Employment Coordinator

Monroe Harding, Inc.; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision

Life Insurance

Long-Term Disability

Paid time off

401k with match

EAP

Professional development

Job summary

Monroe Harding, Inc. in Nashville is seeking an Employment Coordinator to support young adults ages 16-26 in preparing for, securing, and maintaining employment using a trauma-informed approach.

The role blends group facilitation, coaching, employer engagement, and case management within a team-based Resource Center. You will also lead Monroe Gardens, an entrepreneurship initiative providing hands-on business and job training through plant and wellness product production and sales, while helping

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, education, employment services, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Valid Tennessee driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Lead workforce readiness coaching and group classes, with flexible scheduling as needed.
• Provide individualized coaching and help participants build a professional portfolio and set employment goals.
• Coordinate informational interviews, job shadowing, internships, and employment opportunities with community partners.
• Develop and maintain relationships with employers and partners to support Monroe Gardens and other social enterprise projects.
• Provide referrals to housing, transportation, SNAP Employment & Training, and other resources; maintain case documentation and notes.
• Collaborate with the team to plan job fairs, resource fairs, and enrichment activities; foster a welcoming environment for youth at the Resource Center.
• Mentor participants in business skills and oversee day-to-day operations of Monroe Gardens, including production planning and inventory control.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Relationship building

Trauma-informed approach

Problem solving

Entrepreneurial thinking

Time management

Group facilitation

Boundary setting

Recruitment & partnerships

Client-centered mindset

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social services/education/employment services

Valid Tennessee driver’s license

Job description

Description

Job Summary:

The Employment Coordinator plays a key role in supporting young adults (ages 16-26) as they prepare for, secure, and maintain employment. Through a trauma informed approach, this position blends group facilitation, one-one-one coaching, employer engagement, and case management within a supportive, team-based Resource Center environment. You will build relationships, teach workforce readiness skills, and connect young people to real-world opportunities that align with their goals.

In addition to leading traditional workforce placement, this position manages Monroe Harding’s entrepreneurship initiative, Monroe Gardens—a youth-powered garden offering hands‑on business and job training through the production and sale of handcrafted plant and wellness goods. The Employment Coordinator will play a key role in operating this program while helping conceptualize and scale future entrepreneurial or social enterprise initiatives that empower young adults transitioning into independence.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Workforce Readiness & Coaching

• Recruit young adults to participate in the Work Readiness Programs.
• Facilitate ongoing curricula and in person group classes and learning cohorts (including flexible scheduling to meet participant needs).
• Provide individualized coaching following the classroom experience by meeting with clients each week.
• Help participants build a professional career portfolio and set realistic employment goals.

Employment & Employer Engagement

• Arrange informational interviews, job shadowing, internships, and employment opportunities.
• Develop sponsorships, collaborate and maintain strong relationships with community partners and employers in support of Monroe Gardens as well as other entrepreneurial projects.
• Support young adults in securing and maintaining employment with community partners aligned with their aspirations.

Case Management & Support

• Provide referrals to community resources addressing barriers such as housing, transportation, food, and childcare.
• Encourage and assist clients with SNAP Employment & Training enrollment and participation.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case documentation and enter timely case notes.
• Collaborate with partners to monitor progress and celebrate successes.

Resource Center Collaboration

• Partner with colleagues to plan and implement special programming including job fairs, resource fairs, enrichment activities, and seasonal events.
• Contribute to a welcoming, supportive environment for all youth who enter the Resource Center.

Social Enterprise Initiatives

• Mentor participants in real‑world business skills and career readiness while actively supporting the vision and launch of future social enterprise models for the Resource Center.
• Manage program budget, event set up and tracking sales.
• Oversee day-to-day operations for Monroe Gardens (currently an indoor nursery) where young adults gain practical experience producing and selling items like potted plants, dried herbs, and handmade wellness products.
• Planting, harvesting, plant care/safety, and developing seasonal production plans.
• Maintaining product/plant inventory, tracking lifecycles, and managing supply purchasing within a budget.

BENEFITS

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance available (90-100% coverage paid by Monroe Harding for the employee)
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability
• Generous paid time off package
• 401k (Monroe Harding will match up to 4%)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional development and training

About Monroe Harding: Since 1893, Monroe Harding has continually adapted to meet the needs of children who are in, or transitioning out of state custody, caring for more than 16,000 children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. Today, we are a healing community for youth and families as they move beyond trauma to experience hope. We are meeting this mission through four key programs serving young people who are currently in or are transitioning from the foster care system: Foster Care, Supportive Housing, Education & Career Readiness, and Therapy & Healing.

Our Values:

• Optimism: We celebrate and encourage the good in each other. We create an environment in which people can have fun, express gratitude, feel uplifted, explore their passions, and increase their resiliency.
• Inclusion: Through a lens of respect, we advocate for our families, our youth, and each other by creating a sense of belonging, understanding, and value for the uniqueness of each individual.
• Curiosity: We are committed to creating a learning environment that seeks knowledge, looks to the future, and goes beyond the status quo.
• Personal Accountability: We empower one another to be our best selves. By showing up, listening, and providing thoughtful feedback, we create a culture that allows for self-care.
• Collaboration: We believe that people who are committed to open communication, a willingness to help, and working together as a team, create a safe environment and a culture of excellence.

Monroe Harding is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, or other legally protected status.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application and interview procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at [e-mail] or call 615-298-5573.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education / Licenses

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, education, employment services, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Valid Tennessee driver’s license

Skills

• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills
• Creative problem solving
• Client‑centered mindset
• Patient yet persistent approach
• Knowledge of trauma‑informed care
• Entrepreneurial and strategic thinking mindset with business acumen
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries
• Confidence facilitating small groups
• Ability to recruit and develop employer and community partnerships
• Oversee present operations for Monroe Gardens
• Drive the development and implementation of new social enterprise initiatives at the Resource Center.

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years facilitating group training or workforce programs
• Proven experience working with youth and young adults ages 16-26
• Established knowledge of employment and training programs to include interviewing techniques, vocational and employment related assessments, and use of labor market information to connect participants to jobs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT /PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / BACKGROUND CHECKS:

This role includes a mix of office-based work and community engagement. The position requires regular standing, sitting, walking, and communicating with participants and partners. Reasonable accommodations are available to support qualified individuals.

• Working in varying weather conditions and outdoor settings.
• Lifting products and materials up to 50 pounds.
• Climbing ladders, reaching, bending, kneeling, crouching, and setting up tables and tents for sales events.
• Loading, unloading, and transporting plants, gardening supplies, tools, tables, displays, and other enterprise‑related products.
• Applicants must pass thorough background check and drug screen.
• Additionally, The Diana Screen® is administered to all potential applicants to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained. At Monroe Harding, the safety and protection of the youth who have been entrusted to us is our #1 priority.