Workforce Development and Success Coordinator

at  Felton Institute

Job Description:

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The last two decades have given rise to a body of research establishing that young adults are fundamentally different from both juveniles and older adults in how they process information and make decisions. The prefrontal cortex of the brain, responsible for our cognitive processing and impulse control, does not fully develop until the early to mid-20s. Our traditional justice system is not designed to address cases involving these individuals, who are qualitatively different in development, skills, and needs from both children and older young adults.
Young Adult Court (YAC) in San Francisco is part of the larger Collaborative Court system and serves eligible young adults ages 18-24 for an average of 18 months. Collaborative partner agencies include the Superior Court, Office of the District Attorney, Office of the Public Defender, the Department of Public Health, Adult Probation Department, Department of Children, Youth and their Families, and Felton Institute.

POSITION SUMMARY

In partnership with and under the general guidance of the YAC Clinical Director, the Workforce Development and Success Coordinator (WDSC) supports work-based learning, mentorship, professional and career development and academic support for justice impacted Transitional Age Youth (TAY) 18-24 years old. The WDSC is crucial to assisting TAY who have pending felony charges on their background in addition to socioeconomic stressors, housing instability, and other barriers with navigating the professional landscape. This role requires a passionate and experienced individual who can design, implement, and evaluate effective workforce development programming.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Human Services, Business Administration, or related field; or 6 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of 3 years experience working in workforce development, apprenticeship programs, or adult education settings.
• Exhibits understanding of developmental stages, with a focus on Transitional Age Youth.
• Experience working with TAY who are justice impacted and court diversion programs a plus.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences.
• Excellent project management skills, including planning, coordination, and evaluation.
• Proficiency in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity with technology and online learning platforms.
• Must pass a Department of Justice fingerprint clearance.

Coaching, Career Planning and Financial Literacy:

• Complete an employment related needs assessment and develop Individualized Success Plan (ISP) for each participant, coordinate training programs, and oversee participant progress and integration into on-the-job placements.
• Identify skill gaps and areas for professional growth and development.
• Provide one-on-one coaching and career counseling to address individual participant needs and concerns.
• Assist participants in setting career goals and developing action plans to achieve them.
• Support clients with keeping a job log to document their work activities and progress towards their goals.
• Ascertain any barriers that may interfere with job retention and develop strategies to address the issue.
• Provide guidance and technology training to ensure competency for online and in person job search strategies, resume writing, interview preparation, using LinkedIn, sending professional emails and other effective communication skills.
• Provide training on practical knowledge, skills-building opportunities, and resources participants can use to manage their finances.
• Facilitate Job Readiness Training and related workshops that are contextualized for justice impacted TAY.

Partnership with Community-Based Organizations:

• Collaborate with community-based organizations to build strong partnerships and access additional resources for workforce development & success initiatives.
• Attend hiring events and resource fairs; includes attending hiring related events with clients.

Build relationships with employers:

• Establish new relationships with background-friendly employers.
• Conduct Employer spotlights.
• Troubleshoot/collaborate with employers to monitor participant performance and understand issues that may arise with TAY in the workplace.

Academic Support Coordination:

• Collaborate with partners to organize weekly academic support sessions, including on-site tutoring tailored to individual student needs.Support clients with re-enrolling into school, if applicable.

Records Keeping, Documentation and Reporting:

• Record Maintenance: Maintain accurate records of employment activities, participant data, and evaluation results to ensure compliance with program requirements.
• Data Collection: Support with collecting data to prepare reports on employment outcomes, progress, and recommendations for funders and collaborative partners.

Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with data privacy and confidentiality requirements in all documentation and reporting activities.

Teamwork and Collaboration:

• Work in partnership with program supervisor and case managers to best serve clients and align with organizational values and goals.
• Utilize a collaborative, strengths-based, and supportive approach when working with diverse staff.
• Attend internal and external meetings and other opportunities to promote positive communication.

Other duties and special projects as assigned.