Youth Driven Spaces Manager

Written By John Weiss

Neutral Zone Job Description

Position: Youth Driven Spaces Manager

Department: Youth Driven Spaces (YDS)

Reports to: Director of Strategic Initiatives

Hours/Week: 40 hours a week

Appointment: Exempt

The Neutral Zone (NZ) is a transformative, youth-driven community where youth embrace their power, ignite their creativity, and launch their future to build equity, justice, and collective liberation. Our programs are based on critical youth development practices, with an emphasis on equity and youth-driven leadership. Externally, our Youth Driven Spaces (YDS) work focuses on building the capacity of other organizations to be youth driven and use restorative practices (RP) through training, coaching and consulting.

The YDS Manager helps oversee and lead YDS initiatives with community partners and schools, including our Introductory training, YDS coaching supports, YDS Coaches Training, Annual YDS Conference, restorative practices training as well as supporting network building, outreach to new organizations and communities, and new project development.

Essential Functions:

YDS and RP Dissemination (70% of time) :

Responsible for a number of duties related to planning, administration, coordination, implementation and evaluation of YDS training and coaching projects, including:

  • Manage YDS Coaching and Training in SE Michigan, including:

    • Lead planning of training events for YDS Introductory initiatives

    • Support management of YDS Coaching work across SE Michigan, including partner agency selection, field consultant support, monthly staff/field consultant meetings

    • Provide YDS coaching to 2-3 partner agencies each year to provide coaching and customized training for their youth/adult team

    • Co-train YDS Basics & Intro workshops, approximately 8-10 days/year

    • Administrative activities, including:

      • Communication with partner agencies

      • Support evaluation and reporting functions

  • Co-lead Restorative Practices training - approximately 6-8 training days/year

  • Co-Manage Annual YDS Conference and advise the teen planning committee

  • Support YDS Advanced training activities, including planning, design and implementation of Coaches training and a statewide Community of Practice (CoP) program.

  • Assist on capacity building tasks, including:

    • Support initiatives and tasks related to YDS 5-year strategic plan objectives

    • Development of new YDS trainers/coaches

    • Assist on development of prospective partnerships and collaborations

    • Present at conferences, meetings, webinars, agency visits in order to generate new YDS interest

NZ Organizational Responsibilities (15% of time) :

Responsible for duties related to interfacing and supporting NZ, the parent organization, at large, including:

  • Participate in NZ Program staff meetings, 1-2x monthly, to connect with larger NZ staff and be aware of organizational happenings

  • Build strong interpersonal relationships with teens in the Center, by supporting drop-in, program, or events, 2-4x per month.

  • Participate in monthly organizational professional development and quarterly strategic planning work.

Administration (15% of time )

Responsible for a number of duties related to administration and organizational operations, including:

  • Participate in weekly YDS staff meetings and one/one meetings

  • Document standard operating procedures and update work plans, for program initiatives

  • Support management and development of training and coaching resources - including supplies, curricula, & materials

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of positive youth development and restorative practices

  • At least 5 years experience with youth program design and implementation

  • Experience training & coaching adults and teens in youth development and/or restorative practices

  • Strong knowledge of Neutral Zone’s Youth Driven Spaces approach

  • Strong project management skills; self initiative, organizing and tracking goals, objectives and action steps

  • Strong communication skills, including public speaking and writing

  • Ability to be adaptable, multi-task, and work in a fast pace, responsive environment

  • Fulfill professional responsibilities, such as punctuality, organization and planning, communication and teamwork

Other desired experiences and skills include:

  • Previous training in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  • Experience in program evaluation and grant writing

Requirements:

  • Experience working with youth and adult BIPOC communities required

  • Must have reliable transportation

  • Must be able to work flexible hours including afternoons, evenings, and some weekends.

Desirable Qualification:

Candidates should possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work, education, or related field.

This position allows for remote work, for approximately 50% time. The other 50% takes place at the Neutral Zone in Ann Arbor or on-site at various training events (most of which occur in SE Michigan)

Salary Range: $55,000-$70,000 + benefits based on experience

Neutral Zone is proud of our diverse teen participants, volunteers, Board of Directors, and staff and our commitment to being representative of our community. Neutral Zone’s hiring policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, or gender expression. All new employees are subject to a 90-day probationary period as part of the hiring process, during which performance and overall fit will be evaluated.

Interested candidates should submit an a cover letter and resume to John Weiss, Director of Strategic Initiatives at weiss@neutral-zone.org by COB on May 22, 2026.

Applications received after this date may be considered only if the position is unfilled.

John Weiss