Youth Development Specialist

 TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY
Applications will be accepted from August 26th, 2026 at 8:00 AM PST until August 26th, 2026 at 5:00pm PST
EXAM NUMBER:  YD8299F-EA

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The Department of Youth Development is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Youth Development Specialist vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

At this time, the Department seeks Youth Development Specialists to provide program and project management for the following specific areas of work:

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Youth Development Specialist.

Definitions

Policy Development: Countywide development, analysis, and advancement of policies, protocols, and governance structures that guide youth development programming, strengthen system alignment, - promote equity and accountability, and support effective implementation of youth-centered practices across county systems

Program Evaluation: Countywide assessment of youth development programs using data and outcomes to measure effectiveness, improve services, and inform decision-making.   

Narrative Strategy: Countywide efforts that elevate youth voices, shift public narratives, and promote positive, strengths-based perceptions of young people.

Diversion: County wide program for youth referred by law enforcement for an alleged offense to community-based providers for an assessment and case management services.

Development: Countywide services that create equitable access to activities and services supporting health, social, vocational, cognitive and creative, leadership, and environmental competencies for all youth by addressing systemic disparities that limit a young person's development.

Facility-Based Programming: Youth development programming for incarcerated youth in the County's juvenile hall, camps and Secure Youth Treatment Facilities, including culturally relevant Credible Messenger transformative mentorship and care, and other youth development programming that helps youth to grow socio-emotionally, physically, mentally and in other key domains.  

Youth Development Coordination: Strengths-based youth development assessments, reentry planning and coordination and connection of youth to supportive programming through positive youth engagement

• Coordinates and facilitates the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of youth development programs, policies, and projects, or of youth development care plans for youth who are incarcerated to support their connection to supportive programming and facilitate their safe reentry into the community, focused on expanding equitable access to youth development resources in Los Angeles County.

• Provides relationship-based contract and project management to facilitate capacity-building, shared learning, and cooperation with relevant agencies, institutions, and Community-Based Organizations

• Monitors, evaluates, and facilitates learning and capacity-building among service providers to ensure the program's consistency, flexibility, and overall effectiveness.
  
  
• Conducts mixed-methods research to evaluate DYD programs and build priority recommendations for continued learning and improvement in collaboration with program and County partners, youth, and communities.

SELECTION REQUIREMENT:

Two years of experience managing youth- or young adult programs* at the level of Youth Development Ambassador** or similar position working with youth or young adults in community.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION: 

*Managing Youth Programs can be described as:

1.  Directly overseeing and managing youth reentry or youth development programs within or through community-based organizations, public organizations, or other youth-serving agencies 

 2. Managing and conducting quantitative and/or qualitative research and evaluation to inform and develop or enhance programs and policies related to youth development or youth justice system involvement

3. Independently analyzing and making recommendations towards the solution of operational problems as it pertains to budget, fiscal, or contracted personnel for youth development, or youth reentry services.

**In the service of Los Angeles County, a Youth Development Ambassador assists in the coordination and collaborative project management of a wide range of youth development services, opportunities and support—from prevention and early intervention to engagement and support for youth and their families involved in the justice system—so that all youth in Los Angeles County have access to youth development.

LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS:

2-Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation maybe involved.

• Individuals with histories of contact with the justice system who can make a unique contribution to the responsiveness and effectiveness of services and policies focused on populations and communities most impacted by the justice system.
• Individuals with histories of personal exposure to the Child Welfare System. Individuals with histories of personal exposure to the negative elements and experiences as a- result to residing within an underserved community
  
• Individuals with histories of personal exposure to young people who have experienced homelessness. Personal exposure can be any exposure which involves you, same household family member, partner, child, etc.

   Available Shift: Any – applicants may be required to days, weekends, and holidays.

EXAM CONTENT:

Before the end of your initial work assignment, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

BACKGROUND PROCESS:

Appointment to this position is contingent upon successful clearance of all pre-employment screening and onboarding requirements. This position requires livescan clearance.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

Applications must be filed online only. You MUST include a recent resume as part of your application submission. APPLICATIONS WITHOUT A RESUME ATTACHED WILL BE DEEMED INCOMPLETE AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add [email protected], as well as [email protected], and [email protected] to your email contact list and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

You can opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

Plan to submit your online application before the Wednesday August 26th, 2026, 5:00 p.m. deadline on the last day of the specified filing period, as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI)

The Department of Youth Development recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Youth Development is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Department Contact Email: [email protected]