Career Services Coordinator

Hours: Full-Time (40 Hours /week)

Reports to: Director of Career Services

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Location: Citywide

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Youth Justice Network (formerly known as Friends of Island Academy) was founded in 1990 on the school floors of Rikers Island to anchor, support and develop capacity among young people newly released from jail in New York City. Our mission is to break cycles of incarceration and build an equitable justice system by providing young people with individualized advocacy, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, thrive, and lead.Youth Justice Network builds on connections developed with young people whose lives have intersected with the justice system, and leverages those relationships to provide post-release, neighborhood-based supportive services. Young people become members of Youth Justice Network for the long-term and develop personal milestones and goals in the arenas of health and well-being, education, employment, youth leadership and community participation.

Position Background and Description

This role is for a committed, passionate, creative and youth-focused professional to join our Career Services team across the five boroughs. It is designed to prepare young people for work and career pathways. Through funding from DYCD, MOCJ, and private foundations the Career Services team will increase the likelihood of sustained pathways to economic independence among the justice impacted young people and fathers we meet.

Essential Responsibilities:

In collaboration with the agency leaders and colleagues, essential responsibilities are to:

Ensure the effective implementation of YJN Career Services across all five boroughs

• Facilitate workshops on Job Readiness including, interview skills, job search strategies, and professional behavior.
• Provide individual and group career counseling sessions to students and alumni
• Organize career fairs, employer panels, and networking events
• Establish and maintain relationships with employers to facilitate job and internship placements
• Track and report on employment placements
• Assist in developing marketing materials and strategies to promote career services
• Assist students with job and internship applications, including writing cover letters and preparing for interviews
• Stay updated on labor market trends and employment opportunities relevant to the student population
• Attend employer events and meetings in order to build on existing employer contacts

Ensure that target mission requirements and outcomes are achieved which include:

• Instill respect and appreciation for positive development in a strength-based environment and promote development of youth members’ intrinsic motivation;
• Refine programming and skills development to offer model practices in youth workforce development among a high risk – but highly resilient and hopeful – group of youth;
• Work hand in hand with YJN’s Data and Evaluation team to develop key data elements to inform programming and evaluate outcomes;
• Maintain accurate and complete records of project participants and activities and participant outcomes through YJN agency wide database, Efforts to Outcomes (ETO), as developed in collaboration with the MOCJ, DYCD, and other key funders;
• Submit weekly dashboards/key outcome indicators as developed, and all narrative reporting required;
• Assist Finance Department in management of Career Services Center budget;

Ensure that program services are vibrant, effective, meaningful and relevant to youth

• Recruit, identify and build employer partners City-wide to develop and grow a pool of meaningful opportunity and pathways to employment and careers;
• Develop sustainable internship opportunities both within our own organization as well as through outside companies and agencies to guide, hire, retain young people
• Promote community relations efforts Citywide, targeting businesses and economic development strategies;

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field;
• 2 years experience working with young people;
• Commitment to positive youth development and experience with strengths-based practices;
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills;
• Enjoying young people and a demonstrated ability to effectively engage with adolescents and young adults is a must.

Preferred

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with strength-based practices and youth development framework;
• Experience in a program that incorporates mentoring or being a mentor;
• Experience working with justice and/or child welfare impacted young adults
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to a supportive, and affirming environment for all youth;
• A commitment to social justice;

Youth Justice Network is privileged to have a profoundly committed and caring staff – one which believes unconditionally in our members’ ability to do right and do well. We take our work very seriously, but we strive to make time for self-care and joy.

We look for staff from all walks of life who have integrity, humor, a strong work ethic, are passionate about our mission and work, and who are committed to address the harms caused by mass incarceration.

Depending on full or part-time status, benefits include a competitive vacation/sick leave policy including three days off between Christmas and New Year's Day, 8 four-day summer weeks during July and August, health insurance, 403b match.

Salary Range: $60,000-63,000k

Target Start Date: As soon as possible

For purposes of internal equity, we are unable to go outside of the salary posted.