Job Information
MassHire Holyoke Career Center Director of Youth Programs & Outreach in Holyoke, Massachusetts
Summary: In collaboration with other program heads, develops, coordinates, and implements all youth programming and youth-oriented community outreach activities at MHH. Maintains connections with youth agencies, community partners, and school departments in the provision of a full range of career exploration, job placement, training, and internship opportunities in both Spanish and English. Ensures the successful implementation of awarded grants and other contracts; monitors and ensures accuracy of budgets, and youth worker payroll procedures. Develops and builds relationships with partner organizations and employers ensuring the delivery of core career counseling and job readiness and career exploration services with a primary focus on youth ages 14-24 who mostly reside in urban areas. Works closely with the Business Services Team to identify employer worksites, internships, and training and career exploration opportunities. Supervises Youth Operations Coordinator, Youth Counselors, and Youth Staff. Ensures timely and accurate record-keeping and data entry. Participates as a member of the MHH Lead Team. Position Specific Responsibilities: Supervises all Youth Programs staff. Braids and blends multiple year-round and summer programs from a variety of funding streams into a cohesive array of services for youth ranging in ages from 14-24. Monitors and ensures budget accuracy, youth worker payroll procedures and distribution. Establishes and maintains community and employer relationships. Partners with the Business Services Representatives to ensure collaborative and supportive youth job, internship, and career exploration opportunities. Works closely with the WIOA Team and local partners to identify training opportunities for older youth, refers youth to specifically identified training programs, and monitors progress, while ensuring staff support for the trainee, as needed. Develops community and employer outreach strategies and builds upon established relationships with partner businesses, organizations, and agencies to promote and grow youth services and programs. Ensures a consistent social media presence. Establishes and maintains key performance indicators for staff. Oversees the development of work experience sites for summer and year-round YouthWorks and other programs. Conducts informational sessions to explain services to potential customers, education and training vendors, employers, community-based organizations, and the public. Conducts in-depth reviews with partner organizations and employers to record the reasons for successful outcomes and identifies areas for improvement. Serves in a train-the-trainer capacity for Signaling Success and other youth focused workshops. Facilitates workshops and seminars for youth customers covering topics, including but not limited to, job search methods, labor market research, resume preparation, networking, personal finances, stress management, time management, interview techniques and dealing with perceived barriers to employment. Supports staff and customers in understanding youth development. Conducts comprehensive interviews with youth customers with substantial barriers to employment. Assesses the impact of the barriers and assists youth customers in formulating and implementing an appropriate plan of action. Ensures timely and accurate record keeping and data reporting as required by funders and MHH?s own data system. The Director must have prior experience working with urban youth and program development, a proven record of successful employer engagement and community outreach, and managerial and supervisory experience. A strong understanding of workforce development from both a job seeker and employer perspective is needed. Bilingual and bicultural preferred.