Workforce Development Skill Up Coordinator $27.57 - $29.26/hr in Northampton

The Skill Up Coordinator provides program leadership including staff training, supervision, completion of data reporting, payment processing, and program oversight for a program providing Career Navigation to Department of Youth Services youth throughout the 4 counties of western Massachusetts. The Skill-Up Coordinator supervises four Career Navigators. The Skill-Up Coordinator develops, coordinates and implements activities to support job readiness, develops internship sites within the community to provide youth with real world work experience, supports staff supporting youth in career exploration, and employment using trauma informed care and Positive Youth Development approaches. Track, monitor, and report program outcomes. Develop processes for ongoing quality improvement of program implementation.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide training and supervision for Career Navigators to develop caring, respectful, and professional relationships with participants, including supporting career exploration, employment and building skills necessary for job success.
• Maintain systems and policies consistently and accurately to track youth and internship site paperwork, program reporting, participant files, and program progress. Document and keep staff informed of program guidelines, procedures, and best practices.
• Initiate and maintain ongoing contact with a variety of business and industry representatives and job placement/training agencies to promote internship opportunities.
• Serve as a backup for Career Navigators for vacations, illnesses and leaves.
• Support staff using trauma informed care and Positive Youth Development approaches.
• Monitor program progress to improve job performance and gain necessary job skills. Maintains contact with employers during the participants' internships and employment. Tracks participant activity and progress data. Monitor outcomes. Complete program data entry and reports as required.
• Identify problems/barriers that hinder employability, assist job seekers in resolving, and mitigating barriers to employment by identifying the need for other services.
• Support participants regarding supportive services; input records into staffing software and grant reporting spreadsheets in a timely manner in compliance with grant requirements.
• Act as a liaison between multiple collaterals providing youth services. Regularly attend case conference meetings, and team meetings.
• Represent the Skill Up Program and the Department at community collaborations, boards and committees, as assigned.
• Supervise the departmental programs and personnel in compliance with agency policies and procedures.
• Assist in the preparation of grant reports, applications, and proposals, as assigned.
• Required to work some evenings and weekends; flexible schedule required at times.
• Facilitate and attend staff meetings, supervision, and other meetings, as required.
• Select, train/orient, and supervise a team of staff across multiple office locations, including hybrid remote work.
• Inspire and motivate others to achieve increasing levels of performance excellence.
• Take an active leadership role in valuing and promoting different perspectives, opinions, and approaches; supervise the program and personnel in compliance with agency policies and procedures.
• Evaluate team members’ job performance and recommend compensation, promotions, and disciplinary actions.
• Occasional remote work is available, complying with the agency’s policy.
• Required to travel regularly throughout the service area and occasionally out of the service area.
• Attend regularly scheduled supervision meetings, department-wide and leadership team meetings, mandatory agency trainings, and participate in professional development activities.
• Maintain the strictest confidentiality.
• Perform related work as required.

This does not cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may be adjusted to meet the operational needs of the agency.

Qualifications/Skills

• Proficient computer skills: using a mouse, email, Microsoft office, including knowledge of MS Word, Excel and email/internet platforms.
• Excellent verbal (in-person and phone), written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Conflict resolution, problem-solving, establishing priorities, navigating change.
• Customer service skills.
• Judgement and decision-making.
• Ability to adapt to communication and presentation to meet the needs of the audience, including a wide variety of employers, social service providers, and participants.
• Understanding data capture and tracking methods.
• Promote equity by deconstructing barriers to a racially just system. Cultivate work environments that value truth-telling, courage, vulnerability, space to think and reflect, community-mindedness, hope, and openness to difficult conversations.

Key Knowledge and Experience

• Experience in delivering case management and workforce development, serving individuals with barriers to employment.
• Experience working with court involved individuals. Supervisory or program coordination experience related to youth work or human services.
• Knowledge of adolescent brain development, including issues affecting diverse youth from families with lower incomes facing employability barriers.
• Knowledge of social services and businesses in Franklin County, Hampshire County, Hampden County, and the North Quabbin region preferred.
• Knowledge of area recovery resources and service providers.
• Experience with data management, data capture, tracking methods and analysis for outcome measurements.
• Development of effective, professional, supportive relationships with individuals in recovery and with other barriers to employment.
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish preferred.

To Qualify

• 4 years of related experience.
• 1 year of supervisory experience.
• Reliable transportation, Valid Driver’s License, and ability to travel throughout Western Massachusetts.
• CPR/First Aid (or must be obtained within three months of hire).

We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role. We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying. Please be clear and specific in application materials how your background, lived experience, and transferable skills are relevant to this position.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Requires sitting for long periods.
• Requires frequent driving to and from meetings and employer sites.
• Working in an office environment.
• Some bending and stretching are required.
• Extensive use of telephones is required.
• Manual dexterity required for use of calculator and computer keyboard.
• Must be able to lift from 20 – 30 lbs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The work environment includes indoor office environments or comparable spaces, and community spaces, with occasional exposure to outdoor weather when traveling to outreach or meeting sites. The noise level varies by site.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of Criminal Offender Record check (C.O.R.I.) prior to hire and every three years. Evidence of a good driving record and ability to be covered under Community Action’s non-owned and hired vehicle policy.