The Workforce Development Specialist is a frontline staff position responsible for the support of Growing Home’s Production Assistants (PAs) and Graduates. Two key functions of the position include executing strategies to ensure job placement and Job retention for all program trainees.
In addition to job placement and job retention, the Workforce Development staff will provide
support to the overall execution of the Employment Training (“ET”) program at Growing Home, Inc. The Workforce Development Specialist reports to the Director and works closely with a committed group of four other ET staff.
ABOUT GROWING HOME
Growing Home is a non-profit urban farm and social enterprise in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. We serve our communities through local, healthy food access and robust workforce development that has pathways to sustainable careers. Our 12-week person-centered paid employment training program includes real work experience with transferable skills, a robust classroom curriculum, and holistic case management and support - all in-house. Our training program operates four cohorts over a calendar year.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and cultivate long-term professional relationships with employers, placement
- agencies, and temporary agencies to ensure consistent contact for job leads. Makepresentations to businesses within the Chicagoland area to promote Growing Home’sworkforce development programs and to develop new employment opportunities forprogram PAs and graduates.
- Identify job opportunities and match employer and participant’s interests, needs, skills, and experience.
- Make contact with employers (existing employer relationships, employer networks or associations, cold calls, online, and other workforce development programs) but not limited to:care issues)permanent, unsubsidized jobs in high-demand industries.participants’ employment objectives.graduates, and employer partners
- Coordinate with PAs and graduates to schedule interviews
- Follow-up on interviews with PAs and employer
- Develop and implement strategies aimed at helping graduates keep their jobs, including
- Weekly and Monthly in-person check-ins with jobholders
- Assist job holders in emergency support services (such as car repairs or child
- support hiring managers with on-the-job issues
- Assist with employment readiness training, job search assistance, and obtaining
- Provide employment guidance and create individual employment plans that outline
- With the support of the ET team, Coordinate and host engagement events for PAs,
Administrative:
- Responsible for tracking and entering data in the Customer Relationship Management
- CRM (Salesforce) systems for all employment placements and retention data for PAsand graduates.
- Manage the programs Employee Retention Incentive program that gives cash incentives to jobholders who successfully complete job retention at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days
- Ensure compliance with grants, contracts, agency, and programmatic standards that are designed to meet PAs and graduates' needs stories, calendars/flyers of upcoming events, employment/employer leads, and other required information.in competitive employment, and need for and ability to benefit from supportedemployment, including natural supports.implementation of services.and other developmental opportunities within and outside the agency to enhance skillsand understanding.
- Maintain and submit, placement reports, employer partnership agreements, success
- Observe and document participants' vocational assets and limitations, ability to engage
- Utilizes a team approach and works with other program staff in the planning and
- Takes increasing responsibility for own professional development, utilizing supervision
- Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Commitment to Growing Home’s mission and core values
- Demonstrated ability to build long-term relationships with a wide variety of
- stakeholders in a positive, engaging manner
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong organizational and time management skills, ability to lead projects, and problem-solve
- Experience working directly with marginalized populations
- Experience in classroom facilitation, skills training, and/or curriculum development navigate public transportation throughout the greater Chicago-area, or a valid driver’s license
- Strong computer skills, including using Microsoft Office (excel) and Google Docs.
- Ability to work some evenings and weekends
- Some travel for meetings will be required. Must have an aptitude and willingness to
- The ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment
- Must be able to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment
EDUCATION
- Bachelor’s degree preferred. At least two years of experience in workforce development, Human Resources, sales, marketing, or a similar field
Equal Opportunity Employer
- Growing Home is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Growing Home does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please email us at [email protected].
Pay: $55,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
