Youth Worker to Lead Youth Center Wenk (60 - 75%) - limited to 1 year

About the job

Aarau, as the cantonal capital - centrally located between Zurich, Basel, and Bern - is an important economic, cultural, and educational center with a supraregional influence. As a future-oriented and modern employer, the city of Aarau relies on motivated employees. The city of Aarau operates a comprehensive range of services in the field of child and youth promotion (Youth Center Wenk, outreach youth work, Ü16 youth center in the youth culture house, children's construction site and children's offers in the neighborhoods as well as various projects).

The Society Section of the Social Services Department is looking for a deputy for one year starting August 1, 2026.

In your role, you are part of a 12-member professional team and the hub of our youth center. You create an atmosphere where young people feel welcome and are a reliable contact person with an open ear. You actively promote participation: you support young people in realizing their own ideas and shaping the center according to their wishes. In addition to direct sociocultural work, you plan and accompany varied programs, projects, and events – from sports activities to creative workshops. You also keep an overview of administrative processes, coordinate duty planning, and are responsible for the budget.

As a networker, you represent the youth center externally and maintain cooperation with schools, authorities, and other social institutions in the city and region to create the best possible conditions for our youth. You also contribute to the implementation of the Child-Friendly City Aarau action plan (UNICEF label), participate in developing the inclusion concept for institutional opening in favor of youth with disabilities, and in a project on youth participation in spatial and traffic planning.

You have a HF or FH degree in sociocultural animation, social work, or social pedagogy (or an equivalent qualification). Your heart beats for direct relationship work in the open operation, where you meet young people aged 11 to 16 with an appreciative and resource-oriented attitude.

As a team player, you value professional exchange within the team, with cooperation partners, and with other city departments. You maintain transparent, target-group-appropriate communication and advocate for the concerns of young people. You understand how to actively engage with the life world of young people and accompany them in their individual development processes. With your open-minded nature, you create a trusting atmosphere that invites participation and involvement. Ideally, you have a PA training and can directly supervise the internship position at Wenk.

We offer contemporary working conditions, equal opportunities, insights into various

specialist areas within the Society Section, and a pleasant working atmosphere in a

committed team.

For questions, please contact Talita Friess, Head of Youth Center Wenk, 079 848 65 23 or Samuel Hasler, Team Leader Open Offers Child and Youth, 079 469 91 72.

We look forward to your application.