--- title: Youth Developmeent Specialist description: Family Services of the Merrimack Valley is hiring for the Youth Developmeent Specialist role in Lawrence, MA. See the full description and apply. type: job url: https://www.foundrole.com/jobs/youth-developmeent-specialist-at-family-services-of-the-merrimack-valley-01a0f2db-5e90-7ee7-8175-137f81532da4 date: 2026-11-15T01:26:44Z og_description: Join Family Services of the Merrimack Valley as Youth Developmeent Specialist in Lawrence, MA. Pays $21–$22 per hour. Full-time role. og_image: https://www.foundrole.com/og/rqtve9.png breadcrumbs: - label: Home url: https://www.foundrole.com/ - label: Search url: https://www.foundrole.com/jobs --- | | | |---|---| | **Company** | Family Services of the Merrimack Valley | | **Location** | Lawrence, MA | | **Salary** | $21/hr - $22/hr | | **Type** | Full Time | | **Posted** | Sep 30, 2026 | ## Is this job real? **Ghost job check:** A- · Low risk. Probably a real opening. ## Visa sponsorship - **H-1B:** No H-1B sponsorship on record for Family Services of the Merrimack Valley. - **E-Verify:** No E-Verify enrollment on record for Family Services of the Merrimack Valley. ## Pay for similar jobs Most similar jobs pay $49,000 – $56,000 a year (median $51,000). ## Description **Youth Development Specialist** **Facilitator** **Job Title:** Youth Development Specialist **Department:** Youth Development Programs **Reports to:** Program Supervisor **Hours:** 40 hour per week **Key Duties and Responsibilities**  - Assist with recruitment, intake and assessments, implementation of curriculum and recreational activities. - Plan and co-facilitate weekly youth development groups, activities, and recreational programming focused on positive youth development, gang involvement prevention, and school dropout prevention. in school and community settings. - Plan and co-facilitate evidence-based curricula, including Making Proud Choices, VOICES, and ARISE, for youth ages 11–19, addressing pregnancy prevention, STIs, HIV prevention, healthy decision-making, and other youth development topics in school and community settings. - Facilitate Adult Preparation Subjects using the MA Department of Public Heath’s approved material such as Preparing Adolescents for Young Adulthood (PAYA) and FLASH curricula. - Provide clients with information and advice concerning family planning, growth and development, sexually transmitted diseases, and other sexual health-related concerns. - Provide ongoing case management, mentoring, coaching, and individualized support to middle school-aged youth to help them achieve personal, educational, and developmental goals. - Collaborate with school personnel and agency staff as well as other team members to determine appropriate services and/or referral to outside resources (if applicable). - Assist in developing, reviewing, and maintaining Behavior Agreement Plans as well as positive character and academic rewards and incentives. - Maintain current knowledge of family planning, growth and development, sexually transmitted diseases, and other sexual health related concerns. - Provide data as needed for agency reporting requirements. - Other duties as assigned. **Required Qualifications**  - Associate degree in human services, social work, education, psychology, youth development, or a related field; **OR** a high school diploma/equivalent with at least three years of relevant experience working with youth and facilitating groups. - Experience working with adolescents, particularly youth who may be experiencing academic, social, family, or other challenges. - Strong interest in youth development and a commitment to helping young people recognize their strengths and reach their goals. - Comfortable educating and engaging youth around sensitive topics, including sexuality, healthy relationships, pregnancy prevention, and sexual health. - Energetic, enthusiastic, dependable, and able to build positive relationships with youth. - **Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish,** with strong verbal and written communication, interpersonal, customer service, and relationship-building skills. - Strong group facilitation and public speaking skills, including the ability to engage both small and large groups. - Ability to communicate respectfully and effectively with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and perspectives. - Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and participant confidentiality. - Proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfort using electronic databases and data-entry systems. - Access to reliable transportation