Position: Career Coach, Coaching for Advancement, Refugee Services

JVS is a non-profit, non-sectarian agency. Our mission is to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers and to partner with employers to hire, develop, and retain productive workforces.

JVS provides a broad range of services, including adult education, skills training, job readiness training, job placement and support, and access to post-secondary education. JVS assists employers in their search for well-qualified job applicants and their initiatives to upgrade the skills of their incumbent workforce.

Position Summary: The Career Coach is responsible for providing high-quality career counseling to immigrants and refugees to connect them to jobs, training, or education, leading to skills upgrades and career advancement. The Career Coach develops strong job leads and initiates and sustains collaborative working relationships with a variety of local partners for participants’ employment, education, and training opportunities. This individual must have a strong knowledge about issues related to individuals with barriers to employment as well as experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.

Essential Job Functions:

Accountability and Results-Focused:

• Enroll new participants via outreach and frequent communication with other JVS departments, referral agencies, and community partners

• Assist program participants in initial goal setting, career planning, and training leading to job placement, skills upgrades, and career advancement

• Assist program participants in individual or group settings in job search-related activities; provide job readiness and vocational training as needed

• Escort participants to job interviews and facilitate interview and hiring process, as needed

• Actively develop new and maintain existing employer, training, and educational partners

• Provide post-placement services, including follow-up with participant and employer

• Establish, track, and meet program dashboard indicators (enrollments, placements, retention, etc.)

Build Relationships, Collaboration and Teamwork:

• Support and promote the mission and philosophy of JVS both internally and outside the agency

• Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders (e.g. participants, employers, partner organizations, funders, interns, etc.)

• Work collaboratively with team members and partners to ensure program goals are met

• Attend and actively participate in staff meetings and team-based projects

• Assist fellow team members when needed

Administrative/Communication:

• Organize and maintain files and records

• Communicate regularly with the Supervisor to ensure the smooth delivery of services

• Contribute to summary reports for employers, funders, JVS leadership, and other stakeholders

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date information in all databases

• Perform other duties as assigned or requested

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• Associate Degree in Human Services, Business Administration, or related field required

• 1-3 years of experience in workforce development or related field required

• 1-3 years of experience working with individuals with barriers to employment strongly desired

• Experience in marketing and outreach desired

• Bilingual or additional language proficiency preferred, especially in languages spoken by refugee and immigrant participants (i.e., Arabic, Dari, French, Haitian Creole, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Swahili, Ukrainian)

• Familiarity with career ladders, professional advancement, and training and educational resources preferred.

• Knowledge of refugee and immigrant services, community resources, and web-based resources preferred

• Strong Microsoft Office Suite / Microsoft 365 skills required

Working Conditions: Frequent meetings with clients, partners, and colleagues. The incumbent will attend occasional off-site conferences with partner organizations in and around the greater Boston area, and travel by public transit to employer locations. Service delivery is currently hybrid (in-person at JVS offices and remotely online) and is subject to change. You must have the ability to work in-person at JVS offices as needed weekly is required.

Key Competencies:

• Job Development/ Partner relationship building

• Job Placement / Career and economic advancement

• Removing Barriers to Employment

• Tracking client progress and reporting

• Collaboration across departments and agencies

• Accountability and Results focused

• Adapting to Change

• Building Relationships, Collaboration, and Teamwork

• Cultural Competency and Respect

• Communication Skills

• Initiative

• Planning/Organizing

• Promotes Agency

JVS Culture: JVS is strongly committed to diversity and a workplace environment that respects, appreciates, and values employee differences and similarities. By providing and supporting a work culture that fosters and builds upon diversity and its strengths, JVS will better serve our local communities and continue to provide quality services. JVS is an employment at-will organization and an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.