Job Description

Posting number: 2026-07034

Department: Military Department

Division: Washington Youth Academy

Job classification: YOUTH ACADEMY COUNSELING AND COORDINATION SPECIALIST 3

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Community Services, Mental Health, Education, Miscellaneous, Human Services, Student Services, Counseling, Community and Social Services, Education, Training & Library

Summary

The Washington Youth ChalleNGe Academy is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Washington's at-risk youth. We strive to unlock potential, foster success and empower young minds to create a better world.

Come join us in our mission to help at-risk youth create a future with possibilities!

We invite you to apply for the position of Youth Academy Counseling & Coordination Specialist 3 (Counselor) where you will work in a diverse, inclusive, team-oriented environment while helping at-risk youth get their lives back on track.

This position works under the supervision of the Academy's Lead Counselor and provides professional, non-clinical/non-therapeutic guidance and counseling services directly to the 16-18 year old "At-Risk" youth (Cadet students) enrolled in the Washington Youth ChalleNGe Academy (WYCA).

About the Challenge Program

The WYCA was established under the authority and guidelines of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program. This is a voluntary program which includes a 22-week residential phase followed by a 24-month post-residential phase. The purpose of the program is to provide a highly disciplined, safe and professional learning environment that empowers at-risk youth to improve their educational levels and become responsible and productive Washingtonians. The National Guard Challenge Program is one of the most successful alternative education programs designed for high school dropouts or youth that are not progressing in a traditional high school setting and has graduated over 215,000+ cadets to date.

To learn more about the Washington Military Department and the Washington Youth ChalleNGe Academy visit www.mil.wa.gov/youth-academy

In addition to job fulfillment, the Washington Military Department offers an excellent benefits package which includes exceptional health care coverage, a retirement savings plan and job training opportunities.

This position is also eligible for on-site, 24/7 facility premium pay of 5%.

This recruitment will remain opened until filled. Screening of application materials will begin immediately and will be on-going. It is in the applicants' best interest to submit their application materials as early as possible. The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time. This job posting may be closed at any time without notice.

Examples of duties

Some of what you'll be doing:

• Administer a behavioral, academic, and life skills intervention program for at-risk youth (Cadet students) enrolled at the Washington Youth ChalleNGe Academy (WYCA).
• Instruct classes of platoon size, or a more traditional 25-30 Cadets (students), pertaining to the Counseling Department’s responsibilities of; career/vocational planning, academic success, personal/social adjustment, job skills, life coping skills, drug/alcohol abuse prevention, etc. and conduct learning assessments of these subjects to ensure comprehension.
• Collect, maintain, report, and archive demographic, statistical, and historical data pertaining to the scope of the Counseling department purview.
• Coordinate Counseling Department sponsored events for Cadets (students).

Qualifications

REQUIRED

A Master's degree with a major in career/vocational counseling, educational counseling, mental health counseling, psychology or comparable degree.

PREFERRED / DESIRED

Certifications:

• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC); Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC),
• Career and Technical Education Certification Counselor or equivalent,
• Vocational Education Certification, and/or
• Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certification

Experience:

• Two to four years of professional experience in Substance Abuse Counseling, Mental Health/Behavioral Counseling, Resolution, Anger Management, and/or Trauma Counseling.
• Two to four years working with high school aged student population
• Two years of experience facilitating instruction to large (25+) or small (3-7) groups
• Working with at-risk or disengaged youth
• Group Guidance/Counseling and facilitation
• Individual Guidance/Counseling
• Training or experience counseling others for self-harm, suicide ideation, alcohol & drug abuse, grief, loss or depression

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Career/Vocational, Academic, Social/Behavioral Guidance Programs
• Employment opportunities and processes, apprenticeship or other training programs for youth, including Work Based Learning, Job Shadowing, etc.
• Assessments for career/vocational, academic, social/behavioral
• Life Skills Prevention/Interventions (i.e., depression, suicide, home sickness, drug/alcohol, etc.)
• Develop instructional curriculum for classroom and group settings for Career/Vocational, Academic, Social/Behavioral guidance programs
• Conduct instructional, individual and group prevention/intervention programs (i.e. career/vocational, decision-making/problem solving, personal finance/budgeting, stress management, anger management, drug/alcohol, etc.)
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to meet the needs of others.

