Peace Academy Training Specialist

If asked to describe the culture at Metropolitan Family Services, we could do that in one word. COMMUNITY! Reflected in both our internal culture as well as through the services we provide, community is at the heart of all we do. 

MFS is spear-heading the Communities Partnering 4 Peace, a framework designed to provide comprehensive, long-term approach to reduce violence and gang activity. This framework will bring together community-driven strategies that will empower community-based organizations to intervene with those individuals at the highest risk of driving the violence while working with the overall resident population to transform perceptions and realities of their community. This holistic framework responds to high-risk incidents while also being proactive in preventing situations.

We are now hiring a full-time Peace Academy Training Specialist to join our Metropolitan Peace Initiatives Team!  

SALARY: The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $44,000 and $50,000 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:  

• In collaboration with Training Management team, ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the academy training operations, through service delivery, delivery partners, and implementation of evaluation/CQI programs.
• In collaboration with Training Management team, foster an environment of open communications and collaboration, which builds a student-centered, community-focused team among all academy staff and partners.
• Participate in the development of the training curriculum and instructors to cultivate leadership in the field of violence reduction.
• Work with Training Management team to coordinate a range of training programs for violence intervention, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to advance a comprehensive violence reduction strategy including development of training schedules, identification and preparation of trainers, and development of visual aids, collection and analysis of evaluation data, and review of classroom assignments.
• Coordinate trainings on issues of violence reduction that may include community organizing and engagement, cultural competence and humility, multi-sector collaboration, etc.
• Provide technical support to the field in implementing new strategies that demonstrate program model fidelity, golden thread documentation, collaboration across communities and use of evaluation feedback to inform practice.
• Actively participate in forums, meetings, and strategy sessions with community members, public officials, law enforcement, and other subject matter experts.
• Assist Training Manager Lead on the development and implementation of Academy events i.e. graduation and cohort meet and greets.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• High school diploma or GED equivalent, required.
• 3 years of experience in developing curriculum, coordinating trainings and or related experience, required.
  
• Experience working with formerly incarcerated and/or street-involved individuals, preferred. 
• Graduate of Peace Academy outreach, case management or victim services cohort, preferred. 
• Must have access to a vehicle, valid driver's license and proof of insurance to perform essential job functions, required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:   

• Excellent computer, communication, and presentation skills.
• Working knowledge of the Trauma Informed Care principles.
• Familiar with Chicago neighborhoods and the fundamental drivers of violence.
• Ability to take initiative, detail-oriented, meet deadlines and lead by example.
• Collaborate as part of a team and respond well to supervisor direction and follow up.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Metropolitan Family Services puts our people first with a top-of-the-line benefits package. Find out more by clicking here! 

Some highlights include: 

• Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, and Vision Coverage.
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual, and $4,000 to family, HSA accounts, pro-rated to your benefits start date.
• FREE General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.

& so much more! Make sure you click here to see the full suite of benefits offered! 

Some of the above benefits are available for part-time and temporary workers, but not all. Be sure to inquire upon your hire as to which benefits apply to you.

MORE ABOUT US: 

Metropolitan is Illinois' first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 122,970 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment.