Student Services Specialist

Future Chefs (futurechefs.net) prepares Boston high school students to leave high school ready for quality employment and post-secondary education. With a focus on positive youth development, Future Chefs provides culinary training and authentic work-based learning to prepare teens with the hard skills they will need to succeed in the culinary industry, and most importantly the job readiness skills to succeed in any field.

Future Chefs’ model is based on the belief that every student is unique and flourishes in respectful, safe, stimulating settings that provide opportunities for growth, and relationships with caring, supportive adults who honor students’ lived experiences. Future Chefs occupies 5770 square feet of meeting, kitchen and office space on the first floor of The Clarion in Roxbury and is programming our space to build community-based collaborations that directly and indirectly support our mission.

Future Chefs is a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE (tsne.org).

Members of the Student Support Services Team at Future Chefs, provide coaching and planning support for individuals and groups of students throughout all phases of their Future Chefs’ engagement. The Student Support Services Team works in partnership with Culinary instructors to ensure that participants develop essential employment and life skills to create and implement post-secondary plans while also paying particular attention to students’ social-emotional health and well-being. All work at Future Chefs is performed within a Racial Justice framework to ensure that our practice and program advance the goals of diversity, equity and inclusion and our space is welcoming to all.

Essential Functions

The Student Services Specialist will work with the Student Services Manager and the Work-Based Learning Leaders to:

• FCD (70 % of time)
  • Co-develop, deliver and assess work-based youth development curriculum and outcomes for teens exploring kitchen careers;
  • Develop and deliver essential skills training and workshops, in partnership with the Work-Based Learning team;
  • Working with the Program Director to make sure Positive Youth Development practices are being implemented;
  • Be the point person for recruiting and Youth Support for FCD young people;
  • Work in partnership with the Work-Based Learning Team to plan and review curriculum (e.g., determine final class agenda and learning targets, determine evaluation data to be collected, etc.);
  • Support re-engagement initiatives for current Sustains and Alumni members;
  • Share observations regarding post-secondary plans for FC Delivers youth with Student Service Manager;
  • Works with program staff to develop and implement Summer Jobs Program. Planning includes; outcomes and measurements, employee recruitment, schedules, curriculum, and training workshops;
  • Support partnership with Success Links, MLK, Boston Public Schools, and Bank of America;
  • Ensure that data related to outcomes measurement is collected and entered on schedule;
  • Plan and execute class materials and document class outcomes;
  • Maintain regular student and program evaluation efforts including data collection, data input, and data analysis alongside program staff;
  • Provide documentation of students' progression through the program;
  • Additional duties as requested;
  • Maintain and keep developing the structure of a Leadership Ladder (LL) for our young people:
    • Coaching 2nd/3rd years as leaders of “LL Teams.”
• ORGANIZATIONAL (10% of time):
  • Support the organization's commitment to DEI work;
  • Support the organization’s fundraising efforts.
• SUSTAINS (10% of time):
  • Support re-engagement initiatives for current Sustains and Alumni members.
• FCP (10% of time):
  • Support the recruiting efforts of new participants;
  • Aid in the transition of youth from FCP to FCD.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• Minimum of 3-years experience in Positive Youth Development and Family Engagements;
• Ability to establish appropriate mentoring/coaching relationship with high school students;
• Comfortable with public speaking and group facilitation;
• Ability to engage with all stake-holders; community partners, parents, and board members;
• Ability to inspire young people to get excited about working outside their comfort zones and new experiences;
• Excellent communication and organizational skills;
• Experience and/or strong interest in working with ethnically diverse teens and young adults from low-income communities;
• Capacity to think and act intentionally and strategically to develop young people and help make positive shifts in attitudes and behavior;
• Commitment to addressing issues related to social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion;
• The desire be part of a diverse learning community;
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a productive team;
• Flexibility and a positive, can-do attitude;
• Respect for the dignity of all work and willingness to consider multiple points of view;
• Operates with personal and professional integrity to be a positive role model for young people.

Special Job Requirements

• Ability to work flexible full-time schedule that includes some early evening and weekend hours during the school year and mandatory summer program participation;
• Must have a valid driver’s license, good driving record, and an ability to drive the company van;
• CORI check and driving record check required.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Regarding COVID-19: TSNE considers the health and safety of our employees of the utmost importance, and due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and subject to your state and local laws, our policy requires that all employees performing in-person work at a TSNE designated office are fully vaccinated. For the purpose of this policy, fully vaccinated indicates that you have received a single dose of the Janssen vaccine, or both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Certain exemptions may be requested and will be considered by Human Resources.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed at Future Chefs, Roxbury, MA.

Compensation: The starting salary for this position is $45,000 and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): 12 paid holidays, 3 weeks vacation, 1 week personal holiday, and sick time for full-time staff;
• 80% Employer-paid, $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim;
• Low-cost MetLife Dental and Vision;
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care;
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance;
• Employer-paid Pension through TIAA;
• ...and more!

TSNE/Future Chefs envisions a society grounded in the principles of social and economic justice. As such, we strive to achieve excellence through a diverse and inclusive workplace that honors the unique talents and lived experiences of each person. Our vision and values are reflected in all our employment-related decisions, including hiring practices. Accordingly, TSNE actively seeks people who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to join us in our work.

As an EOE/AA employer, TSNE/Future Chefs will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.