Program Specialist Forwd

Employ Milwaukee•Milwaukee, WI

About The Position

Working under the direction of the FORWD Project Manager, the Program Specialist is responsible for engaging prospective FORWD participants, conducting intake, eligibility, and enrollment processes, and ensuring thorough documentation and record-keeping within the required databases and platforms. This position will primarily involve engagement with and case management for prospective and enrolled program participants, in collaboration with the FORWD Project Manager. The ideal candidate will possess an understanding of the unique barriers facing people impacted by opioid and other substance use and abuse, including long-term unemployment. The ideal candidate will be committed to compassionate, creative, and careful support for program participants to help them succeed in the FORWD program and achieve their career goals.

Requirements

Knowledge of current issues, concepts, and practices related to domestic workforce development, community economic development, urban planning, and/or public policy.
Ability to work effectively under pressure of deadlines, and within budget constraints.
Ability to work in a team environment, while also working independently.
Ability to facilitate workshops and trainings.
Knowledge of employment barriers facing urban disadvantaged youth and young adults, and of employer demand for skilled and educated workers.
Demonstrated capacity to handle multiple tasks/projects, and meet deadlines.
Excellent public relations, community organizing, negotiation, mediation, conflict management, and meeting facilitation skills.
Strong interpersonal communication skills, in both group and individual settings, including e-mail and phone. Ability to exercise tact and discretion in dealing with persons at various levels and in various job categories.
Experience with the use of a range of computer-related tools, including PowerPoint, Excel, Access and other data-management software packages, and online survey instruments.
Strong administrative and organizational skills including project management, grant administration, and reporting.
Education: Associates degree or equivalent
Experience: 3 to 5 years of work experience that involves program coordination, job training, workforce development, grant management, project management, or related field
Technology/Equipment: Experience using PC and/or Mac computers. Experience with data-entry systems, Microsoft Office products including Excel and Teams, and experience using such platforms as WEBEX and Zoom. Experience with cloud-based technology.

Nice To Haves

Education: Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Public Administration, Business Administration, Education, or related field.
Experience and/or Training: 5 to 7 years of experience that involves program coordination, job training, higher education, workforce development, grant management, project management, business development, or related field.
Licenses/Certificates: Trauma Informed Care certification and Motivational Interviewing certification preferred.
Technology/Equipment: Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Excel, social media platforms, and participant data tracking systems including Efforts to Outcomes (ETO).

Responsibilities

Contribute to development and implementation of participant recruitment strategies, including marketing, promotion, and coordination with staff and external partners.
Conduct information sessions to inform interested individuals about Employ Milwaukee programs.
Create and foster a positive, service-oriented relationship with program participants.
Identifying, arranging, and providing supportive services to ensure success, as needed.
Conduct intake and eligibility processes with prospective participants, including collecting, documenting, and recording relevant data in required databases (i.e., Efforts-to-Outcomes, ASSET).
Coordinate the delivery of services utilizing a variety of virtual platforms.
Coordinate, schedule, and attend various meetings and seminars and present as appropriate.
Assist in the preparation, review, and submission of required reports, papers, correspondence, and other documents, ensuring clarity, completeness, accuracy, and conformance with applicable policies.
Manage and monitor data collection under state and federal data collection systems and coordinate implementation of additional data collection programs such as Efforts to Outcomes (ETO).
Coordinate program worksite visits with contract monitors and serve as liaison for coordination of state and federal contract monitoring.
Recommend revisions and actions at key decision points to assist the FORWD Project Manager in meeting program and service outcomes, and contract requirements.
Other Duties as assigned.