WFD Program Specialist

Erie Neighborhood House; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 33,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Erie Neighborhood House, a Chicago nonprofit serving immigrant and low-income families, seeks an Outreach, Recruitment, and Orientation professional. The role supports workforce programs through recruitment, outreach, and participant orientation, building bridges to training and employment opportunities.

You will guide participants in resumes, interview prep, and career pathways while coordinating events and supporting program operations across multiple Chicago neighborhoods.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Minimum of two years of experience providing workforce case management to immigrants, career changers and/or youth
• Experience with creating and providing feedback with resumes and mock interviews
• Strong oral communications skills, bilingual English/Spanish mandatory
• Professional writing skills and ability to assist with some grant writing
• Comfortable and confident with public speaking
• Ability to build connections with employers, participants as well as volunteers and confident with networking skills
• Flexibility with work schedule & ability to travel around Chicago
• Must be available for occasional evening and weekend events
• Ability to travel between West Town, Little Village and other work sites.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute recruitment strategies to engage eligible adults in workforce programs.
• Participate in community outreach events.
• Administer skill level tests for participating adults.
• Provide a structured orientation for adults to set expectations.
• Research and conduct outreach in prime venues, events or community areas to increase enrollment into workforce bridge programs.
• Attending outreach events and job fairs to bring resources and participants to our program.
• Case manages participants in workforce development programs to ensure training completion and job placement.
• Guide participants in exploring training and employment pathways.
• Educate and assist participants with resumes and cover letters.
• Coordinate program events such as career expos, job fairs, and field trips.
• Assist participants with addressing barriers that prevent them from completing postsecondary training or obtaining employment.
• Lead curriculum delivery and workforce development training for participants.
• Maintain active communication with employers and clients during their first year of employment.
• Conduct regular retention client support (check in at 30, 90, 120 days).

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Location: Chicago, IL 60642

Salary Range: $24.04 - $24.04 Hourly

Erie Neighborhood House has provided the most comprehensive support immigrant and low-income families in Chicago need to thrive and has constantly evolved to meet their needs. Today, Erie House is a modern social service nonprofit with programming and resources for children and youth, mental health and community wellness, adult education and training, legal services, and more. Through these programs, we empower the people we work alongside to build powerful communities.

Outreach, Recruitment, & Orientation

• Develop and execute recruitment strategies to engage eligible adults in workforce programs.
• Participate in community outreach events.
• Administer skill level tests for participating adults.
• Provide a structured orientation for adults to set expectations.
• Research and conduct outreach in prime venues, events or community areas to increase enrollment into workforce bridge programs.
• Attending outreach events and job fairs to bring resources and participants to our program.

Job Readiness Training

• Case manages all the participants who are actively involved in a workforce development program including job seekers, CDBG, etc. to ensure the following: completion of postsecondary training and industry-related job placement.
• Guide participants in exploring different training and employment pathways in a particular industry to decide which path best fits their interests and skills
• Educate and assist participants with creation of resumes and cover letters
• Coordinate program events such as career expos, job fairs, and field trips to businesses and colleges
• Assist participants with addressing barriers that prevent them from completing postsecondary training or obtaining employment
• Lead curriculum delivery, interactive activities, and workforce development training for participants.

Employment & Job Support

• Maintain active communication with employers and clients during their first year of employment
• Conduct regular retention client support (check in at 30, 90, 120 days)
• Track employment details in required databases
• Collect and process participant timesheets and payroll documentation securely.
• Develop and connect with industry related employers and training institutes to provide job openings and educational opportunities for participants
• Share job leads, workshops/events, and scholarship opportunities with participants and follow up with the outcome
• Maintain clothing closet clean, stocked and organized for participants

Program Support

• Attend workshops and meetings as relevant to the position.
• Research and conduct outreach in prime venues, events or community areas to increase enrollment into workforce bridge programs.
• Attending outreach events and job fairs to bring resources and participants to our program.
• Support Program Manager in organizing job fair event for Workforce Development program.
• Developing flyers, brochures, and other methods to advertise job placement activities.
• Coordinates and distributes information and materials for meetings; assists in planning meeting agendas; assists in meeting set-up; maintains current committee member lists for various committees.
• Engages in collaborative engagement among the team.
• Provides updated reports to program manager.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Minimum of two years of experience providing workforce case management to immigrants, career changers and/or youth
• Experience with creating and providing feedback with resumes and mock interviews
• Strong oral communications skills, bilingual English/Spanish mandatory
• Professional writing skills and ability to assist with some grant writing
• Comfortable and confident with public speaking
• Ability to build connections with employers, participants as well as volunteers and confident with networking skills
• Flexibility with work schedule & ability to travel around Chicago
• Must be available for occasional evening and weekend events
• Ability to travel between West Town, Little Village and other work sites.

TEAM MEMBER BENEFITS

Compensation of $24.04/ hour

Work / life integration

• Generous paid time off
• 12 accrued sick days per year
• 3 personal days
• Paid birthday off
• 8 paid holidays, including Juneteenth
• In addition to above paid holidays, paid week off between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
• Vacation Year 1 = 8 days
• Vacation Year 2 = 13 days
• Vacation Year 3+ = 20 days
• Access to alternative and flexible work schedules and personal leave, where possible
• Two-weeks fully paid Parental Leave, for eligible employees
• Time off for school conferences and activities as well as bereavement leave

Professional Development

• Employer-sponsored learning and development programs
• Paid day off annually for personal professional development
• Tuition Assistance & Debt Relief Program, as budget allows

Wellness support

• Employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Voluntary life and AD&D and shot and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical, vision and dependent care
• 403b with employer match
• Employee Assistance Program

Union / Non Exempt

Erie Neighborhood House is dedicated to creating a workforce that promotes and supports diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals without discrimination. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact us at [e-mail].

ERIE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

ACCREDITED BY NAEYC & NATIONAL AFTERSCHOOL ASSOCIATION

RECOGNIZED BY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE;

UNITED WAY MEMBER