Youth Villages

The Liferay Developer will lead the development of Youth Villages' Liferay custom applications and manage the platform's configuration and customizations. They will collaborate with various departments to support the technical development and implementation of the organization's proprietary clinical platform, GuideTree. | Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering and at least 1 year of experience with Java, React, HTML/CSS, and SQL. A minimum of 3 years of hands-on software engineering experience is required, along with proficiency in Liferay DXP preferred. | Overview This position is a fully remote position within the USA, however, some travel to Memphis, TN will be expected. The ideal work hours are 8:30am to 5:00pm CST. Organizational Overview Youth Villages is a non-profit organization helping youth, young people, and their families across the United States who face a wide range of emotional, mental, and behavioral challenges. As a leader in the field of youth mental and behavioral health, Youth Villages earns its status as one of the nation’s most promising results-oriented non-profits as recognized by Harvard Business School, U.S. News & World Report and The White House. Our commitment to helping youth and families find success spans more than 30 years and includes a comprehensive array of programs and services. With a dedicated staff of more than 4,200 working in 27 states and the District of Columbia, the organization serves approximately 40,000 youth annually, further increasing our impact through partnerships and advocacy. Our Information Technology (IT) department is seeking a passionate individual to join our high-performing team as a Senior Liferay Developer (also known as Senior Software Engineer). Working on the Youth Villages’ IT team means collaborating with purpose-driven people on high-impact projects and products, making a direct impact on the youth and families who need us the most. Responsibilities Position Summary The Liferay Developer, reporting to the Liferay Product Manager (Manager) as part of the Product & Innovation (P&I) team within the IT department, will work closely with the Youth Villages’ Business Intelligence, Research, Clinical Services, Strategic Partnerships, and other departments to support the technical development and implementation of the organization’s proprietary clinical platform, GuideTree. The Liferay Developer will act as the lead developer for Youth Villages Liferay custom application(s) and will manage the platform’s configuration and customizations. The position will work alongside the Product Manager to design and develop new features all in partnership with external vendor support. Although this is not a leadership or supervisory role, this position will mentor and support junior developers. They will also work on special projects as requested by the Manager, Director of Product and Innovation (Director), or CIO, as needed. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The person in this role will work closely with the Product Manager and development team to: Design and develop new features through Liferay Portlets and Java/Javascript in collaboration with Product Management and development team in alignment with product roadmap Understand business and develop technical requirements to meet acceptance criteria, obtaining clarity from Product Manager when needed and providing support to development team Develop high-quality code to implement technical and functional requirements in collaboration with the Senior Liferay Developer Support Liferay application reliability and performance Identify new opportunities to support the product strategy and improve system quality for end users Help maintain deployment pipeline and development environments Support Product Manager in troubleshooting and resolving system issues Collaborate in maintaining and following best practices, procedures, and expectations for software development at Youth Villages Qualifications Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The candidate must also be a self-motivated and hard-working individual who is willing to be flexible in a fast-paced environment. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Ability to communicate across all levels of the organization and work with diverse project team Proven ability to meet deadlines, handle and prioritize simultaneous requests, and manage laterally, upwards, and external vendors, in an agile environment Demonstrated understanding of data and data management practices, specifically the ability to work with data users to ensure development supports best practices of data management Proven track record of partnering and coordinating with both on-shore and off-shore vendor resources Excellent interpersonal and customer support skills and organizational skills Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Strong attention to detail and commitment to data and code accuracy Ability to regularly learn and adopt new technology Proficient with Microsoft Office products Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Engineering strongly preferred 1+ years of experience working in Information Technology 3+ years of hands-on software engineering experience in Software Development Life Cycle with degree or 8+ years in lieu of degree 1+ years of experience with Java, React, HTML/CSS, and SQL required 1+ years of experience in Liferay DXP, version 7.4, preferred Proficiency with Java, Javascript, HTML/CSS, and SQL required Understanding of or experience with (but not limited to) MySQL, and REST APIs preferred Understanding of or experience with Azure preferred Experience with non-profits preferred Benefits Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision401(k)2 weeks paid vacation12 paid sick days per year11 paid holidays Paid Parental LeaveMileage Reimbursement (when applicable) Tuition reimbursement Growth & development through continuous training Clinical and administrative advancement opportunities Youth Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults. We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds. Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.

