Workforce Navigator

Philadelphia Housing Authority; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Philadelphia Housing Authority is seeking a Workforce Navigator for its Resident Programs and Partnerships Division. This on-site role at the Vaux High School Workforce Center focuses on connecting residents to employment and training opportunities, while coordinating with employers to fulfill hiring needs.

The Navigator will provide direct services, track progress, and participate in program design to expand internships, job shadowing, and pre-employment activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; experience in education, social work, or youth services preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist participants with connecting to employment and training opportunities.
• Develop relationships with employers to understand hiring needs and create opportunities.
• Provide one-on-one coaching, prepare participants for employment, and track progress.
• Organize recruitment events, job fairs, and on-the-job training opportunities.
• Maintain confidential records and stay current on equal employment guidelines.

Skills

Relationship building

Verbal communication

Written communication

Workshop facilitation

Job placement support

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Office

Records management

Job description

The Philadelphia Housing Authority, America's fourth largest public housing authority and leader in real estate development and property management is seeking a Workforce Navigator in the Resident Programs and Partnerships (RPP) Division.

Reporting to the Manager of Workforce Development, the Workforce Navigator will assist participants at PHA’s Workforce Center at Vaux HS with connecting to employment and training opportunities. The Workforce Center for serve as a hub for PHA residents and the community to access employment related information. Additionally, the Workforce Center will provide employers with support around meeting hiring needs.

Navigators will work one-on-one with participants as much as possible, by providing direct services, and will be responsible for tracking or verifying each participant’s progress. The Navigators will also perform other related work as assigned, within the parameters of the program.

Essential functions

• Develop and maintain personal contacts with business, industry, labor and government representatives and job placement agencies to leverage for the benefit of program participants.
• Work with employers to understand hiring needs and support residents in preparing for these positions
• Collaborate with employers to develop employment opportunities and assist with prescreening activities
• Create career exposure, job shadowing and internship opportunities for residents in collaboration with employers and partners
• Assist with PHA residents enroll into self-sufficiency programs in Homeownership, Education, Entrepreneurship, Family Self Sufficiency and PhillySEEDS through the PHA Workforce Center and Section 3 Resource Center
• Engage with local community organizations to enhance the resident’s self-sufficiency program and services enrollment.
• Understand apprenticeships and the steps involved to move individuals from pre apprenticeship into apprenticeship models
• Facilitate workshops on job search techniques, application procedures, resume development, interviewing and job retention skills
• Provide one on one coaching and support to residents as they prepare for employment and once they are employed
• Provide clients with jobs leads and placement opportunities and refer for pre-employment skills testing
• Organize, develop and participate in recruitment events and job fairs
• Maintain current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action guidelines and laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Maintain documentation of activities related to job development, job search with clients, recruitment events, referrals, hires and retention of hires.
• Consult with supervisor concerning programs or services for clients - be a creative thinking when it comes to program design
• Develop and market On-the-Job Training and Work Experience opportunities for employers
• Be a primary point of contact for residents at PHA's Workforce Center and Section 3 Resource Office
• Participate in webinars sponsored by HUD or one of its partners/stakeholders; read and digest materials provided by HUD.
• Conduct outreach or training sessions to groups of participants and family members, and/or work with partner organizations to generate interest or supplement the one-on-one assistance.
• Maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues and PHA information; AND
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of social service program administration.
• Development, planning, implementation and assessment of youth education programs.
• Principles and practices of management, organization and administration.
• FAFSA, college, and financial aid application processes.
• Basic banking tools and the pros and cons of each tuition funding option.
• General office practices and equipment.
• Standard computer software applications.

Skill in:

• Ensuring compliance with regulations governing ROSS Services operations.
• Cultivating and maintaining cooperative relationships with service providers.
• Operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
• Effective verbal and written communication.
• Completing complex and nuanced paperwork with accuracy.
• Delivering training on complex materials in an effective manner.
• Interacting with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with staff, PHA departments, employee groups, management, and the general public.

Supervisory responsibilities

None

Minimum education and experience

Bachelor’s degree required; experience in education, social work, or other youth service delivery settings preferred.

Certifications, Clearances, and Licenses required

May require possession of a valid Driver’s License

About the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA)

Established in 1937, and with an employment workforce of over 900, the Philadelphia Housing Authority is a municipal agency providing public housing services to over 80,000 residents in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Financial support for Authority operations and capital needs comes primarily from rent payments and subsidies provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). PHA is one of a very select group of housing authorities across the nation that has attained Moving to Work (MTW) status. This designation allows housing agencies the opportunity and flexibility, on a local level, to develop and implement innovative housing and self-sufficiency strategies to benefit public housing residents and Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) participants.

PHA is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of individual qualifications without regard to race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, pregnancy, national origin, ethnicity or ancestry, religion, age, disability, citizenship, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.