Education and Employment Specialist

Education and Employment  Specialist 

HopeWell

ABOUT THE JOB  

My First Place is an education and employment program developed nearly two decades ago by First  Place for Youth. Envisioning a future where the disparities between foster care-involved youth and  their non-foster peers have been eliminated, the My First Place program is expanding to communities  across the country, starting with HopeWell’s implementation in Boston. Through My First Place, youth  receive stable, safe and affordable housing, community-based case management, and individualized  education and employment support. A team of staff including a Youth Advocate, an Education and  Employment Specialist, and a Housing Specialist, support a youth in working towards healthy living,  education, employment, and housing goals set by the youth. HopeWell began serving youth through  My First Place in February of 2018 and the program is steadily expanding. This is an exciting  opportunity to join a growing and engaged team to serve transition age youth comprehensively. 

The Education and Employment Specialist is a dynamic, collaborative and results-oriented service  provider who will partner with 18-24-year-old transition-age foster care-involved youth to support  them in their path to independence. This position requires a professional whose passion for  HopeWell’s vision is matched with sound judgment in the face of complex challenges, and a proven  track record of successfully supporting transition age youth. 

The Education and Employment Specialist provides targeted employment and education coaching to  support youth in achieving their education and employment goals. The Specialist is active in  developing, supporting and implementing an individualized, strength -based, culturally competent,  youth-centered approach. This individual must understand what it takes to support youth skill  development, be knowledgeable about resources to secure and retain employment, and have a solid  understanding of traditional school, post-secondary, and alternative education systems. Successful  Education and Employment Specialists understand how to partner with young adults in support of  achieving their goals. The Specialist works closely with the Youth Advocate position to coordinate  targeted supports for individual youth. This individual must be comfortable working independently and  directly with youth in the program and make sound decisions in partnership with youth. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Develop a partnership strategy with each youth. Provide direct support, coaching, mentoring  and intervention to increase youth self-sufficiency and goal attainment.  

• Meet with youth regularly to assess educational and employment status and interest; support  youth with exploring careers of interest and identifying, enrolling in and pursuing degree  programs, vocational programs, and stackable vocational certifications.  

• Work collaboratively with other My First Place staff and community providers to ensure  seamless and effective service delivery. Ensure continuous information sharing and  communication. 

• Establish and maintain external collaborations with individuals, businesses, agencies, and  institutions to identify education and employment opportunities for young adults and create  warm handoffs and ongoing collaborations where possible.

• Teach classes and workshops related to career education, job seeking skills and other pre employment related classes, resumes, development and interviewing skills. 

• Complete documentation including but not limited to initial and regular assessments, Care and  Services plans, needs assessments, and progress notes.  

• Attend required team meetings and trainings.  

QUALIFICATIONS 

The ideal candidate will possess: 

• Bachelor’s degree in social service field. 

• Experience working with transition age youth with complex presentations including chronic  trauma preferred 

• Two years of experience working with youth in career development and job placement  capacities 

• Excellent knowledge of education and employment resources for youth in the local area 

• Must be comfortable working in community settings 

• High level of personal accountability for the quality and impact of work  

• Excellent communication skills, professional demeanor, sound judgment, and strong  organizational skills 

• A high level of professionalism in work and interpersonal interactions with both internal and  external contacts 

• Strongly prefer a candidate that will have a demonstrated understanding of and competence in  serving culturally diverse populations 

• Willingness to work collaboratively, but with the capacity to work independently

• Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

• Daily access to an automobile is required. 

• A valid MA State Driver’s License. 

• Clearing of background checks as required by state and federal law. 

• Remain current in all DCF required trainings. 

WORKPLACE CULTURE AND BENEFITS 

HopeWell has an unparalleled work culture, with an emphasis on diversity, belonging, inclusion,  equity, and holistic wellness. At HopeWell, each team member is called to uphold and live daily the  values of empathy, strength, learning, and integrity. HopeWell is an environment where we laugh and  smile while handling serious, life-changing work. 

HopeWell offers a comprehensive total rewards package that values employee wellness, work-life  balance, and continuous learning. Benefits include student loan pay-down assistance, tuition  reimbursement, funding for professional development, as well as a full suite of healthcare benefits,  and generous paid-time-off. 

Disclaimer Statement: In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, military status, veteran status, or genetic information. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.