Career Development Specialist

Title

Career Development Specialist

FLSA-Classification

Non Exempt

Salary Range

$45,000

Reports to

Employer Coordinator

Location

Bronx, NY

Program

Jobs Plus 

Date

Immediate

Summary

East Side House (ESH), founded in 1891, is a 501(c) (3) organization that has served the South Bronx since 1963. The organization is dedicated to the community and focused on providing resources and opportunities. East Side House has identified that education is the foundation for economic improvement. Our youth education and technology programs teach skills to allow students and clients to become more self-sufficient and independent. As a community resource, the organization also provides services to families and a growing senior population. In 2020 the organization began food distribution as an additional way to provide economic support to the community we serve.

Jobs-Plus is a proven, place-based employment program designed to increase the earnings and employment of working-age residents in designated public housing developments or a cluster of developments. Jobs-Plus - Mill Brook Houses, is operated by East Side House Settlement and based in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the South Bronx. It offers workforce development, financial empowerment services and community building programming to over 3000 residents. With a recent 3-year contract renewal, Jobs-Plus is looking to expand on the services provided to residents since 2013. This expansion will include heightened focus on training and education as well as career advancement services.

The Career Development Specialist will work under the supervision of the Employment Coordinator. The Career Development Specialist will provide job placement and retention services onsite to Jobs Plus members in Mill Brook, Mtichel and Mott Haven Houses. These services will assist members with attaining employment, retaining positions, and advancing in their career. This role involves working closely with job seekers and working Jobs Plus members seeking career advancement opportunities.

Primary Functions

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Attain specific weekly and monthly goals of job placements and career advancements. Five placements weekly (subject to change based on business need).
• Work under the direction of the Employment Coordinator to foster strong working relationships with businesses, community-based organizations, and partner agencies to secure job openings and opportunities for members.
• Maintain ongoing contact with employers to learn of new employment needs as well as progress and challenges arising from existing placements, to share with Coordinator for follow-up.
• Provide one-on one and group counseling and job readiness workshops to members within their developments (Mitchel, Mill Brook, and Mott Haven); plan and facilitate training workshops on career-related topics including the cultivation of resumes, cover letters, letters of recommendation, application forms and other work readiness documents.
• Work with Career Coach to maintain on-going contact with, and track progress of participants after internship or job placement.
• Track members' progress and collect necessary employment documentation for uploading into funder database.
• Work as part of an interdisciplinary team with Jobs Plus and overall Workforce Development staff to provide onsite wraparound services.
• Be willing to become licensed in area of certification as required by program, and lead trainings to certify participants.
• Participate in relevant departmental meetings, training, case conferences, workshops and events.
• Facilitate onsite/virtual workshops, hiring events, and/or trainings at least twice per month
• Consistently submit weekly, monthly and/or quarterly reports as required by program, organization, and funding agents

Other Duties  

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

A successful candidate will display the following characteristics:

• Commitment to mission and goals of East Side House Settlement and Jobs-Plus.
• Knowledge of job retention and career advancement services.
• Knowledge and experience in providing career counseling services.
• Ability to work cooperatively with peers, strong communication skills.
• Strong initiative and problem-solving skills. 
• Engagement approach and counseling techniques that meet needs of diverse population.
• Openness and willingness to work in innovative program, taking a new approach to job placement services.
• Basic computer competencies in Microsoft Word, Excel, and virtual meeting platforms

Required Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred
• Bilingual Spanish preferred
• Minimum for 3-5 years of experience in business development, sales, human resources, job development, recruitment, or marketing.
• Experience working with community served by East Side House Settlement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work with a culturally diverse population
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, presentation and leadership skills. Demonstrated initiative, creativity, flexibility and follow-through
• Excellent analytical skills
• Strong computer skills and technological experience including Microsoft Office (Word, Teams, etc.) Google Suite (Google Classroom, Docs, and Sheets) and similar programs

Competencies

• Problem Solving/ Analysis
• Communication Proficiency
• Customer Service
• Public/Community Relations
• Teamwork Orientation

Expected Work Schedule

This role is a full-time position expected to generally work Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, with 1-2 late days per week (10:30a – 7:30p) and the rotation of the first Saturday of every month 10a – 3p (all employees do not work each month). Workdays/hours subject to change based on ESH's needs.

Required Clearances

COVID Vaccine – As a recipient of Federal, State, and local funds, all staff are expected to be fully vaccinated or able to obtain vaccination before their start date

Supervisory Responsibility

None.

Work Environment

Business casual. This job operates in a school office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Travel

Minimal expected for this position, within community that Jobs Plus serves, and includes Mill Brook, Mitchel, and Mott Haven Houses, and ESH Administrative Building.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to successfully perform this job's essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. This role is generally a sedentary role; however, some sorting/filing is required. Requirements include the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand on a stool as necessary. Reasonable accommodations that allow a candidate to meet the requirements of the position will be considered.