Position Title: Program Director - Career Connections

 

Reports to: Hopeloft Management Team

 

Location: Bridgeton, NJ

 

Overview:

Hopeloft is a nonprofit organization that invests in communities by working alongside people and projects who inspire change, advocate for social justice, and commit to meeting the immediate needs of local children and families. Our mission is to create opportunities for our communities to thrive, and replicate our model across the nation and around the globe.

For more information, please visit: www.hopeloft.com

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Position

Career Connections Program partners with high schools and child welfare agencies throughout the region to make a long-term investment in at-risk youth that have faced childhood trauma informed adversities.  The purpose of this program is to help youth aged 16-26 gain a more economically equitable future through workforce training and job placement.  The Career Connections Program is a long-term intervention and workforce readiness program for high school at-risk youth to expand job training and workforce pathways that include: 1) skills development, 2) career exploration, and 3) job readiness, and 4) certifications.  The Career Connections Programs Director will primarily focus on introducing and launching this model to regional high schools, community partners, and child welfare agencies. The Career Connections Program Director is responsible for 1) recruitment, 2) job readiness and certifications, 3) job placement, 4) liaising with community stakeholders to build capacity of business partners for placements, 4) liaising with district and community stakeholders, 5) providing case management for participating students in collaboration with the students’ social workers, attorneys, caregivers, teachers and other adults involved in the student’s cases, 6) engaging caregivers, and 7) providing fiscal responsibility over flawless execution of grant narratives, statistical reports, and any other program tracking required.

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Responsibilities and Duties:

• Participate in the development and implementation of long-term and annual strategic goals 1) recruitment, 2) assessment and curriculum, 3) job skills, 4) job placement and 5) success coaching.

• Work with the Chief Program Officer - Hopeloft and community partners to achieve strategic goals.

• Coordinate with local child welfare agencies, school districts, and community organizations to identify at-risk youth to recruit, interview, select, and retain in the careers connections programs.

• Coordinate with the local child welfare agency and attorneys to gain all permissions necessary for the students’ participation and provide local child welfare agency social workers access to the students as needed.

• Assist applicants in evaluating their vocational abilities, interests, and capacities in relating them realistically to current trends in occupational requirements and conditions.

• Interpret the results of aptitude/performance assessments to help applicants understand their vocation assets to be able to relate the results to realistic occupational objectives.

• Provide information to applicants on job requirements, occupation opportunities, training facilities, and assist them in formulating sound vocation plans.

• Select and refer applicants to training programs or work experience sites in conjunction with the applicant employability plan and monitor trainee’s progress.

• Plan, direct, and conduct group sessions for unemployed or underemployed applicants.

• Establish and maintain working relationships with community agencies to provide employability or supportive services to program participants.

• Refers applicants to other community agencies for special services.

• Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with local community training, education, rehabilitation, and social agencies to interpret the counseling program of the employment service and to gain support in assisting applicants with vocation problems.

• Provide placement services to applicants in line with vocation plans.

• Prepare reports of counseling activities containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

• Conduct periodic follow-up visits at all placement sites.

• Make eligibility determinations to ascertain applicants’ appropriateness for various programs.

• Make judgments on enrollee failure to participate.

• Provide narrative and statistical reports monthly, quarterly and annually, as needed for grant reporting, grant requests, agency publications and other similar needs.

• Meet at a minimum of bi-weekly with the Chief Program Officer – Hopeloft for full transparency of program updates including progress and challenges.

• Foster strong relationships with key stakeholders to generate program awareness and fundraising opportunities.

• Perform all additional duties assigned by the Chief Program Officer and/or Executive Director.

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Key Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or Social Work.

• 3-5 years of professional experience working with vulnerable student populations, preferably older youth and foster youth.

• Preferable prior leadership experience as a Program Director.

• Experience developing education and life skills curriculum preferred.

• Demonstrated leadership, management, and prioritization skills that accurately reflect relative importance of job responsibilities.

• Interpersonal skills to communicate and interact effectively with executive leaders, faculty, staff, students, caregivers, and community members.

• Ability to work with a diverse population including communicating with people from diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic, and educational levels.

• Effective communication in individual or large group settings, as well as from subordinate staff to senior and executive level administrators.

• Skill in working independently and following through on assignments with minimal direction.

• Willingness to work weekends and evenings.

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Salary Range: $55,000 - $60,000 annually

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Please email all resumes to: info@hopeloft.com with the subject line "Hopeloft - Career Connections Director" — thank you!