Transitional Work Specialist

at  Fortune Society Inc

Title: Transitional Work Specialist
Unit: Employment Services
Reports to: Program Manager
Status: Full Time- Regular/Non-Exempt
Salary Range: $24.73 to $30.22 per hour(approximately$45,000 - $55,000)
Location: Long Island City, Queens
Days/Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week, typically 9:00AM 5:00PM; Evenings and Weekends as needed to attend community events

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for over 54 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nations preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.
Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency just under $79 million in annual budget with just under 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and in depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society. The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 11,000 people a year. Our client population mirrors the incarcerated population in being approximately 85% male and over 90% people of color. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally for their quality and innovation.
Position Summary:
Under the direction of the Program Manager, the Transitional Work Specialist will be responsible for recruiting, screening, enrolling, outreaching, and personnel oversight of participants enrolled in the Transitional Work Program. This individual will use a trauma-informed approach when engaging our participants as they support individuals in gaining needed work experience through Fortunes internship. This team member will support with managing the employer relations for internship host sites. This team member will help obtain referrals for Fortunes Employment Services program and act as a community outreach liaison with our community partners. They will facilitate this by attending offsite community events and regularly tabling at Probation and Parole offices. Administrative responsibilities for this role include data entry into our Client Record Management system and our trackers to support managing the fellowship program and referrals made during Community Engagement events, regular data updates to document participant performance outcomes and data tracking this team member with support the Program Manager with overseeing data accuracy for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that measure trends, metrics and track the outcomes for the Transitional Work Program.
The Transitional Work Specialist empowers participants by encouraging them to build on the foundation of soft skill professional development as outlined in the Career Development Workshop. While facilitating weekly job club meetings with participant cohorts enrolled in the Fellowship, the Transitional Work Specialist will empower them to build upon their skills and assist them in overcoming obstacles that may appear during their internship. The Transitional Work Specialist will also support with screening whether someone is ready to begin seeking employment at the end of the internship, prior to their meeting with an Employment Specialist, offering feedback to the participant and colleagues. The position requires excellent presentation and group facilitation skills.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Associates degree from and accredited college or university in social work, psychology, counseling, human services or education preferred;
• At least 2 years of prior experience as a Case Manager, Counselor or related field;
• Experience in providing services to individuals involved in the criminal legal system;
• Exceptional attention to detail and talent for accuracy and precision, with strong organizational skills and the ability to facilitate workshops;
• Adequate computer skills; proficient in Microsoft office: Outlook/365, Word, Excel;
• Skilled communicator who is able to liaise interdepartmentally, as well as with community partners and stakeholders; Strong writing skills;
• Administrative experience and strong time management and customer service skills;
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Excel, Outlook and Office 365;
• Ability to apply skills learned from prior work experience, or formal academic training in a related subject area, to the day-to-day project activities;
• Demonstrated success in being participant-centered, self-motivated with excellent relationship skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule;
• Ability to work independently and on a team;
• Responsive to feedback, having the ability to seek support when needed and remain in communication for guidance;
• Experience and/or desire to work with a culturally diverse population; and
• We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission. Relevant personal experience is a plus.
  Travel Requirements: Travel throughout New York City is required.

• Recruit, screen, and enroll Employment Services participants into the Transitional Work Program, including assisting participants in completing program applications and modifying their resumes;
• Assess career interests and aptitudes, guiding participants toward the most suitable transitional work placement sites;
• Act as an intermediary between interns and employers to resolve workplace issues and promote successful completion;
• Complete timely and accurate documentation of all services;
• Facilitate weekly Job Club Sessions for transitional work program participants and assist the Program Manager with regularly updating the curriculum as needed to enhance the program model;
• Participate in collaborative meetings with Employment Services staff to assess participant progress and plan services;
• Facilitate transitional work program orientations;
• Visit participant work sites to understand behaviors in various settings and hear feedback from employer host sites;
• Review employer and participant feedback and performance reports, identify barriers to participant success in the program, and provide coaching and support to promote attendance, safe behavior, and effective participation in job club sessions and transitional employment;
• Screen current interns throughout the internship to determine if they will be ready to seek employment post completion of the internship and communicate feedback with their assigned Employment Specialist and Program Manager;
• Track Department of Probation and DOCCS Parole referrals and represent Fortune at tabling events, recruitment events, and quarterly meetings;
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and program performance guidelines as outlined by the Program Manager;
• Ensure records are accurate, maintained, and updated regularly to align with ongoing changes;
• Assist with administrative tasks, such as updating referral trackers, data entry, reporting, typing, filing, and scheduling appointments;
• Support with creating, revising, and editing resumes to include Fellowship experience for placement support;
• Maintain regular phone, email, and in-person communication with participants and supervision officers who are making referrals to Fortune; document all pertinent discussions, events, and incidents in real-time in the agency database system(s) (within 24 hours)
• Other duties as assigned