to work in a team and demonstrate leadership qualities
• Valid Working with Children Check and undergo a criminal record check prior to employment. Employees must then report any criminal charges or court appearances.
• A minimum of conversational Spanish and conversational English
• A relevant tertiary qualification and/or at least 1 year experience in social services, community service or education (paid or volunteer work)
• Experience in basic cooking and nutrition skills
• Effective administrative skills including MS Office
• Effective time management skills with the ability to work autonomously, including managing and prioritizing one’s workload

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working in a community/residential setting
• Full driver’s license with a willingness to drive in Mexico if required

Additionally

The YTP coordinator lives with another Mision Mexico Foundation staff member in a private 2 bedroom apartment on the same block as the two transitional apartments. In addition to secured housing, the Mision Mexico Foundation also offers a monthly local salary, monthly health and wellbeing vouchers, crisis support through a professional therapist, group/staff workshops and training, flexibility and the opportunity to engage with your own personality.

Once the position has been hired there is a 6 week probationary period during which the Director and the successful applicant will review the position and future of the position.

Annual leave and working hours are negotiated with the director.

This job description does not claim to be complete and is intended to help the job holder to find out about his/her duties. It can be changed from time to time without changing the levels of responsibility and in consultation with the job holder.