Career Development Specialist

HACLA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan

Paid time off (PTO)

Flexible work schedules

Job summary

HACLA is seeking a Career Development Specialist to organize and supervise career development, outreach and job placement activities for Nickerson Gardens residents in Watts, Los Angeles.

The role collaborates with on‑site staff and employers to ensure progress, with emphasis on community supports, financial literacy and continuing education to promote employment ladders and self‑employment opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field such as social work, business, sociology or psychology.
• At least four years of job development, recruitment and employer relations experience.
• Experience serving low‑income or system‑involved youth and adults preferred.
• Spanish language ability is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Organize, develop and supervise career development and job placement activities.
• Coordinate with on‑site staff to report progress and advertise opportunities.
• Build relationships with employers to create job placements.
• Plan and run weekly pre‑employment readiness workshops and job fairs.
• Develop materials and media strategy for employer recruitment.
• Maintain employment statistics and related client records.

Skills

Job development

Employer relations

Recruitment

Community outreach

Spanish desirable

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work, business, sociology or psychology

Tools

LinkedIn

Gmail

Job description

Special Note: This Career Development Specialist position is a single incumbent, limited term position funded by the Jobs Plus Grant. The funding of the grant is anticipated to end in 2030. The posted salary is an estimate of the potential annual pay. Final offer will be dependent on qualifications and experience. Anticipated Hiring Pay Scale: Candidates will start at step one of an eight step salary range unless there are special exceptions in accordance with agency Personnel Rules.

PROGRAM SUMMARY Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Jobs Plus Initiative empowers residents of Nickerson Gardens with employment‑related services, supportive services and community supports for work via a Community Coaching model to assist with navigating the bureaucracies of accessing services and assistance with life management. Nickerson Gardens is the largest Public Housing Development west of the Mississippi River and is located in the community of Watts which is in South Los Angeles. Nickerson Gardens is a 68.6 acre‑site with 1,066 units of which 3,146 are residents. Approximately 71% live at or below the poverty line including those who are working. The Jobs Plus grant is a 54‑month grant (beginning in Aug. 2019) intended to solely focus on the residents of Nickerson Gardens and includes financial incentives to work as part of the program model. In addition, Jobs Plus builds upon other investments occurring in Watts which includes the Watts/Los Angeles America's Jobs Center of California (AJCC), which provides vocational services and job placement, the Transforming Climate Communities grant which is a State grant designed to address the most impacted communities affected by pollution to determine goals, strategies and projects to enact transformational change for the betterment of environmental, educational, health, and housing initiatives and the Jordan Downs redevelopment. All of these investments are led by HACLA in collaboration with other partners.

Characteristics of the Class: Under general supervision of the Jobs Plus Program Manager, the Jobs Plus Career Development Specialist will be responsible for performing career development activities for residents of the Nickerson Gardens Public Housing Development. The incumbent will work alongside with on‑site staff to carry out the goals of Individual Employment Plans all while ensuring active communication with Job Training providers and employers to monitor client progress. Additionally, the incumbent in the position will coordinate with Community Coaches on outreach and engagement activities and work with the Jobs Plus Program Manager on collaborative opportunities for Nickerson Gardens residents with other Watts‑wide initiatives, including coordinating with the Watts/Los Angeles WorkSource Center. Special emphasis is placed on career development activities and the implementation of community support for work at the beginning, during and post-employment so that clients and employers have access to the resources necessary to ensure success in the workplace; this includes but is not limited to providing access to ongoing financial literacy, family supports, continued education, small business grants/loans and acting as a recruiter and facilitator between employers and Jobs Plus clients.

Examples Of Essential Functions

• Organize, develop and supervise career development, outreach and job placement activities, including but not limited to on-the-job training, skill-specific training, permanent and/or part-time job placements for Nickerson Gardens residents' youths and adults.
• Participate in staff, collaborative and resident site-meetings to report out on progress and to advertise job opportunities.
• Collaborate with on‑site staff in presentations and recruitments.
• Build positive rapport and relationships with employers in an effort to develop client work sites for employment placement and to hire residents.
• Plan, organize and schedule weekly pre‑employment readiness workshops, employer roundtables, business start‑up classes and innovate and coordinate additional services or programs that support career advancement and self-employment.
• Coordinate employment recruitments and sector specific education workshops, including the planning and organizing of Job Fairs/Community Resource Fairs on‑site and attending other collaborative events as needed.
• Develop all necessary materials and media strategy for employer recruitment and develop employer networks.
• Link clients to employers and manage client/employer relationship to ensure positive results.
• Coordinate with Life Coaches and other program staff to address client issues as they arise, jointly develop and implement solutions, with incumbent leading any solutions that involve the employers directly.
• Assist clients with access to professional organizations and other formal organizations to assist with their personal growth and career development.
• Assist clients with the development of a professional electronic presence via LinkedIn, Gmail, social media and/or other e‑platforms.
• Link clients with professional mentors and other employment e‑tools to assist with facilitation of job searches and networking.
• Plan unique engagements and oversee Job Club activities in collaboration with Community Coaches to promote a culture that celebrates success and supports employment ladders and a wide range of employment; including self‑employment, contract employment or small business start‑up.
• Assist the Jobs Plus Program Manager with coordination of events and activities to promote the program.
• Maintain employment statistics and metrics.
• Maintain related client records and all other data metrics required by program and prepare reports related to the status of caseload and all outreach and employer activities.
• Prepare reports related to the status of the Nickerson Gardens community and the public.
• Collaborate with Youth Employment recruitment at Nickerson Gardens and the development of youth training and internship programs in sector‑specific industries.

