Program Coordinator

Position Title: Program Coordinator

Program: Drop-In Center

Location: Skagit County

Reports to: Program Director of Skagit & Island Housing and Services

Hours: 40 hours per week; non-exempt position

Starting Wage Range: $27.00 – $30.39

Closing Date: 05/12/2026

Interviews: 05/16/2026 – 05/19/2026

NWYS Mission

At Northwest Youth Services, we affirm youth experience and autonomy as we work together to foster collective healing and justice, in order to dismantle the systems of oppression that perpetuate youth homelessness. We believe that every young person deserves a supportive community and a home where they can thrive.

Position Summary

The Drop-In Center Program Coordinator is responsible for the on-site leadership and daily operational coordination of the Skagit County Drop-In Center and Resource Hub serving youth and young adults ages 12–24. This position ensures the center operates as a safe, structured, welcoming, and youth-centered environment where young people can access basic needs, housing navigation, community resources, and supportive services.

The coordinator builds consistent, professional relationships with youth and young adults, conducts service intakes and needs assessments, and supports youth in navigating internal programs and community-based services. This role integrates direct engagement with operational oversight, participant tracking, documentation compliance, and cross-team coordination.

The coordinator maintains operational consistency during program hours, exercises sound judgment in dynamic situations, and upholds program expectations and safety standards. The position may include limited local travel and youth transport as needed.

Key Responsibilities

This job description reflects the essential functions of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Other duties may be assigned in response to program needs, funding requirements, and organizational priorities.

Direct Services and Resource Coordination

• Develop and maintain consistent, professional relationships with youth and young adults accessing services.
• Conduct structured service intakes and needs assessments to identify immediate needs, service priorities, and appropriate referrals.
• Facilitate youth access to housing navigation, coordinated entry, case management, education, employment, and community-based programs.
• Assist with community-based youth outreach to connect with youth outside of the Drop-in center as needed.
• Provide clear orientation to services, expectations, and behavioral guidelines.
• Support youth autonomy while maintaining program structure and professional boundaries.
• Maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment during program hours.
• Utilize de-escalation techniques and trauma-informed approaches to respond to conflict or crisis.
• Consistently and respectfully enforce program expectations and behavioral guidelines.
• Exercise sound judgment in assessing safety risks and determining appropriate interventions.

Drop-in Center Operations

• Coordinate daily site operations to ensure safety, structure, and service consistency.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and fully stocked environment, including food, hygiene supplies, clothing, and essential materials.
• Monitor facility conditions and proactively address operational needs.
• Ensure shared spaces remain orderly, welcoming, and accessible.
• Provide transportation to youth as needed in accordance with NWYS policies.
• Communicate operational concerns, safety issues, and emerging needs promptly to the Program Director.

Data, Documentation, and Compliance

• Track daily participant engagement, service utilization, and attendance.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant records in HMIS and internal systems in accordance with NWYS policies and funder requirements.
• Ensure required forms, releases, and documentation standards are consistently met.
• Complete incident documentation accurately and in a timely manner.
• Support data collection, reporting preparation, and compliance monitoring.
• Participate in case conferencing, team meetings, and continuous quality improvement efforts.
• Provide regular communication to the Program Director regarding youth trends, service gaps, documentation integrity, and risk concerns.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25-50 pounds. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to use screens. While performing these job duties, the employee is regularly required to listen to others and to provide verbal feedback. The employee is required to frequently sit for extended periods of time, stand, walk, climb, and/or balance. Direct service employees must be able to tolerate complex and intense mental and emotional circumstances for the duration of the shift, and must be able to perform CPR, the Heimlich Maneuver, and other first aid measures when required. Direct service positions require on-site presence.

Travel Requirements (positions that include driving)

This position may involve driving, including transporting youth in accordance with agency policies. The employee must be able to safely operate a personal vehicle and move between locations throughout the workday.

Minimum Qualifications

• Six years of combined education and experience working with youth. Relevant experience may include community-based work, outreach, advocacy, direct service, lived experience, training, or formal education.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license, acceptable driving record, proof of auto insurance, and ability to use a personal vehicle for work-related travel.
• Background check clearance.

Required within the first 30 days of employment (conditions of employment):

• CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens certifications required
• Must have negative TB test
• Full understanding of the CPS mandatory reporting requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in English/Spanish is highly preferred – a 5% wage premium is offered
• Two or more years of experience working with system-involved youth and/or youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability
• Experience working in drop-in, engagement, outreach, or day-use settings
• Training in de-escalation, harm reduction, mental health first aid, trauma-informed care, or related areas.
• Experience using HMIS or similar data systems
• Lived experience relevant to the youth and communities served

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated professionalism, reliability, and integrity, including maintaining appropriate boundaries and confidentiality
• Strong communication skills, including clear information sharing, active listening, and respectful, direct dialogue
• Initiative and problem-solving skills, with the ability to take ownership of work and approach challenges with a solution-focused mindset
• Sound judgment and critical thinking, including understanding role boundaries, following policies, and seeking guidance when needed
• Commitment to continuous learning, reflection, and professional growth
• Effective time and task management, with the ability to prioritize work and adapt to changing demands
• Flexibility and adaptability in dynamic, community-based environments
• Commitment to equity-centered practice, including cultural humility, awareness of systemic barriers, and respectful engagement across diverse identities and lived experiences

Benefits

• Earn paid time off based on hours worked
• Medical, vision,and dental insurancebenefits begin first of the month following date of hire (positions at or above 0.75 FTE)
• Voluntary life, critical illness,long term disability, and accident insurance eligibility begins first of the month following date of hire (positions at or above 0.75 FTE)
• Simple IRA Retirement plan with match up to 3% of employee contributions, per pay period,after first year of employment
• NWYS sponsored Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Twelve paid holidays annually

Northwest Youth Services is an Equal Opportunity employer. Employment is based upon individual qualifications without regardto race, color,sex, religion, nationalorigin, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, disabilities, political ideology, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

Northwest Youth Services participates in E-Verify.

To applyplease visit our website at https://www.nwys.org/employment.