OVERVIEW:

The Workforce Recruitment and Retention program helps young people find meaningful employment opportunities and retain their jobs. The Workforce Recruitment and Retention Navigator will work closely with both the In-school and Out-of-School Learn to Earn programs to establish and maintain relationships with community businesses and employers. By doing so, the program can recruit job sites and focus on retention efforts once our youth find jobs. The main goal of the Navigator is to seek and secure higher-level positions and new opportunities for youth, especially those over 16 years old. It is crucial to ensure that a good mentor or supervisor is in place to support and guide youth toward success once they are employed.

This position, much like Learn to Earn will actively recruit potential participants, assess their skills and needs, and help them establish academic and employment plans and goals. They will also provide job-readiness information and support, maintain appropriate records and data collection, and identify quality businesses to offer internship and employment opportunities for youth.

In cooperation with The Center for Youth staff, the Navigator acts as a link to community agencies, local businesses, and colleges. The Navigator maintains regular contact with participants and their support systems, develops and facilitates job readiness training, refers youth to appropriate agencies for further support, develops business relationships to provide paid internship and employment opportunities to program participants, and provides direct support to all youth in attaining their educational and employment goals. The Navigator helps young people succeed in the workforce by offering a comprehensive range of services and support. The Navigator is committed to ensuring that participants have the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to achieve their goals and build a better future for themselves and their families.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:

Implements all aspects of direct service delivery, including:

• Promoting the project
• Recruiting participants
• Screening and qualifying applicants

• Utilize evidence-based, ongoing assessment processes for individuals entering the program with well-defined expectations for participation.
• Provide robust workforce readiness training for both hard (technical/vocational) and soft skills.
• Develop strong and effective partnerships with employers to understand their needs and align training/resources to prepare individuals to meet those needs
• Educate employers about incentives, the benefits of hiring individuals from poverty and diverse backgrounds, and how to best engage the community
• Conduct post-placement follow-up and retention support for both individuals and employers
• Deliver intentional job matching services, which recognize individuals' interests and potential, leading to placement in jobs with living wages, comprehensive benefits, and room for growth.
• Assisting with the Development and Maintenance of a Job Readiness Training
• Meeting with participants frequently to:
  • Assess and review needs
  • Assist in subsidized and non-subsidized employment obtainment
  • Review and support academic and employment goals
  • Provide service referrals and linkages, as appropriate
• Maintaining contact with and providing ongoing information to participants' support systems (i.e. parents, school, referral source)
• Providing transportation to participants for program events and activities, as needed

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in human services or related field or an equivalent combination of education, employment and life experience is required.

The Center for Youth is an equal opportunity employer.