Minimum Requirements

A bachelor's degree in a related field, such as social work, business administration, sociology and/or psychology AND a minimum of four (4) years of recent job development, recruitment and employer relations experience in an employment and training setting with a preference for work focused or designed to serve low‑income or system‑involved youth and adults. Experience working in multi‑cultural settings and the ability to speak Spanish is highly desirable.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications will be reviewed for relevant experience, education, and/or training. Applications must be detailed and complete for proper evaluation. Resumes may be included but may not be submitted in lieu of application content. Only the most‑qualified applicants will be considered and may be invited to the interview and selection process.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Applications will be reviewed for relevant experience, education and training. The application must be detailed and complete for proper evaluation.

HIRING INFORMATION

All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of a pre‑employment evaluation, which includes: a post‑offer medical examination (includes drug and alcohol screening), criminal records check, employment history and education verification, and documentation of the right to work in the United States.

Candidates will start at step one of an eight step salary range unless there are special exceptions in accordance with agency Personnel Rules.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION

Testing Accommodations: If you require an accommodation due to a physical, mental or learning disability, please call (213) 252‑5400 or email [e-mail] no less than 72 hours prior to testing date for special assistance. Special testing accommodations may be arranged if verification of the disability is provided by a physician, rehabilitation counselor, or other authority.

We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Candidates who require a reasonable accommodation in any portion of the selection process should state their need in writing when submitting an application.

NOTE

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Pursuant to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' Conflict of Interest Policy, new and existing employees are required to refrain from participating in activities, employment or enterprises, which are in conflict with public interest and/or with his or her duties as an employee of the Authority. A copy of the Conflict of Interest Policy may be obtained by visiting our website at: http://www.hacla.org/Portals/0/Attachments/Others/ConflictofInterestPolicy.pdf

HACLA Benefits

Short-Term Disability/Long-Term Disability/Mandatory Life: Pension Plan: General Leave/Holidays/PTO: Additional Optional Benefits: Temporary Casual/Per-Diem employee are eligible to enroll/receive the following benefits: Note: Temporary casual/per-diem employees are able to work up to 40 hours per week as necessary.

• Medical/Dental/Vision Plan:
• HACLA will provide up to 100% of the CalPERS medical premium rate for Los Angeles, San Bernardino & Ventura Counties Kaiser rates for employee only, employee + one dependent, and employee + multiple dependents as applicable
• HACLA will provide 100% of basic Dental HMO rates for employee only, employee + one dependent, and employee + multiple dependents as applicable
• HACLA will provide 100% basic Vision coverage for employee only, employee + one dependent, and employee + multiple dependents as applicable
• $250 OPT OUT payment is available for employees with a qualifying health plan outside of the employer network.
• Employees have the option to choose additional optional insurance such as Dental PPO, Custom Vision, additional medical coverage, and voluntary additional life insurance.
• HACLA will provide 100% STD/LTD/Mandatory Life premiums for all eligible employees to maintain the IRS 125 Plan
• HACLA retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years.
  • For Classic members, the pension formula is 2.7% at 55 with members contributing 8% of their wages towards their retirement.
  • For PEPRA members, the pension formula is 2% at 62, with members contributing 7.75% of their wages towards their retirement.
  • CalPERS will make the determination regarding the type of membership for which the eligible employee will qualify.
  • Annual leave accruals vary, depending upon the type of job/position (membership in employee organizational group) and years of service. Length of service increases accrual rates by employee organizational group when service requirements are met.
  • Newly Hired Annual Accruals:
    • At‑Will/Non‑Represented accrual per pay period 5.23 hours (17 days annually)
    • Council of Housing Professionals‑Management accrual per pay period 4.15 hours (14 days annually)
    • Council of Housing Professionals‑Administration accrual per pay period 6.78 hours (22 days annually)
    • Service Employees International Union (Local 721) accrual per pay period 6.78 hours (22 days annually)
    • Los Angeles County Building and Construction Trades Council accrual per pay period 5.23 hours (17 days annually)
    • American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees accrual per pay period 6.78 hours (22 days annually)
• 14 Observed Holidays:
  • New Year's Eve; New Years Day; Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday; President's Day; Cesar Chavez Day; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veteran’s Day; Thanksgiving Day; Day After Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
• 12 Floating Holiday hours annually
• Opportunity to earn up to 160 hours of Paid Time Off (PTO) for eligible exempt employees as comp time per calendar year. Employees may cash out up to 160 hours of accrued and unused PTO annually.
• Pre-Tax Deferred Compensation 457 Plan
• Group term life insurance
• Flexible Spending Account Options
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Partial Telework Program
• Kaiser Medical Insurance - 50% employer covered medical through Kaiser Permanente if working 30 hours or more per week.
• Paid Sick Time - At least 40 hours or 5 days of sick leave after 90 days of employment.
• Eligible casual employees may enter as Classic or PEPRA members if qualifying requirements are met.
• Per‑Diem employees are not eligible for the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS).
• Availability of benefits are dependent upon employment eligibility status with HACLA*