Student Behavior Support Specialist

Careers by Empowering Futures, Building Communities

Imagine going to work each day knowing that your efforts positively impact individuals and communities. As a global movement and the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, the YMCA of Greater San Francisco offers more than just a job—we offer a career with a future and the opportunity to make a lasting difference in your community. At the Y, you can uncover your passion and build a lifelong career addressing some of the nation's most pressing social issues.

Our Organizational Culture

At the YMCA of Greater San Francisco, we are committed to demonstrating values that aim to building strong communities where you can Be, Belong and Become. With Truth & Courage, we strive to understand and act on individual and societal truths. We ensure a safe and inclusive environment with Authenticity & Accessibility, allowing everyone to participate according to their needs. Our approach is Dependable & Creative, as we respond to community needs through strong partnerships. Above all, we embody Dignity & Empathy, treating everyone with respect and compassion, and recognizing the inherent dignity in all individuals.

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Program Site Director, the Student Behavior Support Specialist provides behavioral and social-emotional support to students participating in the Tenderloin Community School YMCA After School Program. The role builds positive relationships with students, supports emotional regulation and conflict resolution, and helps students fully engage in program activities. Working in partnership with YMCA staff and school-day personnel, the Student Behavior Support Coordinator promotes a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment that encourages student success.

Job Responsibilities

Student Support & Social Emotional Development

• Provide proactive and responsive support to students who need additional assistance with behavior, emotional regulation, transitions, peer interactions, or participation in program activities.
• Build strong, consistent relationships with students, including those who require ongoing behavioral or social-emotional support.
• Use restorative practices, positive behavior supports, conflict resolution, and de-escalation strategies to help students regulate emotions and successfully re-engage in program activities.
• Support students before, during, and after behavioral incidents, including facilitating successful re-entry into program activities.
• Identify student strengths, support needs, triggers, and effective support strategies, and communicate relevant observations to YMCA leadership and appropriate school partners.
• Provide individual and small-group support using a student-centered, culturally responsive, and strengths-based approach.

Program Support & Staff Collaboration

• Partner with the Site Coordinator and Program Leaders to promote consistent behavior support practices and positive group environments.
• Model effective relationship-building, redirection, restorative responses, and de-escalation strategies for program staff.
• Support Program Leaders during situations requiring additional student support while reinforcing staff ownership of group management and program expectations.
• Participate in program activities and provide direct student supervision as needed while maintaining the primary focus on student support.
• Communicate student support needs, interventions, and follow-up actions to the Program Site Director in a timely and professional manner.

School-Day Partnership & Coordination

• Build collaborative relationships with teachers, school administrators, student support staff, and other school partners.
• Work with school-day staff to understand effective strategies, routines, and supports that help students successfully transition into the afterschool program.
• Participate in student support meetings, program meetings, and case discussions as assigned while maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Promote consistency between school-day and afterschool expectations, routines, and support strategies.

Documentation, Communication & Program Quality

• Complete incident reports, behavior-related documentation, and other required records accurately and within established timelines.
• Maintain respectful and professional communication with students, families, YMCA staff, school staff, and community partners.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling student and family information.
• Participate in required trainings, professional development, staff meetings, and program quality improvement activities.
• · Follow YMCA child protection, safety, program, and SFUSD site requirements.

Qualifications

• · Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Associate's degree or higher, or a High School Diploma/equivalent with one of the following:
• o 48 or more completed college units (verified by transcript)
• o Passing score on the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)
• o Passing score on a District Instructional Aide Examination
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working with elementary and/or middle school youth in a school, afterschool, youth development, or community-based setting.
• Experience supporting youth with behavioral, social-emotional, conflict resolution, or program engagement needs.
• Knowledge of positive behavior supports, restorative practices, conflict resolution, de-escalation, and relationship-based youth development.
• Ability to remain calm, responsive, and student-focused during complex or high-stress situations.
• Ability to build strong, consistent relationships with students requiring additional support.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with youth, families, staff, and community partners.
• · TB test clearance within the past two years.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a paraprofessional, instructional aide, behavioral aide, student support specialist, youth intervention specialist, or in a related youth support role.
• Experience implementing individualized behavior supports, behavior intervention plans, or similar student support strategies.
• Training or experience in trauma-informed practices, restorative practices, social-emotional learning, crisis prevention, conflict mediation, and/or de-escalation.
• Experience working in under-resourced schools or communities and supporting students with diverse behavioral and social-emotional support needs.
• Bachelor's degree in Education, Psychology, Social Work, Child Development, Human Services, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or another language spoken within the school community.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This position operates primarily in a dynamic school and afterschool environment, including classrooms, hallways, recreational spaces, and outdoor areas. The role requires regular movement throughout the school site and frequent interaction with students and staff.

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, including standing, walking, sitting, speaking, hearing, and participating in program activities.

The environment may be fast-paced and noisy, requiring flexibility and the ability to respond calmly and appropriately to student needs and changing program conditions. Occasional lifting or moving of program materials up to 25 pounds may be required.

Disclaimers

• Must successfully complete a background screening, including criminal and employment verification. Some positions may also require a credit check.
• All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. The YMCA of Greater San Francisco promotes an equal employment opportunity workplace, which includes reasonable accommodation for otherwise qualified disabled applicants and employees. Please contact your manager if you have any questions about this policy or these job duties.
• This job description may not be all-inclusive, and employees are expected to perform other duties as assigned by management. Job descriptions and duties may be modified by management as needed.
• Job offers are conditional and contingent upon background clearance. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and CA Fair Chance Act, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.

Salary Description

The Student Behavior Support Specialist position offers a compensation range of $27.00 - $30.00 per hour. This rate is based on experience, qualifications, salary benchmarking for similar roles, and alignment with program budget and funding requirements.