Career Development Specialist

Global Refuge • Baltimore, MD

3d

About The Position

If you are passionate about transforming communities with a mission-driven organization, then we have the opportunity for you! Reporting to the Employer Engagement Program Coordinator the The Career Development Specialist (CDS) will serve as an advocate and support professional advancement through personalized goal planning that takes into account input from the participant regarding their current job status, skills, qualifications, and interests. The CDS will ensure that refugees have equitably access to employer sponsored and mainstream English language and job skills training opportunities by building coalitions of support in the community. Global Refuge, formerly known as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), is a nonprofit serving newcomers seeking safety, support, and a share in the American dream. Since 1939, we have welcomed those seeking refuge, upholding a legacy of compassion and grace for people in crisis. We walk alongside individuals, families, and children as they begin their new lives in the United States through our work in refugee resettlement, care for unaccompanied children, and economic empowerment and employment. Our work also extends to Guatemala and Mexico, where we help young people with skills training and community reintegration. To date, we have served over 800,000 people from around the globe. Our comprehensive services leverage our extensive organizational expertise as well as government, community, and faith partnerships. Attracting and retaining the best talent is vital to our continued growth and we are proud to offer an excellent benefits package including: medical, dental, vision available the first day of employment generous paid time off including 20 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave, 12 paid holidays 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave and up to 12 weeks of fully paid FMLA leave company 403(b) contribution of 3%, an additional 7% match which vests immediately At Global Refuge, welcoming newcomers isn't just our duty-it's an inherent part of our identity, rooted in our Lutheran heritage and inspired values and serving as a testament to our unwavering commitment to those in search of refuge. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers.

Requirements

• Ability to market refugees and immigrants as potential employees and agency services to businesses.
• Undergraduate degree in social work, social sciences, or related field; preferred.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in non-profit immigration or social services programs.
• Past experience in job development, coalition building and assisting refugees or migrants to access workforce system resources, preferred.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships and partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to make and maintain a connection with one stop career centers.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business and technical documents or instructions related to employment programs and businesses.
• Ability to contribute to reporting with accurate data about employer connections and workforce center partnerships.
• Ability to facilitate trainings and workshops with workforce staff, employers, and champions.
• Cross cultural sensitivity and knowledge with the ability and desire to work with people of other cultures.
• Ability to place clients in jobs related to their skills and experience.
• Ability to adjust clients' expectations to accept jobs that match their skills and experiences.
• Ability to work well on a team.
• Ability to track and report data regularly.
• Functional fluency in one or more foreign languages preferred.

Responsibilities

• Closely collaborate with the Employer Engagement Specialist to identify and enroll eligible clients in EEP.
• Provide a client-centered, trauma-informed culturally and linguistically appropriate EEP services to enrolled refugee participants.
• Provide individualized and goal-oriented career support and follow-up to assist clients in career advancement.
• Monitor progress towards goal and conduct assessment to identify additional training needs.
• Identify opportunities for career advancement for refugees that match the skills needed to fill workforce gaps and support access.
• Ensure participants have convenient access to English language training.
• Follow up with program participants and employers to ensure retention, address any issues, and support job upgrade opportunities.
• Coordinate with resettlement and Refugee Support Services staff, as applicable, to support program participants' progress toward self-sufficiency.
• Partner with Workforce Development Centers and train their staff on how to work with refugees and ensure refugees access vocational training opportunities (utilizing WIOA funds).
• Identify referral partners to address needs that impact program participation and self-sufficiency and make appropriate connections.
• Identify potential champions within workplaces and neighborhoods (i.e. faith leaders, neighborhood associations and community leaders) to plan and implement connection events that promote inclusivity promoting refugee integration.
• Work with LIRS and academic partner to conduct a robust evaluation.
• Maintain case files and clearly document service provision through documentation of participant eligibility, personalized training plan, assessment results, and case notes.
• Maintain relevant reports and statistics related to client activities and program services.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision available the first day of employment
• generous paid time off including 20 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave, 12 paid holidays
• 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave and up to 12 weeks of fully paid FMLA leave
• company 403(b) contribution of 3%, an additional 7% match which vests immediately

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level