Type:          Exempt, Full time

Supervisor:  Director of Youth and Alumni Services

Location:    430 Rindge Avenue Suite #202, Cambridge, MA 02140

Salary Range: $60,000-$70,000 annually

POSITION SUMMARY:

Are you passionate about working with opportunity youth ages 16-24 to increase their access to career and post-secondary educational (PSE) pathways? Do you enjoy learning about new and growing occupations and programs that help young people achieve their career goals? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you could be our next Career and PSE Specialist!

The Career and Post-Secondary Education Specialist role sits on the Youth Programs team which is one of two workforce development programs in Just A Start’s Education and Training department. Join our team of passionate youth workers committed to wrap-around supportive services, education, leadership training, and workforce development. The Career and Post-Secondary Education Specialist serves participants in the YouthBuild program as well as Solar Start, our new training program for young adults preparing to enter careers in solar installation and beyond. From job/college application support, partner cultivation, to placement readiness skill building workshops, this is an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurial workforce development and youth development professionals.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:

Just A Start is a community development corporation dedicated to promoting equity by creating access to stable housing and building pathways to economic opportunity. We build and preserve affordable housing, offer education and workforce training, and provide housing resources and services to low-to moderate-income people in Cambridge and nearby communities. Founded in 1968 as a teen summer jobs program, Just A Start has a long history of serving young people in Cambridge. YouthBuild Just A Start is a full-time, comprehensive youth workforce development program for ages 16-24 in the Boston Metro North region. Our program is one of 11 independently operated YouthBuild programs and members of the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition. As a proud affiliated member of the global YouthBuild movement, we help young people reclaim their education, gain job skills, and become community leaders. We define students by their potential, not their challenges, offering mentorship, counseling, and support. Utilizing positive youth development and trauma-informed practices, we provide wrap-around services and academic and career training to out of school youth. 

As part of Just A Start’s 5 year strategic plan, the Youth Programs team has embarked upon a journey to explore, improve, test, and implement new supportive services and workforce training. The Career and PSE Specialist will not only advise and support placement of participants, they will also design and facilitate career and college readiness workshops, manage and develop partner relationships that lead to college campus tours, job fairs, and placement in jobs or post secondary education. The Career and PSE Specialist  is a central figure in all Youth Programming and is seated within the Supportive Services team which includes Case Management, Academics, and Leadership Development. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

1. Employment and Post Secondary Education Exploration and Placement

• Deliver high quality 1:1 career and PSE coaching and advising to a portfolio of 60+ trainees and graduates across our YouthBuild and Solar Start programs.
• Support trainees with developing durable skills that lead to job and PSE success and retention through 1:1 coaching, group/workshop skill building, and hands-on activities.
• Empower trainees with the skills and knowledge needed to write their own resumes, FAFSA/college prep, online job board fluency, and build skill, certification/credential inventories that connect to individual goals.
• Secure trainee and graduate placements in jobs and PSE that meet or exceed funder contractual obligations while communicating with Case Managers to coordinate services and retention.
• Develop and facilitate Life Skills workshops that teach career/PSE readiness skills including workplace professionalism, communication, and reliability, in collaboration with the Director of Youth and Alumni Services.
• Design, curate and implement group and participant-centered experiences that help trainees explore new career and PSE pathways (e.g. annual career/PSE fair, job shadowing, worksite tours; and guest speakers, etc.). 
• Strengthen relationships and build partnerships with the trades, unions and registered apprenticeships that lead to MOUs and tangible opportunities for trainees.
• Work closely with Case Managers to develop achievable student success plans, goal-setting and supportive services plans.
• Coordinate and communicate with all Youth Programs teams (e.g. Academics, Construction, Retail Entrepreneurship, Case Management, and Operations) to deliver integrated services. 
• Organize and document placement outcomes, activities, and certifications on our CRM (Salesforce), digital servers and funder quarterly reports.

2. Pathway Research and Development; and Partnership Management

• Leverage regional and national labor market information (LMI), ONet, state workforce boards, and other workforce development tools to guide occupational research and student placement.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with employers, post-secondary education institutions, local government, and other workforce training pathway partners to support career/PSE activities, exposure, skill building and placement opportunities for trainees.
• Maintain a database and pathway map that supports, educates, and connects trainees with the skills, certifications/credentials to meet their professional goals.
• Stay informed and educated about emerging workforce occupations, industries, certifications and credentials by attending workforce development related events and conferences, and sharing promising pathways and practices with staff.
• Collaborate with other workforce development staff across Just A Start to deliver continuity of services and pathways that support the organization with its shared strategic plan goals.

QUALIFICATIONS / KEYS TO SUCCESS:

• 3-5 years of related post-secondary education, workforce development, and/or experience working with opportunity youth (ages 16-24).
• Past experience developing and/or facilitating workshops is desired. 
• Demonstrated ability to deliver strengths-based and trauma-informed services.
• Builds trusting relationships through empathy, humility, and emotional awareness.
• Can effectively prioritize and plan projects and workstreams independently and collaboratively.
• Growth-mindset, patience, and understanding of the evergreen nature of youth needs and goals.
• Strong verbal and written communicator who is capable of managing up, down and across the department and organization to deliver quality and integrated services.
• Familiarity with Google Workspace, Box, Zoom, and Salesforce (or other CRM) preferred. Willingness to learn these tools is required.
• Ability to occasionally work hours outside of Monday through Friday (8:00 AM - 4:00 PM).
• A driver’s license is preferred (although not required) for class trips and outreach activities.
• Acceptable CORI/SORI.

We know that no individual candidate will possess every skill or experience listed above. Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all qualifications. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement. If you’re excited about this role and our mission, we want to hear from you!

TO APPLY / WHAT TO EXPECT:

Please submit a resume in order to be considered for the role. In lieu of a cover letter you will be asked to respond to a prompt question during the application process. 

Qualified candidates may expect the following interview process:

• 45-60 minute Zoom interview with the hiring manager
• 60 minute in-person interview with program directors and trainees

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Starting annual salary $60,000 - $70,000. In addition to a competitive salary, Just A Start offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, Paid Time Off, Volunteer Time Off, 13 paid holidays and a 401(k) retirement plan with a 3% employer contribution. Just A Start YouthBuild employees receive a minimum of $500 per year for professional/leadership development activities. In addition, Just A Start has implemented a “Find Your Joy Fridays” benefit that allows full-time employees to leave work at 2:00 pm on Fridays. 

Just A Start is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Our staff represents a wide range of ages, races, interests, and backgrounds coming together in pursuit of common goals.  We value diversity and work together to create an inclusive culture where people from all backgrounds can thrive and belong.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics or any other characteristic protected by law.

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. Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.