Job Developer & Re-entry Educator

Goodwill Keystone Area; Lewisburg (Union County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Goodwill Keystone Area seeks a Job Developer and Re-entry Educator to connect incarcerated individuals with sustainable employment and to build strong employer partnerships for meaningful work opportunities.

You will manage pre-release re-entry services, coordinate job development, provide career coaching and job search assistance, and collaborate with community resources to support successful workforce reintegration while ensuring program compliance and data reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice or related field.
• At least 1 year experience serving disadvantaged populations.
• Ability to travel to facilities and work in secure settings.

Responsibilities

• Oversee pre-release re-entry services in identified prison facilities and coordinate program components.
• Develop professional knowledge through training and apply best practices in re-entry and job development.
• Build and maintain employer relationships to create job opportunities and on-the-job training.

Skills

Communication skills

Public speaking

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Job description

Position

Job Developer and Re-entry Educator

Department

Mission Services

Reports to

Re-entry Program Coordinator

Status

Exempt

Goodwill Keystone Area is committed to creating a culture of belonging where all people feel respected and valued. This is because we celebrate the diversity of thought, the richness of the human experience and the desire to reflect the communities we serve.

Summary

Delivers employment-focused pre-release and ongoing services to incarcerated individuals and those under supervision, also acting as the primary liaison to the business community to create job opportunities for those with employment barriers. This role builds and maintains a network of employers, expands access to job placements, collaborates with employers to develops paid and transitional work experiences, and establishes On-The-Job-Training opportunities aligned with designated workforce development programs.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversees daily operation of all pre-release re-entry services provided within identified federal prisons assigned. Develops, monitors, and coordinates all program components and activities including referral and enrollment, assessment, program planning, community reintegration, and job development. Anticipates operational problems and implements pre-emptive corrective actions as needed.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by identifying and establishing training needs with supervisor. Proactively initiates participation in appropriate training opportunities, both in-house and externally that fosters knowledge of current best practices and principles in the delivery of re-entry and job development services, including, but not limited to, safety issues, motivational interviewing, networking with employers, and trauma-informed care.
• Establishes and maintains professional, cooperative, and courteous relationships with Bureau of Prison, DOC, and local prison staff, and assists them in enhancing in-facility vocational programs. Ability to relate effectively to others, promoting good working relationships and teamwork with co-workers, funders, Goodwill agency participants/representatives, supervisors, employers and business community, and other community contacts, as well as BOP staff. Demonstrates an ability to provide excellent customer service to all stakeholders. Demonstrates sound professional judgment, adequate to formulate realistic job development and job placement strategies to assist participants in achieving work objectives.
• Implements activities based on needs identified in the assessment system to ensure successful reentry into the community for participants. Identify and assign Service Navigators for those participants preparing for release to an RRC or into the community and facilitate that relationship for participants. Collaborate with the Service Navigator and other staff to ensure barrier remediation for successful reentry for participants. Develop thorough knowledge of community resources available. Assist with connecting participant to the PA CareerLink and other community job resources, and ensure that appropriate referral information is provided to Service Navigator to facilitate accessing these community resources. Assumes responsibility as an advocate for the participant during the re-entry and job development processes.
• Meets individually with participants to ensure quality job development services. Provides career coaching and job search assistance in support of career pathway development. Offers job coaching and individualized employment support.
• Engages with economic development and area businesses to identify areas of high employer demand and skills gaps. Collaborates with sector partnerships to develop workforce pipelines in priority industries. Uses real-time labor market analytics to inform employer engagement strategies
• Markets workforce programs, participant capabilities, and employer incentives to the business community. Develops and maintains an active database of employers and partnerships. Conducts market research to identify employer demand.
• Contacts employers to develop job opportunities aligned with participant skills. Maintains ongoing and periodic employer contacts and check‑ins, to build effective working relationships with employers. Conducts ongoing satisfaction checks with employers.
• Demonstrates competency in delivering PA DOC's Pathway to Success curriculum, digital literacy, and other curriculum as assigned to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) reentrants. Delivers job readiness and job retention instruction in a variety of basic methods to appeal to varying learning styles and abilities. Provide services in large-group, small-group, and one‑on‑one instruction. Attends regular training to ensure work readiness curriculum is current.
• Maintains all participant files and file information in a confidential manner, providing information about clients on a "need to know" status. Ensures compliance with project regulations, requirements, and performance outcomes and provides the required documentation to appropriate staff, agencies, and funding sources for all services and activities provided as requested and needed. Demonstrates the ability to evaluate program participant progress throughout the learning period to include documentation of daily attendance and regular activity reports. Ensures completion of all reporting requirements and data input into a management information system on a timely basis.
• Maintains strict adherence to safety guidelines, policies, and security protocols established by the BOP and Goodwill and ensuring program participants do the same. Develops and promotes group and program rules and policies to ensure a safe and productive learning environment for participants.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Provides consistent and effective communication with all parties and across all services in support of quality service provision. Maintains open communication with all team members to ensure wrap‑around support and awareness of issues with participants. Provides timely follow‑up to all inquiries, requests, interventions. Maintains communication with participants that fosters responsibility and positive self‑esteem.
• Promotes an environment of workplace safety. Assures that duties are performed in a safe manner and safety requirements are adhered to.
• Communicates progress, problems, and concerns to Re-entry Program Coordinator and Director of Mission Services.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. Education, or a related field preferred.
• A minimum of one (1) year experience in providing services to disadvantaged populations with barriers to employment.

Skills/Activities/Qualifications

• Excellent oral and written communication skills; comfortable with public speaking.
• Basic computer literacy including Microsoft and Google programs.
• Ability to independently organize work to completion.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain timeframes for service and project completion.
• Must be comfortable going into criminal justice facilities, including federal prisons.
• Experience with networking and developing relationships with employers for program participants
• Must have a valid driver's license, reliable vehicle, and satisfactorily complete a motor vehicle check on an annual basis.
• Must complete and successfully pass Criminal Record Check, Child Abuse Clearance and FBI Clearance and Bureau of Prison background investigation.

Goodwill Keystone Area is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws that prohibit discrimination in employment. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to disability or status as a protected veteran.