The Business Planning & Policy Specialist will support program leadership by driving business development, strategy, and government relations efforts in assigned states. This includes responding to RFPs, collaborating with state leadership, and conducting research to support growth and expansion of Youth Villages services. | A bachelor's degree is required, with a master's degree preferred. Candidates should have strong communication skills, experience in government relations, and proficiency in Microsoft Office, along with a background in public policy or social work. | Overview Company Overview Youth Villages has been a national leader in the implementation of research-based treatment philosophies in the field of children's mental and behavioral health. Our commitment to helping troubled children and their families find success spans 30+ years and includes a comprehensive array of programs and services. With a high-performing and dedicated staff of more than 4,300 working in 27 states as well as the District of Columbia and an annual operating budget over $400 million, the organization serves more than 36,000 emotionally and behaviorally challenged youth annually through its comprehensive, evidence-based programs: intensive in-home services, residential treatment, foster care, adoption, group homes, transition-age youth services, specialized crisis services, and intensive residential treatment. The organization, founded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1986, measures its success in reunited families and in children who are able to live at home and do well in school. Since 1994, when Youth Villages began an emphasis on helping children in the least restrictive environment -- preferably in their own homes -- success rates have soared: in 2023, 88% of the children who received at least 60 days of service at Youth Villages were still living successfully in the community one year after their discharge. President Obama recognized Youth Villages as a nonprofit with “promising ideas that are transforming communities.” Youth Villages Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Lawler, was named one of “America’s Best Leaders” by U.S. News and World Report and the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. If you are looking for a positive career move where you are meeting the challenges of life and striving to make a positive difference, then Youth Villages is the place for you. We are looking for people with a strong sense of purpose and focus to continually build confidence in yourself and our organization. For more information, please visit www.youthvillages.org Responsibilities Position Summary This position will be responsible for supporting program leadership by driving business development, strategy, and government relations efforts in their assigned portfolio of states. Efforts will primarily focus on growth, expansion, and sustainability of Youth Villages programming in addition to public policy and thought leadership initiatives. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Business development and government relations Communicates with state and other Youth Villages leaders, including CSO, COO, and CEO, about growth opportunities and new startups Assists and/or leads the process of responding to Request for Proposals (RFPs) of interest to the organization in order to grow services in assigned states Leading or contributing to meetings and presentations with key external stakeholders (including potential funders, state/county agencies, and lawmakers) In collaboration with Federal Policy Director, assists state leadership with policy and legislative priorities and action steps Technical writing, including proposal writing, as well as composing letters and emails, developing PowerPoints, etc. Critical thinking related to analysis of growth and funding opportunities Creating budgets and analyzing financials to support business development decision-making Strong collaborations with internal leadership, including other support departments (such as Strategy, Strategic Partnerships, Communications, Finance, etc.) Research growth opportunities, cultivate relationships, and introduce proposals and services to potential funders (in conjunction with state and department leadership) Review bills, laws, and policies that may impact strategy and engagement with key stakeholders, and/or that will have an impact on child welfare, Medicaid, and other state systems that serve children, families, and young adults Conduct desk research Research for assigned portfolio of states to support growth, expansion, and strategy development of Youth Villages services by completing shallow dives and utilizing collected information, including analyzing the economy, funding streams (local, state, federal), legislation, government structure, political climate, competitors, new business opportunities, and trends related to transitioning youth/disconnect youth and at-risk children and families Identify and articulate how desk research does or does not support growth or expansion strategies within assigned states Other research related to department priorities, initiatives, and opportunities, as assigned Strategy implementation Work closely with state leadership to drive expansion of Youth Villages services in assigned states (create and revise state strategy plans in collaboration with the state leadership, monitor RFP opportunities, lead RFP response efforts, generate new rates/budgets, work in collaboration with the state on a robust relationship management/building process, etc.) Identifies and articulates reasons why an opportunity would be of interest/not of interest to Youth Villages Help carry out identified strategies and tactics for growth, system influence, and/or thought leadership Actively facilitate and contribute to the planning process for assigned states (which occurs annually) and other special projects Engage internal leadership in the planning process in a collaborative way As a member of the Business Planning and Policy Department, must be flexible with additional job duties, including but not limited to conference attendance and contract adherence processes. Up to 30% travel is required, including evening and overnight travel. Flexible/non-traditional schedule may be required, at times, to meet time-sensitive deadlines. . Qualifications Requirements Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree is required Master's degree is preferred At least 6 months leadership experience is preferred Specific degrees and coursework in public policy, public administration, political science, and/or social work is required Excellent written and verbal communication skills required Ability to engage audiences easily and function in an in-person or virtual environment, often during periods of high stress, is required Ability to think critically and conceptualize complex problems is required Strong, demonstrable Microsoft Office skills, specifically Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams, and Outlook is required Experience related to negotiating contracts with funders and/or knowledge of funding sources (i.e., Medicaid/managed care, child welfare, mental/behavioral health) is preferred Experience in government relations, proposal writing, desk research, and budgeting is preferred This is a remote position with ideal applicants residing in the east or central time zones. Benefits Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and VisionRetirement Savings Pension Plan401k2 weeks paid vacation12 paid sick days per year11 paid holidays Paid parental leaveMileage & Cell Phone Reimbursement (when applicable)Tuition and Licensure Reimbursement is available Youth Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults. We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds. Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.