Workforce Development Specialist II #907031

Position: Workforce Development Specialist II #907031

Program: Youth Employment

Department: Youth Services

Reports to: Program Manager

Compensation: $22.00-$29.03 per hour, plus $1.75 Shift Differential Premium for hours worked between 6pm-6am

Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm

Compensation: 100%, Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Union

Probation: 90 days

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, and 403(b) Retirement Plan

Center’s Mission:

Building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Youth Center serves youth up to the age of 24 who are currently at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. The Youth Center offers services in an LGBTQ+ safe and affirming environment and serves as an entry point to assist youth making the transition from homelessness to housing. Our services include meals, clothing, support groups, a charter high school, a GED and college prep program, an employment preparation, training, and placement program, case management, counseling, a crisis shelter, and a transitional living program (TLP). Our community-based programs include services for youth at-home, in school, or in systems of care.

JOB SUMMARY: The Workforce Development Specialist II is responsible for facilitating employment training, work readiness activities, and job placement of youth ages 18 to 24. This position works closely with staff across multiple programs to develop programming and services that support youth experiencing homelessness in their educational, vocational, and employment goals. This position works with a population that is currently or formerly experiencing homelessness and has high rates of mental health, physical health, and substance-related issues.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Facilitate employment skills curriculum designed to increase employability, enhance client motivation, improve life skills, and offer referrals and support that ultimately lead to employment.

• Plan and execute work readiness programming and activities for members utilizing a Positive Youth development framework.

• Provide employment counseling and services to members that includes assessment, resume preparation, career planning, job search trips, computer skills workshops, work readiness workshops, and speaker series.

• Develop and deliver presentations to support outreach efforts with potential partners and members for youth employment and vocational programming.

• Complete intake process for youth into the Youth Center and Youth Academy.

• Work with members individually and in groups to develop their individualized employment plans and implement a Supported Employment model (individual placement and support, or IPS) that provides wraparound support and resources to members to help ensure all aspects of their employment plans are addressed.

• Work with community partners and support activities associated with the HIRE LA Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), UCLA’s YouthSource programs (such as LA RISE 3.0), and other placement opportunities for members.

• Provide weekly support to members in the youth employment program through regular communication, educational and employment referrals, mental health services, and additional resources.

• Keep accurate and up-to-date youth employment statistics by tracking data and indicators for member enrollment, participation, and progress.

• Monitor individual member and program performance to support meeting deliverables.

• Prepare reports as required and ensure that they are accurate, complete, and submitted on time.

• Organize and maintain program files and materials through data entry and database maintenance.

• Follow up with program management staff to ensure reporting are completed on a timely basis.

• Assist with special projects as directed by management staff.

• Maintain professional working relations with and assist residential and youth development staff.

• Other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge of or experience working with the LGBTQ community and familiarity with issues of particular relevance to LGBTQ people.

• A passion for the Center’s work and its mission to make the world a better place for LGBTQ people.

• Minimum 3 years’ experience working with foster youth, low-income youth, and/or youth experiencing homelessness/housing instability and/or mental illness.

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in workforce development.

• Knowledge of workforce development programs and services available to assist people with low or no income, workforce development and employment, physical and mental health needs, and other barriers.

• Experience working with youth in a youth development setting and understanding of the principles of Positive Youth Development.

• Demonstrated ability to engage youth and facilitate workshops.

• Knowledge of housing-first, harm-reduction, and trauma-informed care principles.

• Ability to work with a high-acuity population and de-escalate threatening/volatile situations with clients.

• Ability to apply principles of professional boundaries and ethics.

• Ability to build rapport and trust with youth and demonstrate active (reflective) listening.

• Self-motivated, energetic, flexible, and able to work in a team environment.

• Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills with a high level of attention to detail.

• Excellent computer skills including word processing, database operations, spreadsheets, and other software systems.

• Access to reliable transportation.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expression, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities in a multicultural environment.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering diversity within its staff. Applications are encouraged from all persons regardless of their race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical/physical/mental condition, pregnancy/childbirth and related medical condition, age, marital status, or veteran status.

The Center has implemented a policy requiring all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information, please contact jobs@lalgbtcenter.org