Youth Programs Specialist

WHO WE ARE:

The MassHire Metro North Workforce Board (MNWB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates at the

intersection of the public and nonprofit sectors, in a quasi-governmental capacity within the statewide MassHire

system. Our mission is to develop partnerships, generate resources, and advocate for workforce solutions that

result in a skilled workforce, prospering businesses, and equitable access to meaningful career pathways and

quality employment for residents. The MNWB is one of 16 local Workforce Development Boards established in

Massachusetts covering 20 cities and towns north of Boston. The functions of MNWB include the following:

• Addressing business’ workforce needs through strategic partnership building
• Coordinating local workforce activities with economic development strategies
• Developing industry-specific consortia focusing on strategic planning and implementation
• Establishing workforce development policy for the region
• Chartering career center operators and overseeing career centers
• Matching the needs of business for skilled employees with training opportunities in the area
• Assessing the effectiveness of the local workforce system
• Administering federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds for the region
• For more information, please visit https://masshiremetronorth.org/.

JOB TITLE: Youth Program Specialist

Only candidates who submit a cover letter will be invited to a phone screening.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Youth Program Specialist is an essential role within the MassHire Metro North Workforce Board’s (MNWB)

Workforce Development Team. As a part of the Connecting Activities (CA) network, a statewide network led by

the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and organized through sixteen MassHire

Workforce Boards, the Youth Programs Specialist is uniquely positioned within priority schools in the Metro

North region to help youth and young adults (14-25) get their careers started.

Reporting to the Sr Manager of In School Programs, the Youth Programs Specialist is an active and integral

member of MNWB’s Workforce Development department. As the on-site career advisor at Connecting Activities

schools, the Youth Program Specialist provides case management, career awareness, and employment services;

enters and manages data across multiple platforms for grant reporting; and develops partnerships with Metro

North region nonprofits, schools, employers, and other organizations as needed to promote workforce

initiatives for youth.

This is a full-time position, and daily start time will vary depending on the schedule of the assigned schools.

This is a hybrid position. This position must have regular, in-person presence in the Metro North region. The

selected candidate must have the ability to fulfill below requirements. MNWB can provide public transportation

assistance to ensure reliable access to work sites. This includes:

• Weekly in-person days on-site at assigned schools.
• Regular in-office days during onboarding.
• Two in-person days per month at MNWB’s office in Davis Square, Somerville.
• Any other meetings, events, etc. that the Supervisor/Team Leader deems necessary for in-person presence.

*Please note that this is our current flexible work arrangement policy and may be subject to change.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Travel to school partner sites 2-3 times per week to provide workforce readiness skills to high school students.
• Support high school students in discovering their skills and align them with potential career paths involving a thoughtful and exploratory process.
• Work directly with youth, both individually and in groups, to develop job preparation skills and provide workshops such as presentations on resume writing and interviewing skills.
• Conduct intake and assessment interviews with referred youth. Maintain ongoing contact with program participants and monitor progress toward completion of program requirements, providing individualized support as needed, including resource and referrals.
• Work with a caseload of school partners and assist them and/or educational partners in the identification of employer sites for student internships, student job shadows, and teacher externships.
• Coordinate with schools to promote scheduled career events amongst students such as job fairs and career panels and support day-of logistics as needed.
• Maintain timely and accurate records, case files, and database entries in MNWB’s internal Salesforce database and state CA database.
• Assist the Senior Director of Workforce Development and Senior Manager of In School Programs in preparing reports as needed.
• Support other workforce development team projects and tasks as needed.
• Join an expanding team committed to workforce development and youth development.
• As a member of the Workforce Development Team, be a thought partner in developing strategies and policies to advance initiatives in youth employment for the Metro North Region.
• Attend all meetings and trainings deemed necessary by the Senior Manager of In School Programs.
• Organize conferences, workshops, and events, in collaboration with school and community partners.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• Experience working with high school aged youth.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Creative, problem-solver.
• Ability to manage multiple projects or tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work both independently as well as a member of a team.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to provide culturally competent, trauma-informed services to diverse youth.
• Ability to develop new partnerships and strengthen existing ones.
• Has a deep personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

The most qualified candidates might have:

• Experience working with youth in a workforce or youth development setting.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
• Familiarity with one or more of our priority cities of Chelsea, Malden, Everett, Revere and Somerville.
• Bi/Multi-lingual abilities, especially English/Spanish, Portuguese or Haitian-Creole.
• The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC), among other minority groups, may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We're eager to meet people that believe in our mission and can contribute to our team in a variety of ways - not just candidates who check all the boxes.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Starting salary $56,182 - $61,384 per year. Excellent benefits including health care, dental, life insurance, short-

term and long-term disability, 403(b) retirement plan, holiday, sick and vacation time, parental leave, and flexible

work arrangements.

TO APPLY:

Submit resume and a thoughtful cover letter outlining your experience and your interest in the position through

our ADP Portal.

No telephone calls please. Open until filled.

The MassHire Metro North Workforce Board values equity, justice, and opportunity and is proud to be an equal

opportunity employer. We believe that a diversity of thoughts, experiences, backgrounds, personalities, and

identities helps us think bigger and better, and enables us to reach our goals more effectively. We are committed

to building a diverse staff and encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply