Work Experience/Job Placement Coordinator

People First (Utica Municipal Housing Authority) seeks a Work Experience/Job Placement Coordinator for a new and exciting job training program for out of school youth between the ages of 16 and 24.  This job provides a perfect opportunity for a student needing an internship in the helping professions, a person seeking a career change, or a seasoned professional looking for a chance to help opportunity youth to have a better life.

People First is launching the Pathways to Careers Program/ Out of School Youth Work Experience Program to help out-of-school youth to attain self-sufficiency through attainment of employment, post-secondary/vocational training opportunities, and education credentials. This important project will help out-of-school youth achieve economic stability through work experience, job placement assistance, vocational training, employer linkages, case management, mentoring, community networking, group supports, and supportive services. Our goal is to close the Opportunity Divide by ensuring that young adults gain the skills, experiences, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through work experience, education, and careers.

Position Title: Work Experience/Job Placement Coordinator

Position Type: Part-time, 25 hours per week - Job contracted through a partnership agency

Pay Rate: $16.00/hour

Term of Employment: March 1, 2022 – February 28, 2023

Work location: Utica, NY

Summary of Program: 

The Out of School Youth Work Experience Program will provide job training and work experience to up to twenty five out of school participants ages 16 to 24.  Participants will work no more than 200 hours; they will generally work for 25 hours per week for 8 weeks.  The program will have six cohort groups.  Enrollment will be open throughout the duration of the contract. 

Out of School Youth Work Experience Program is designed to help out-of-school youth achieve economic stability through work experience, job placement assistance, vocational training, employer linkages, case management, mentoring, community networking, group supports, and supportive services.  Youth will be placed at work sites at the Utica Municipal Housing Authority or affiliated organizations.  Youth Trainer will supervise the youth at work sites, provide counseling, offer career development, job placement, and job training services, help to resolve issues hindering program participation, and refer participants for community services. 

Summary of Position:

The Work Experience/Job Placement Coordinator will connect eligible out-of-school youth to gainful employment and educational advancement through academic activities, occupational skills development and employment activities.  The Coordinator will conduct recruitment, screening, assessment, and orientation activities, place youth participants at paid internship sites of the Utica Municipal Housing Authority/People First, monitor youth at work sites; conduct home visits; resolve issues hindering program participation, provide career education and employability skills training, provide supportive services, refer participants for various services, coordinate services with Oneida County Workforce Development, and place participants into jobs and career training.

The Out of School Youth Work Experience Program will provide job training and work experience to up to twenty five out of school participants ages 16 to 24.  Participants will work no more than 200 hours; they will generally work for 25 hours per week for 8 weeks.  The program will have six cohort groups.  Enrollment will be open throughout the duration of the contract.  Oneida County Workforce Development will pay all expenses related to this program and will reimburse the Workforce Development Board for all its expenses.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

·         Conduct outreach to recruit eligible youth for the program.

·         Perform intake and eligibility activities.

·         Arrange work sites for participants at People First/UMHA work sites;

·         Monitor youth at People First/UMHA work sites;

·         Conduct home visits to resolve issues related to program participation;

·         Work with participants to ensure that they attend the program on a regular basis;

·         Help participants with transportation and child care needs;

·         Conduct trainee orientation including program goals; program services and resources available, Program participant’s responsibility, Information on follow-up services;

·         Research job demand and career growth for local occupations in Central New York

·         Conduct career, employment, and academic assessments of participants;

·         In conjunction with participants, develop individual service strategies to address the career, employment, and supportive service needs of participants;

·         Provide training in career awareness, job readiness and retention, and job hunting skills;

·         Create strong partnerships with employers where participants can do internships or visit for job shadowing;

·         Coordinate academic remediation and job training services for participants;

·         Initiates and maintains contact with prospective employers and agencies;

·         Provide personal and career counseling;

·         Refer participants to community service programs;

·         Match participants with mentors;

·         Develop collaborations with employers and training programs for placement of participants;

·         Develop job shadowing and paid internships for participants;

·         Conduct training for worksite supervisors;

·         Place participants at work sites nonprofit organizations;

·         Perform site visits to work places;

·         Place youth in meaningful employment, training programs, and post-secondary educational institutions;

·         Maintain participant tracking and outcome data;

·         Maintains needed procedures, forms, and operational records;

·         Conduct follow+-up of participants;

·         Prepare program reports.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Requires a minimum of an Associate’s degree in, human services or related field or a combination of education and experience.
2. Strong interpersonal skills to network with employers and coach participants who have diverse needs
3. Understanding of career counseling and employment training programs;
4. Experience in youth job training programs;
5. Requires strong leadership, marketing, organization, writing and communication skills.

6.      Commitment to helping people out of poverty

7.      Counseling skills

8.      Passion for putting clients first

9.      Related professional/volunteer experience

10.  Experience with human service programs

11.  Background with writing reports and tracking data

12.  Experience with facilitating, public speaking, and training

13.  Knowledge and use of current Microsoft Office/Google and its applications

14.  Driver’s license required.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants should apply ASAP. The application deadline is March 17, 2021. To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to jfurman@peoplefirstny.org. Questions: 315.982.3731.

People First is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, veteran status, age or disability status.