Overview
The Employment Specialist connects returning citizens with employment opportunities, job skills programs, and workforce development programs (within and outside of City Hall). The Employment Specialist will conduct community and business engagement to identify new opportunities for engaging returning citizens in meaningful paid employment. Manage and work with staff to address critical workforce needs and advise the Executive Director and Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives on employment challenges and opportunities. Work directly with clients to draft resumes/cover letters/ and other job application work products.
In addition, the Employment Specialist will create formal and informal relationships with on-the-job training programs, employers, and certification programs. The Employment Specialist will work closely with the Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives to identify and formally establish these opportunities through grants, Request For Proposals (RFP), Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU)/Memorandum Of Agreements (MOA), and other formal instruments.
Responsibilities
- Provide Office of Returning Citizen's clients with direct resume, cover letter, and job application assistance.
- Work with the Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives to establish relationships with City Hall and State agencies (e.g. Office of Workforce Development) and community partners to create programs, collaborative partnerships, and policies to address obstacles and barriers to employment for returning citizens.
- Work closely with the Office of Returning Citizen's Director of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships to develop the Office of Returning Citizen's workforce development program goals, strategies, and strategic partnerships.
- Lead engagement with employment-related community based organizations, local employers and local business organizations and leaders.
- Establish connections to CORI-friendly employers to help create job referrals for returning citizens.
- Assist Office of Returning Citizen clients in accessing workforce programs, including innovative opportunities leading to apprenticeships, professional licensure or certifications.
- Refer participants to partner agencies to provide direct service delivery.
- Provide the Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives with a monthly update regarding the employment process of clients on the assigned caseload and identify challenges/successes in partnerships and placements.
- Build and maintain professional working relationships with other team members, community partners, agency partners and employers.
- Attend scheduled meetings deemed necessary by the Executive Director and Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, including job readiness training, community meetings and related organization/agency meetings.
- Collect and input data into program evaluation database(s) for ongoing supervisory and potential funder review.
- Other duties as assigned and needed for program support.
- Performs related work as required.
Minimum Entrance Qualifications
- Preferred Bachelor's Degree in organizational management, workforce development, social work, or related field. Two (2) years of experience may substitute for the required Bachelor's degree.
- Must have at least two (2) to three (3) years of documented experience leading workforce development, employment readiness, On-The-Job training, and service linkage or related programs.
- Must have documented experience working within the returning citizens population.
- Demonstrated experience establishing programs and partnerships with workforce agencies.
- Ability to develop cross-agency partnerships with service providers, educators, business and industry partners, and government agencies.
- Ability to express complex ideas with clarity and precision both orally and written.
- Ability to manage and develop grant and partnership operations.
C.O.R.I and S.O.R.I Check Required
BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED
Terms:
Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non-Union/MO-7
Hours Per Week: 35