and the ability to travel locally and throughout Massachusetts for agency and program-related business. - Ability and willingness to work evenings and occasional weekends as required by program activities. **Preferred Qualifications:**  - Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team. - Experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse youth and families. - Experience supporting LGBTQ+ youth and families inclusively and respectfully. - Knowledge of Lawrence and the Greater Lawrence community, including community resources available to youth and families. - Experience with youth mentoring, case management, group facilitation, or evidence-based youth development curricula. **ABOUT FAMILY SERVICES OF THE MERRIMACK VALLEY**   Family Services is a non-profit, social service organization located in Lawrence, MA. The organization helps more than 7,000 people in the Merrimack Valley each year through 20+ programs focused on youth development, parent education and emotional health. All of its services are infused with a sense of hope and possibility and enable individuals to thrive in their family, community, workplace and school. For more information, please visit [www.FSMV.org](http://www.fsmv.org/). **FSMV is an equal opportunity employer**  **COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS**   - This is a 40 hour per week, non-exempt benefited position with a pay range of $21-22 per hour, commensurate upon experience. - **Eligible for a $1,000 BONUS!**  - Benefits include competitive health and dental insurance as well as fully paid life and long-term disability insurance along with training and professional development opportunities. - A generous time off policy for employees working 30 hours or more per week **including 4 paid weeks of Earned Time Off as well as 13 paid holidays per year.**  - An opportunity to work with and learn from a team of dedicated, passionate individuals in a diverse environment that serve children, youth, and adults. **TO APPLY** **Interested candidates please apply at** **.** ## Skills - Decision Making - Bilingual - Sex Education - Youth Development - Relationship Building - Interpersonal Skills - Confidentiality - Data Entry - Mentoring - Case Management - Public Speaking - Referral Processing - Microsoft Office - English - Recreation Therapy - Human Resources - Community Resource Navigation - Spanish - Communication - Recruitment - Databases - Coaching - Customer Service ## Benefits - Professional Development - Health Insurance - Dental Insurance - Disability Insurance - Paid Time Off (Pto) ## Related - [Social Services & Nonprofits jobs](https://www.foundrole.com/careers/social-services-and-nonprofits?utm_source=ai_markdown)- [Child & Family Services jobs](https://www.foundrole.com/careers/social-services-and-nonprofits/child-and-family-services?utm_source=ai_markdown)- [Child & Family Services Specialist jobs](https://www.foundrole.com/careers/social-services-and-nonprofits/child-and-family-services/child-and-family-services-specialist?utm_source=ai_markdown)- [Browse all companies](https://www.foundrole.com/companies?utm_source=ai_markdown) ## Explore this job market - [Massachusetts](https://www.foundrole.com/locations/us/massachusetts?utm_source=ai_markdown) — 76197 jobs - [Individual and Family Services](https://www.foundrole.com/sectors/healthcare/individual-and-family-services?utm_source=ai_markdown) — 47205 jobs - [Lawrence, MA](https://www.foundrole.com/locations/us/massachusetts/lawrence?utm_source=ai_markdown) — 309 jobs ## Related pages - [Massachusetts](https://www.foundrole.com/locations/us/massachusetts?utm_source=ai_markdown) — 76197 jobs - [Individual and Family Services](https://www.foundrole.com/sectors/healthcare/individual-and-family-services?utm_source=ai_markdown) — 47205 jobs - [Lawrence, MA](https://www.foundrole.com/locations/us/massachusetts/lawrence?utm_source=ai_markdown) — 309 jobs ## Browse - [Companies](https://www.foundrole.com/companies?utm_source=ai_markdown) - [Jobs by country](https://www.foundrole.com/locations?utm_source=ai_markdown) - [Jobs in the United States by state and city](https://www.foundrole.com/locations/us?utm_source=ai_markdown) - [H1B sponsors by location](https://www.foundrole.com/h1b-sponsors?utm_source=ai_markdown) - [H1B salaries](https://www.foundrole.com/h1b-salaries?utm_source=ai_markdown) - [Sectors and industries](https://www.foundrole.com/sectors?utm_source=ai_markdown) - [Jobs by career field](https://www.foundrole.com/careers?utm_source=ai_markdown) - [Latest jobs](https://www.foundrole.com/jobs/latest?utm_source=ai_markdown)