Workforce Development Specialist - San Jose

New Door Ventures • San Jose, CA

1d • $63,000 - $65,920 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Workforce Development Specialist provides advocacy, supportive services, job readiness coaching, and life skills development for New Door Youth. Advocates support and supervise participants in job-training internships, serving as a key link between youth and site partners to ensure they have the resources and support needed to succeed in their roles. Additionally, Workforce Specialists will partner with New Door's Transition Services team to connect individuals interested in sector- and/or career-based employment. Our research-based program aligns with known predictive milestones for economic mobility: creating enabling conditions (e.g., establishing safe and trusting relationships), building assets (e.g., resume and interview skills), and promoting agency (e.g., goal setting). Workforce Specialists work closely with Instructors and other team members to provide a wholly integrated experience for program participants. The Workforce Development Specialist implements a holistic, trauma-informed approach to supporting youth in workforce readiness. This role focuses on guiding participants in practicing and applying essential soft skills for employment, completing internships, and successfully transitioning into long-term, paid job opportunities. A current Workforce Development Specialist described their work and role as: "What I like about my job at NDV is the work that we do, the program structure and design is something that I wish were around when I was that age. Opening the door for young people to not just gain work experience but also build connections that help them grow both in their professional and personal lives. A second thing that I love about my job at NDV is discovering new resources, orgs, or companies within my local community that help not just our youth but also the larger community."

Requirements

• The equivalent of, or a Bachelor's degree (or higher) in a related field
• 1-3 years of experience in vocational training for transition-age youth, adult education, or similar settings, including direct service to transition-age youth, disconnected youth populations, preferably in a youth employment program
• Demonstrated success as a Workforce Specialist or a similar role
• Superior youth engagement and relationship management skills
• Demonstrated excellence in youth development principles and practices
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Attention to detail, strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently, be nimble and dependable, and demonstrate initiative
• Knowledge of San Jose transition-age youth needs and resources, especially for historically oppressed people, including those experiencing poverty, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals
• Ability to use appropriate computer and reporting systems, including Windows operating system, Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom (Apricot or Salesforce knowledge a plus)

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual language capabilities, preferably Spanish

Responsibilities

• Instruction and facilitation (30%)
• Conduct high-impact Job Readiness Workshops in various topic areas, including but not limited to positive communication and conflict management techniques, goal setting towards career advancement, digital literacy, job application process, resumes and cover letters, interviewing skills, and job retention techniques using various instructional methods
• Create and maintain a positive, highly interactive, respectful, and participatory learning environment
• Collaborate with the curriculum team to plan, recommend, and develop new or improved activities and ensure high-quality service to all participants in the program
• Identify and seek out guest speakers to facilitate additional workshops, career panels, etc.
• Analyze clients' learning styles and develop course plans accordingly
• Serve on internal task groups and committees as requested
• Internship Support (30%)
• Ensure participants are supported and advocated for during their internship experience
• Provide consistent communication with the employment worksite partner and Business Partnerships team in a collaborative and solutions-focused approach
• Empower participants to learn the skills they need to be actively engaged at their internship site, and help problem-solve and develop the soft skills to remain employed
• Supportive Services and Post-program Goals (20%)
• Provide individual supportive services to participants and coordinate with external providers to meet youth needs, such as housing support, cash benefits, mental health services, legal support, etc.
• Support youth in the development and attainment of post-program employment and education goals
• Connect participants with other resources to support them in the job market as well as youth pursuing vocational and career development interests
• Monitor youth program performance and consistently evaluate efforts. Use New Door's online case management system (Apricot) effectively to record client work
• Outreach & Recruitment Intake Assessments (20%)
• Support program intake process to help ensure that youth participants meet enrollment criteria and target population goals
• Conduct community outreach to recruit new program participants.
• Complete special projects and assist with special events (youth outreach events, program graduation, etc.)
• Attend outreach and community events to increase New Door's visibility in the community

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision, mental health, and commuter benefits
• FSA plan
• a matched 403(b) retirement savings plan
• tuition support
• annual individual PD budget
• PTO of 8+ weeks in the first year including 13 vacation days, ~10 sick days, 13.5 company holidays, and an annual year-end rest (typically the week of January 1st).

What This Job Offers

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