Employment Services and Placement Directr

The WRTP | BIG STEP Employment Services and Placement Director is critical to connecting and placing program participants and graduates in high road careers with partner employers within the construction and manufacturing sectors.

This position is responsible for developing, maintaining and leveraging relationships with partner employers for the purposes of placement and retention of qualified individuals. This includes understanding and mastering the hiring cycle of partner employers, the program graduation cycle and creating value for both with high quality placements. The Director will also manage and develop career-related programs and services for the organization's beneficiaries including creating and implementing career readiness programs, providing individual coaching and guidance, and connecting individuals with employment opportunities. This position is required to meet contractual obligations.

• 50%of time will be cultivating and maintaining employer partnerships leading to living wage jobs from direct placements, hiring events, etc. as well connecting with various employer networks to connect participants to employment opportunities.
• 25% of time will be provide employment readiness and soft skill development services such as resume prep, placement, retention, and follow-up services for jobseekers up to one year after program exit.
• 20%of efforts will be dedicated to entering, organizing, and maintaining accurate data, reporting, and maintaining files for all participants aligned with and leading towards successful grant and organizational outcomes, including administrative and compliance responsibilities.
• 5%of time will support management and the program coordination team with assessment, planning, and continuous improvement of the service delivery model and its execution

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Job Development, Placement & Employer Support

• Create and implement career services programs, including resume workshops, interview skills training, job search workshops, and career exploration activities.
• Offer one-on-one counseling and coaching to individuals, helping them identify their career goals, assess their skills and interests, and develop a career plan.
• Identify and actively work to overcome barriers for employment and retention.
• Establish relationships with employers and community partners to create job placement opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with staff to provide recruitment opportunities and activities for businesses, industries, and participants by coordinating and facilitating recruitment days, employer panels, and targeted job fairs.
• Promote the importance of career services to the organization's beneficiaries, stakeholders, and the broader community.
• Coordinate placement for WRTP | BIG STEP participants seeking employment in construction, manufacturing, and emerging industries
• Establish and maintain professional business relationships with employers, union halls, and outside agencies for the purpose of job development.
• Collect data from employers related to job orders including job requirements and skills.
• Assess participants’ job skills and knowledge. Develop a participant matrix to easily match knowledge and skills of interested past and present participants with employer needs.
• Scan local job boards continuously and develop and maintain a list of available positions in the immediate and surrounding geographic area, and remote or otherwise reasonably accessible opportunities for positions appropriate to WRTP | BIG STEP participants.
• Following a placement, gather feedback from the jobseeker and the employer to assess the employee’s success in the role, the fit of the placement, and whether the parties are satisfied with the placement service. Counsel participants when job performance is not satisfactory.
• Develop and maintain records of training, placements, and interview results; Use this data to continually modify and improve the placement service.

Employment Retention

• Conduct follow-up communications with exited program participants at 30, 60, and 90-day intervals to assess satisfaction, address concerns, collect information on job placement, and offer additional resources.
• Maintain detailed records of participant interactions, follow-up results, and resolutions.
• Offer personalized support, referring participants to additional services or programs that may benefit their progress.
• Stay updated on best practices in participant retention within the non-profit sector.
• This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may be requested to perform other reasonable related duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and other management as required. The company reserves the right to revise or change job duties as business requirements dictate. It is also understood that the company reserves the right to change work schedules as required, including requiring overtime.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Subject to carrying, lifting, twisting, and reaching to perform essential job functions, physical requirements include carrying/lifting up to 25 pounds occasionally. Visual acuity, speech, and hearing; hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to drive an automobile and operate computer keyboard and basic office equipment.

Skills

• Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; works well in group solving situations.
• Customer Service: The ability to use reason when dealing with difficult or emotional customer situations. Responds promptly to customer needs; Responds to requests for service and assistance.
• Interpersonal Skills: Maintains confidentiality; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Oral Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication: Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a
• positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Change Management: Develops workable implementation plans; Communicates changes effectively; Monitors transition and evaluates results.
• Culture Fit: motivated by a fast-paced, action-oriented, and collaborative team environment; strong desire to engage in continuous improvement and growth, both personally and organizationally; intellectually curious and willing to take risks; willing to act in the face of uncertainty.

Requirements

• Minimum of a BA or BS in human resources, business, education, or related field.
• Minimum of two years’ experience working with staffing or recruitment.
• Thorough knowledge of standard computer programs, including Microsoft Office, and ability to learn new systems.
• The ability to work comfortably with a wide range of customers, in both group and individual settings, preferably with experience supporting adults entering into employment and meeting career goals.
• The ability to establish rapport and relate sensitively to a multiracial and multicultural group of customers.
• The ability to pass an extensive background check.
• Must have project/account management experience, utilizing planning and organizational skills.
• Flexible scheduling: most work will be performed between 8 – 5 but may require occasional evenings and weekends.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team is necessary.
• Flexible and a self-starter; able to multi-task while also being highly detail oriented.
• This position requires a driver's license, reliable transportation, and state mandated vehicle insurance.
• Bilingual (Spanish) is a plus.

WRTP | BIG STEP is an equal opportunity/ADA employer. All federal, state and local and other fair employment standards including EEO and ADA requirements in race, gender, gender identification, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation, veteran status, veterans or disabled veterans’ status as found in 41CFR 60-1.4, 60-250.4 and 60-741.4 are herein incorporated by reference. Reasonable accommodations requested by qualified individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. WRTP | BIG STEP encourages applications from all the above referenced protected and unprotected status groups.

Benefits

• Health Insurance - Employer pays 85% of all health plan premiums
• Dental Insurance (single or family) – 100% Employer paid
• Vision Insurance (single or family) – 100% Employer paid
• Life Insurance & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance – 100% Employer paid
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance – 100% Employer paid
• 10 vacation days after successful completion of probationary period
• 9 personal days annually after successful completion of probationary period
• 14 Paid Holidays annually
• 10% of monthly salary contributed to retirement accounts
• Pay range: $65,000 - $75,000 (depending on experience)