Shift: Monday to Friday (8:30am-5:00pm) Hybrid

Location: 5715 W. Belmont

Summary:

Are you ready to be a driving force for change in Chicago's most vulnerable communities? Metropolitan Peace Initiatives is looking for passionate individuals to join us as Crew Leaders for the READI (Rapid Employment and Development Initiative) Chicago program. In this role, you will lead by example, guiding transitional workers through a transformative journey with compassion and understanding. You'll play a vital role in implementing the READI Chicago model, supporting individuals at risk of gun violence with job opportunities, cognitive behavioral interventions, and wrap-around services.

As a Crew Leader, you'll be more than a supervisor – you'll be a mentor, a coach, and a positive influence. Your energy, flexibility, and proactive approach will inspire those around you. This is a chance to not only change lives but also to contribute to building a safer, stronger community. Join us in our mission to decrease violence, create new opportunities, and make a lasting impact.

Why Join Us:

• Make a Difference: Be a part of an organization that is deeply committed to creating positive change in the lives of individuals and communities.
• Professional Growth: Take on a leadership role where you can develop and implement asset management systems, supervise a dedicated team, and contribute to ongoing education initiatives.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy a range of benefits, including medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) match, paid maternity and paternity leave, commuter benefits, student loan assistance, and more.

Our Benefits:
o Medical insurance
o Dental insurance
o Vision insurance
o 401(k) match
o Paid maternity leave
o Paid paternity leave
o Commuter benefits
o Student loan assistance
o Tuition assistance
o Disability insurance

Duties & Responsibilities

• Supervises and supports a work crew of 5-10 transitional workers in the performance of a variety of tasks at offsite employer partner locations and outdoor work such as landscaping and community revitalization.
• Models safe/positive workplace behavior and works readiness skills (teamwork, conflict resolution, positive attitude, timeliness, etc.)
• Provides transitional workers with coaching, guidance, and feedback on successful work behaviors, and deliver constructive corrective actions when necessary.
• Utilizes trauma informed approaches and practices to support participants; establishes constructive relationships with participants as a positive role model; facilitates conversations that are participant driven and utilizes restorative practices in all interactions with participants.
• Participates as support staff in weekly developmental activity days in which participants attend cognitive behavioral groups and receive coaching and other services.
• Participates in case conferences with other READI Chicago staff to discuss service delivery plans for participants.
• Sets individual goals, assigns specific tasks, and roles to individual workers that will enhance their skills and work experience; provides workplace experience for participants that will promote participate stage advancement.
• Provides excellent customer service to worksite partners.
• Ensures worker safety by following safety protocols, monitoring worksites for hazardous conditions and monitoring workers for appropriate use of tools and materials.
• Safely drives transitional workers to and from work sites in company vehicle.
• Prepares and submits paperwork such as attendance reports, incident reports, mileage logs, and worker performance reviews in a timely and accurate fashion.
• Ensures work vehicles are fully equipped with the necessary safety equipment such as cones, door signage, safety goggles, gloves, safety kits, etc.
• Ensures that transitional workers clock in and out accurately for all shifts.
• Along with Crew Manager, ensures participants do not exceed weekly maximum wage hours (maximum 20 hours per week of wage work, plus per diem).
• Participates in all mandatory trainings and professional development as required to ensure effective work to learn the principles of trauma-informed care, cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, conflict de-escalation, harm reduction, and other relevant concepts, and apply that knowledge daily.
• Attends regular staff meetings, partner meetings, one on one supervision meetings, community meetings as instructed by Manager.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma/GED
• Minimum 2 years work experience required to perform the job.
• Associate degree (or 60 credit hours) strongly preferred.
• 1 year of leadership or management experience preferred.
• No current gang affiliations; no pending criminal cases

Certifications/Licenses:

• A valid Illinois driver’s license is required. Must have a clean driving record (including but not limited to no convictions related to reckless driving, DUI, and no license suspensions/revocations in the past three years) as determined via a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) obtained by the organization. A MVR may be obtained annually.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):

• Basic reading, writing, and math skills.
• Computer literacy commensurate to complete job duties.
• Ability to provide feedback to coach participants through program components.
• Ability to communicate with program participants, staff, and worksite partners in a professional manner.
• Ability to effectively manage time and prioritize tasks.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations in a professional and diplomatic manner.
• Ability manage conflict and resolve problems.
• Knowledge of building maintenance, landscaping, grounds keeping, and/or related trades preferred.
• Motivated, energetic, and skilled at relationship building and team building.
• Ability to exercises good judgement about when to notify manager about incidents and other programmatic issues.
• Commitment to the mission and values of READI Chicago, as demonstrated by a professional approach that is strength-based, trauma-informed, inclusive, and grounded in human rights.
• Excellent communication skills. Strong networker, convener, relationship builder and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations in a professional and diplomatic manner.
• A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and analytical ability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to work independently and remain self-motivated with minimal direct supervision.
• Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills.
• Individuals with criminal records and other lived experience are encouraged to apply.

Work Arrangement:

This role is on-site work arrangement.

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
• Program sites are located throughout the Chicago area, including the North and South sides of Chicago, as well as the suburbs. Employees may be required to report to any one of our locations on a temporary or permanent basis.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk.
• The employee must be able to stoop, kneel and/or crawl.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to key, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The employee must have unrestricted ability to provide physical restraint.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: