Career Coach, Business Development

JVS is a non-profit, non-sectarian agency.  Our mission is to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers, and to partner with employers to hire, develop and retain productive workforces. 

JVS provides a broad range of services including adult education, skills training, job readiness training, job placement and support, and access to post-secondary education.  JVS assists employers in their search for well-qualified job applicants and their initiatives to upgrade the skills of their incumbent workforce.  

Position Summary: Under the direction of the Manager of Business Development, the Career Coach builds, strengthens, and grows key partnerships, tracks and reports all relevant program data and outcomes, and evaluates programmatic success. The Career Coach is responsible for developing strong relationships with clients, providing high-quality career counseling, and job placement assistance to job seekers recruited and referred from our community partners. The Career Coach also sustains collaborative working relationships with a variety of employers in the greater Boston area to maintain employment opportunities for clients. This individual must have a strong knowledge of issues related to individuals with significant barriers to employment. The Career Coach is responsible for supporting colleagues across divisions as they deliver training and education programs to area employers.  The Career Coach will assist with tracking client outcomes, coaching clients, communicating with employers, interviewing and screening applicants, building marketing strategies performing outreach, and providing reports to internal and external partners including staff, employers, and funders. The Career Coach is an active member of the team, thereby equitably contributing to team performance goals and working to support the overall mission and philosophy of JVS

Essential Job Functions:

Accountability and Results-Focused: 

• Provide high-quality 1:1 employment success coaching including interview preparation, resume creating and tailoring resumes, personal branding and self-marketing strategies, and social media 
• Actively develop, engage, and maintain employer relationships 
• Develop systems to effectively identify, interview, screen, assess, and support clients seeking training and employment
• Assist job seekers in goal setting, identifying barriers, and mapping out a plan leading to job placement, skills upgrades, and career advancement 
• Effectively market participants to employers, solicit appropriate job openings, schedule interviews, solicit feedback, and confirm placements 
• Target appropriate employment opportunities based on job seeker’s experience, skills, and career goals. 
• Understand and apply knowledge of internet and social media resources for job seekers 
• Understand and apply knowledge of local and national labor market trends to assist job seekers in identifying career opportunities 
• Establish, track, and meet program dashboard indicators using database software
• Work collaboratively across JVS departments to assist in the building and implementation of cross-departmental processes for advertising training opportunities, recruiting and screening candidates, and sharing management documents
• Work collaboratively with and encourage collaboration between team members to ensure performance goals for departments are met

Build relationships, collaboration, and teamwork:

• Support and promote the mission and philosophy of JVS both internally and outside the agency 
• Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with key stakeholders (participants, employers, partner organizations, funders, etc.) 
• Work as part of a team, sharing job leads and collaborating on workshops, classes, group interviews, and any other tasks as needed
• Attend and actively participate in staff meetings and team-based projects
• Assist fellow team members when needed

Administrative/Communication:

• Demonstrates a professional demeanor with strong customer service skills 
• Communicates effectively verbally and in writing with compassion and professionalism 
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date information in all databases 
• Exercises discretion in handling confidential information 
• Support with event preparation and coordination, generating completion certificates, ceremony invitations, and programs
• Work on data validation in conjunction with IT and database team
• Create visual representations of data for marketing and reporting purposes
• Communicates regularly with Supervisor to ensure smooth delivery of services 
• Organize and maintain files and records and contribute to reports as necessary 
• Perform other duties as assigned or requested

Minimum Qualifications and Experience: 

• Associates in a related area (Employment Coaching/Career Counseling, Human Resources, Psychology, Social Work, or Education) or 5+ years of related experience. Bachelor's degree preferred, not required.
• 1-3 years of experience in workforce development or related field desired
• 1-3 years of experience in working with individuals with barriers to employment strongly desired 
• Demonstrated experience creating and maintaining professional business relationships relevant to employment of others preferred 
• Bilingual/Working proficiency in English & Spanish or Haitian Creole preferred, not required
• Knowledge of community resources and web-based job search resources and techniques desired
• Experience working with homeless, immigrant and/or at-risk families highly preferred 
• Experience in recruitment, and job development desired 
• Outstanding interpersonal, customer service, and organizational skills required 
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment required 
• Strong Microsoft Office 365 Suite skills required, especially in MS Teams, MS Outlook, MS Word, and MS PPT, MS SharePoint
• Salesforce knowledge desired, not required

Key Competencies: 

• Demonstrated expertise in producing professional-level resumes 
• Proficiency in designing/adapting and presenting workshops and group programs on career-related topics 
• Employer engagement/relationship -building 
• Tracking program progress and reporting 
• Accountability and Results-focused 
• Adapting to Change 
• Building Relationships, Collaboration, and Teamwork 
• Cultural Competency and Respect 
• Communication Skills 
• Initiative 
• Planning/Organizing 
• Agency Promotion 

JOB COMPETENCIES:

• Demonstrated expertise in producing professional-level resumes
• Proficiency in designing/adapting and presenting workshops and group programs on career-related topics
• Employer engagement/relationship-building
• Tracking program progress and reporting

JVS CULTURE:  JVS is strongly committed to diversity and a workplace environment that respects, appreciates, and values employee differences and similarities.  By providing and supporting a work culture that fosters and builds upon diversity and its strengths, JVS will better serve our local communities and continue to provide quality services.

JVS is an employment at-will organization and an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.   Additionally, JVS prohibits retaliation against an applicant or employee because he or she has engaged in protected activity under the statutes prohibiting discrimination in the workplace.