Full Job Description
Summary: Heartland Human Care Services (HHCS), part of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, is a human rights and human services organization tackling society’s toughest challenges since 1888. HHCS partners with people facing poverty, displacement, and injustice to achieve ongoing safety, stability, and success. The Supporting Education and Employment Development (or SEED) is a thirteen month pre-plea deferred prosecution program that aims to serve emerging adults charged with delivery of a controlled substance engage in education, job training and related supports. It seeks to improve lives through meaningful participation in education, social services and career development supports, to decrease future involvement with the criminal justice system.
Reporting to the SEED Program Manager, the SEED Career Pathway Supervisor is responsible for providing job coaching and employment supports to a small cohort of participants, supervising job coaches, providing expertise as needed to coaches in their work with participants, and cultivating and maintaining partnerships with employers and employment and education service providers. This role is responsible for employer engagement to create specific job opportunities tailored to SEED’s participant job interests, skills and needs, and then coordination with other programs staff, who would then work to support the participant in workplace preparation, and retention success. The SEED Career Pathway Supervisor also supports the SEED Program Manager in ensuring the effective delivery of high quality employment- and education-related services for participants. The SEED Career Pathway Supervisor will be energetic, creative, innovative, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; this role will rely on a multidisciplinary team while proactively supporting the programmatic and operational success of the SEED program. Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with staff across HHCS
Assists in strategic planning and implementation consistent with HHCS and SEED vision and goals
Ensure program components are implemented in accordance with HHCS and SEED model and philosophies.
In partnership with others within HHCS, develop and implement models of accountability, supervision and oversight to regularly monitor the progress of participants through assessments, one on ones, job readiness, and career pathway development.
Collaborate with SEED Program Manager and Case Manager Supervisor to co-facilitate participant case staffings
Gather specific relevant and updated information from SEED staff and participants, on SEED participants’ unique range of job interests, desired salaries, locations, etc.
Develop comprehensive services and resources to assist participants with their career and academic planning towards employment goals .
Track participant progress, and ensure that participants meet graduation requirements as they move through the program
Input necessary information into automated system(s); Organizes cases; maintains and updates records on client employment, training, and follow-up activities, and prepares reports on client and program activities.
Ensure timesheet accuracy and submission for participants engaged in Transitional Jobs
Cultivate and maintain partners for employment and education; and disseminate their requirements, openings, and other demands to SEED staff
Cultivate relationships with workforce development entities, local economic councils, area and regional employers
Conduct Monthly Job fairs for participants
Identify potential employers to match these job interests and need specifications with SEED participants.
Work actively with SEED Job Coaches, Case Manager Supervisor and Program Manager to identify employer needs and requirements that can be incorporated by program staff to job readiness and retention planning.
Maintain and share these active lists of potential job opportunities with program staff.
Establish and maintain Transitional Job employers for SEED participants.
Establish employer partners for SEED participants for unsubsidized employment opportunities
Supervise and support job coaches in their duties:
Model and provide technical assistance and oversight to staff in job readiness and employment services
Provide guidance for managing challenges
Conduct performance reviews and guide performance improvement
Recruit, hire, and train coaches
Use data and case file reviews to assess staff performance, ensure quality of services, and modify service provision as needed to achieve the best possible outcomes for program participants
Meet with job coaches at least once a month for supervision.
Review and approve job coaches’ timesheets and days off
Facilitate team meetings
When necessary perform any and all duties performed by job coaches:
Conduct workforce one-on-ones
Develop individual action plans for participants
Learn about participants’ individual career goals and connect to appropriate training, education, and employment opportunities
Facilitate job readiness group sessions
Assists participants with creating a professional portfolio
Coach participants on making lifestyle changes to sustain successful career development initiatives.
If necessary, facilitate Cognitive Behavior Intervention sessions.
Maintain regular communications with SEED Program Manager to promptly address any obstacles faced with service provision or engagement with partner organizations
Participates in training, pilot and other special projects, committees, and studies.
Contribute to organizational culture aligned with core commitments of tackling root causes; encouraging creativity and innovation; using data for continuous improvement and to measure progress; applying an equity lens to all that we do; partnering with participants and others to co-create and achieve ambitious, shared goals; and aligning and capitalizing on our global and domestic efforts and perspectives
Model the Heartland Alliance Philosophy of Care, ensuring all partners use a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach to programming, including relentless re-engagement with participants
Model Heartland Alliance Leadership Qualities or 4Rs (Responsible, Reliable, Relational, and Respectful)
Other duties may be assigned
Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty. Qualifications below represent the knowledge and skills required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Bachelor degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
1+ 2 years of related lived and professional experience in workforce development, social work, public health, criminal justice, or related human service field;
Experience in a supervisory role overseeing workforce development, job readiness, or coaching staff a plus
Knowledge of workforce development and employment services for chronically unemployed individuals or individuals experiencing poverty
Extensive knowledge of occupations, job skills, and labor market trends, community resources and vocational services that impact participants.
Knowledge and understanding of job referral and placement procedures & funder requirements
Knowledge of local ecosystem of support service providers
Demonstrated track record exhibiting problem-solving, critical thinking and communications skills
Ability to communicate effectively and project a professional image when giving and taking information in writing, in person, and over the phone.
Unwavering commitment to quality programs and excellence in organizational effectiveness
Comfort with ambiguity; experience in a growing initiative, in a fast-paced environment
Unwavering commitment to quality programs
Ability to work with high-risk populations with complex needs
Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects and activities
Ability to work independently, initiate projects, and implement social service interventions
Ability to work accurately with close attention to detail.
Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite
Comprehensive understanding of cognitive-behavioral interventions, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care
Ability to work with co-workers, customers, and outside agencies professionally and tactfully while exhibiting a professional, businesslike appearance and demeanor. demonstrated by a professional approach that is strength-based, trauma-informed, inclusive, and grounded in human rights
Exhibit the highest level of confidentiality at all times
Individuals with criminal records/justice involvement are encouraged to apply
Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, participants, funders, and the general public.
Computer Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.
Mathematical Skills: Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables and situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Physical Demands : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position requires travel to sites across the region, including program sites, TJ placement sites, unsubsidized employer partners and other stakeholders.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
The employee is required to use hands to key, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
The employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.