Career and Employment Coordinator

Job Title – Career and Employment Coordinator

Reports to – TAY E2 Program Manager

Status – Full-time, Non-exempt

Organization Overview

United Friends of the Children empowers current and former foster/justice involved youth on their journey to self-sufficiency through service-enriched programs, advocacy, and consistent relationships with a community of people who care.

Founded over 40 years ago, United Friends’ is a leading provider of youth development services to current and former foster youth in Los Angeles County. Through its housing and education programs, the organization has helped thousands of young people imagine and actualize their own dreams and futures. United Friends’ programs focus on commitment, trauma-informed care, and empowerment by prioritizing a whole-person-development approach. Through a Social Justice Positive Youth Development (SJPYD) model, we center building relationships with youth over an extended period to achieve greater outcomes. Around those relationships, United Friends wraps an array of supportive services to help youth successfully transition to adulthood. As a result of services, United Friends alumni have greater housing and economic stability, higher educational attainment and a stronger sense of community and emotional wellbeing.

Position Overview

Starting as early as middle school and following students through college graduation, UFC’s Education Program forges trusting relationships with youth as they navigate some of life's most pivotal moments. The Education Program is committed to helping youth develop their personal growth, employment/college readiness skills, and support access to various opportunities. By building relationships with youth over an extended period, youth are aware of and receive myriad resources and supportive services offered by the program.

Reporting to the Program Manager of the Transitional Age Youth Empowerment in Education team (T.A.Y. E2), the Career and Employment Coordinator will be responsible for increasing youth access to meaningful employment by providing workforce readiness services. The coordinator will lead career and employment readiness workshops. The coordinator will also develop tools and services that will help youth identify career interests, develop resumes, prepare for job interviews, conduct job searches, etc. In addition, they will identify resources to support the creation and the development of strategic external relationships that will support youth employment.

The ideal candidate will have a keen understanding of best practice service models, such as trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and social justice positive youth development. Specific knowledge related to foster youth, transitional aged youth, and or, workforce development and readiness are a plus.

United Friends currently implements a hybrid work environment – schedule is determined at the discretion of management and the needs of the program and/or agency. This position will work full-time hours, Monday-Friday and on weekends and evenings as necessary. United Friends’ downtown office will serve as a hybrid work location to the Career and Employment Coordinator for administrative and meeting purposes (as specified). Travel between United Friends’ Los Angeles office and other sites across Los Angeles County is required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Community Engagement

• Network and collaborate with other providers to increase the pool of resources for workforce development opportunities.
• Coordinate and plan events to increase exposure to employment and internship opportunities (e.g. UFC’s Annual Career Day Event and Caruso Foundation Event, etc.)
• In partnership with Counselors, build and maintain meaningful relationships with youth; promote personal growth, independence, responsibility, and accountability and inspire individuals to reach their full potential.
• Develop partnerships with local businesses and organizations to create employer partner opportunities.

Workforce Development Support

• Create and facilitate workshops to provide guidance on various required life skills topics, such as resume building, developing a cover letter, preparing for job interviews, salary negotiations, professionalism, etc.
• Assist in the development and administration of assessments to measure the effectiveness of the workshops and one-on-one workforce readiness services provided.
• Develop workforce readiness tools such as one-pagers, workbooks, and forms.
• Provide youth with services and referrals to increase the awareness of vocational training programs, job postings, internships, etc.
• Oversee a rotating caseload of youth who need support in obtaining employment or need specialized support in developing workforce readiness skills.
• Complete site visits at job placements to evaluate youth’s performance and provide feedback

Administrative Support and Reporting

• Complete weekly case notes
• Submit monthly outcome reports as requested
• Design and facilitate periodic workforce readiness trainings for education counselors, ensuring they are equipped with tools and best practices in areas such as resume development, interview preparation, and job search strategies to effectively support the career success of foster youth.
• Provide logistical support for TAY E2 workshops such as the booking of venues, purchase of materials, setup, breakdown, etc.

Other

• Other duties as assigned.

General United Friends Responsibilities

• Act as a role model within the organization to uphold and implement United Friends’ organizational values:
• Embrace program evaluation that leads to excellence and impact.
• Build effective and empowering partnerships with the youth, community, and each other.
• Create a fun and exciting environment that inspires learning and innovation.
• Communicate openly, honestly and with humility across all groups.
• Work together as one organization.

• Staff hold a commitment to:
• A culturally responsive Trauma-Informed Approach to our population and client centered advocacy
• Strong knowledge of the communities served and centralize this cultural understanding into the work.
• Support in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)
• Evaluating the completeness, accuracy and relevance of data to determine information value and improve client services.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, psychology or related field preferred. Related work or lived experience will be strongly considered in place of or in addition to a bachelor's degree.
• 2+ years of experience in job development, employer recruitment, and/or managing relationships with employer partners
• 2+ year of experience working directly with vulnerable populations to provide workforce development and education services
• Experience working with vulnerable populations
• Establishes and cultivates respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
• Activates network to produce results that benefit program participants
• Demonstrated experience engaging groups and individuals in effective learning activities
• Works collaboratively and cooperatively as a member of a multi-disciplinary service team
• Works responsibly with sensitive and confidential information
• Balances multiple competing priorities with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Holds self-accountable, sets high expectations for self and others, works independently and collaboratively
• Conveys thoughts and ideas clearly, listens well, communicates in a solution-oriented manner, and incorporates others’ views into work
• Trauma-informed and client-centered advocacy
• Understand the communities served and centralize this cultural understanding into the work
• Passionate about United Friends’ mission
• Must have valid California Driver’s License and an insured and reliable vehicle

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in a related field
• An understanding and sensitivity to issues concerning former foster care youth
• Knowledge of the TAY resource landscape in Los Angeles County
• Knowledge of Positive Youth Development