Youth Development Specialist
$100,000 USD/year Pay is set based on global value, not the local market. Most roles = hourly rate x 40 hrs x 50 weeks 

Springfield, MA, US
In-person
8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
full-time (40 hrs/week)
Long-term role

Youth Development Specialist   $100,000 USD/year

Description

  • On-site position in Springfield, MA (support for relocation available)
  • $100,000 annual salary with weekly pay. Full health, dental, and vision coverage starting day one

Do you refuse to accept 99% when a student is capable of reaching 100? The most meaningful support you can offer a young person who's almost there is to hold the standard firm. If that expectation feels uncomfortable, this position may not align with your approach. If it energizes you—because you understand that maintaining high expectations demonstrates belief in a student's potential—read on.

Alpha operates differently from conventional schools. Students complete a full day's worth of academics in roughly two hours using adaptive technology. No traditional lectures. No textbooks. Your role centers on what technology cannot replicate: developing life skills in Pre-K through 8th grade students—public speaking, sustained focus, constructive feedback exchange. You will spend half your day facilitating hands-on workshops guided by structured frameworks and narrative techniques. The remaining time, you'll work with students individually or in small groups, monitoring their advancement through adaptive platforms via Coachbot analytics, and ensuring they achieve 100% of weekly objectives. Mastery is demonstrated through Test2Pass assessments, not subjective participation scores.

This is specialized, selective work. Your first year focuses on mastering the system: workshop facilitation, motivation coaching, mastery verification, and holding every student accountable to full goal completion. Execute this effectively and advancement to Lead Guide becomes accessible. You must combine authentic care with unwavering standards. Submit your application now.

What you will be doing

  • Facilitating one-hour life skills workshops covering public speaking, sustained focus, teamwork, and constructive feedback, adjusting your delivery and energy for Pre-K through 8th grade developmental stages
  • Conducting daily individual and small-group coaching sessions where you analyze each student's advancement in adaptive platforms (via Coachbot analytics), establish objectives, and ensure they reach 100% of weekly benchmarks
  • Administering and assessing Test2Pass evaluations to verify genuine mastery of each life skill, distinguishing true competence from simple attendance
  • Intervening strategically when a student's academic progress or engagement declines—diagnosing underlying issues and designing a personalized recovery approach
  • Cultivating authentic connections with each student that create the trust necessary for them to receive coaching through challenges, distraction, and moments of doubt

What you will NOT be doing

  • Delivering traditional lectures or direct academic instruction (core subjects are mastered through adaptive platforms, not direct teaching)
  • Creating original lesson plans or curricula (Alpha supplies structured life skills playbooks; your role is delivering them with energy and compelling storytelling)
  • Handling parent communication or administrative school functions (Campus Leads manage these areas; you remain concentrated on direct student work)
  • Evaluating homework or preparing students for standardized testing (these elements don't exist in Alpha's model)
  • Operating independently (you collaborate within a campus team including Lead Guides, Campus Leads, and colleagues who exchange feedback and maintain mutual accountability)

Key responsibilities

Ensure every student in your assigned cohort develops a love of learning, achieves mastery in critical life skills, and reaches 100% of academic objectives through adaptive learning technology.

Candidate requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in any discipline.
  • 3+ years of direct experience working with Pre-K–8 students (in teaching, coaching, counseling, or youth program leadership roles).
  • Demonstrated experience motivating or coaching Pre-K–8 students toward academic, behavioral, athletic, or extracurricular objectives, with at least one concrete example you can articulate (including the objective, your specific actions, and the result achieved).
  • Willingness to embrace a coaching-focused model where academic content delivery is managed entirely by the learning platform. Your function centers on motivation and guidance, not traditional subject instruction.
  • Daily usage of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude).
  • Availability to work on-site at Alpha's Springfield, MA campus (relocation assistance provided).
  • Legal authorization to work in the United States without requiring visa sponsorship.

Nice to have

  • Background in youth sports coaching, camp direction, or after-school programming where you held direct accountability for motivating young people toward defined goals.
  • History of personal high achievement (academic distinctions, competitive athletics, or leadership positions that demanded consistent excellence).
  • Innate storytelling capability: you can command the attention of Pre-K–8 students for an hour without needing to elevate your voice.
  • Success in engaging disengaged or resistant students and converting them into active, motivated learners.
  • Experience supporting students who receive special education services.

Meet a successful candidate

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Steve Obia
Steve  |  Customer Success Director
Spain

Steve cut his teeth in Silicon Valley in the early 90s, before leaving for a life abroad. Now he's settled in Valencia, Spain where he works...

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