Supplemental information

Compensation: Wage/salary will depend on qualifications or rules of promotion.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Work Hours:

• The standard work schedule for this position is a five-day, eight-hour work shift. The actual workdays/hours will be established between the employee and immediate supervisor upon hire.
• Work hours may require adjustment of hours to compensate for travel or short deadlines related to non-standard projects/assignments.
• Work hours will vary during initial month of employment to support program operations and training requirements.
• This position is expected to work beyond the established core hours when necessary to accomplish the day-to-day duties and responsibilities.
• Must be willing to work periodic weekends and nights depending on program activities and requirements, including responding to emergency situations in a reasonable amount of time when they involve student health, safety or security.

Background Check:

• Must successfully complete a pre-employment personal history and criminal background check investigation, which includes fingerprinting. The background check is required for all employees of the Washington Youth Academy due to the nature of these positions (working with vulnerable youth) and the safety requirements of the job. Applicants are required to complete and sign a Washington Military Department Applicant Background and Disclosure Statement and a Waiver and Authority to Release Information Form. Candidates will not have access to any investigative materials and files.
• Must be willing to participate in periodic background checks in accordance with department policy. Failure to successfully complete any required background checks may be cause for termination.

Driver's License: Must possess a valid, unencumbered license to drive in the State of Washington.

Drug and Alcohol Testing and Use:

• Willing not to use or be in possession of illegal narcotics or controlled substances while on or off duty.
• Willing and able to be free from excessive alcohol consumption.
• Willing and able to pass drug testing requirements, including pre-employment (to include testing when employees change job classifications due to promotion or transfer or there is "reasonable suspicion").

WYCA Campus:

• Ability, willingness, desire and commitment to work with all at-risk youth in a 24/7 highly structured residential setting required extensive interaction and contact with at-risk youth and parents who may be disgruntled, angry, disrespectful (use of profanity, name calling, etc.)
• The WYCA campus is a tobacco, vaping, alcohol, drug and weapons free facility. Weapons and alcohol are not permitted anywhere on campus when employees are on or off shift. This includes any alternate duty station or in employee vehicles. Use of tobacco and/or vaping products is not permitted anywhere within the confines of the Youth Academy (to include alternate duty stations) or in the view of Cadets when performing off campus duties and responsibilities.
• Individuals working with at-risk youth in a residential setting are subject to safety and security surveillance.
• Must be willing to work in and around military facilities and programs.

NGYCP-CA Hands-Off Leadership Guidance Must be willing and committed to following the NGYCP-CA Hands-Off Leadership and Appropriate Relationships Guidance, recognizing that as a staff member of the Washington Youth ChalleNGe Academy, our positions have implied authority over Cadets, regardless of their residential or completion status. This policy prohibits staff members from touching Cadets in an aggressive or harassing manner or in any way inappropriate to a professional mentoring relationship. Hands-Off Leadership prohibits staff members from using unprofessional language, including profanity, vulgarity or off-color jokes when interacting with, correcting or motivating Cadets. Must be willing to follow directives and law pertaining to Hands-Off Leadership, Fraternization, Mandatory Reporting, and Appropriate Relationships. The uncompromising expectation for behavior in word and deed on the part of staff is nothing less than complete transparency and total professionalism.

Policies: Must comply with Department policies and procedures governing workplace conduct.

Telework Eligibility: This position may be eligible for ad/hoc telework.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Individuals interested in applying for this position should select the "Apply" button and submit the following:

1. A current application profile.
2. Responses to the supplemental questions. Directions must be followed in order to receive credit for the supplemental questions. Any questions which are not answered according to the directions will not be scored. (Note that your responses to the supplemental questions may be used to screen for interview selection and should be supported by the information you entered in your employment history section portion of the application).
3. A list of three professional references. Please include two past/current supervisors, one peer and/or subordinate, if applicable. For each reference, please include the following: Name, Professional Title, Working Relationship, Daytime Phone Number and Email address.

** A resume will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section of the application.

Incomplete applications may disqualify you from eligibility for the position. You must ensure all application areas, including supplemental questions, are completed in full.

If you have any questions about the application process or this recruitment, please contact Patricia Acoba at patricia.acoba@mil.wa.gov.

Please add info@governmentjob.com to your email contacts to ensure emails sent to advise you of the status of your application do not get sent to your junk mailbox.

Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues.

The Washington Military Department is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, as well as people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities and/or limited English proficiency needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruitment Section of State Human Resources at: Email: patricia.acoba@mil.wa.gov, Call: (360) 473-2622 or 711.