POSITION DESCRIPTION

EMPLOYMENT COACH

Organizational Missions and Operating Principles

Twin Cities RISE! (TCR!) is an adult workskills development organization designed to address the concentration of poverty in communities of color by helping individuals develop marketable and transferable employment skills, leading to a skilled job at a livable wage over $20,000 annually plus benefits. TCR!’s work is guided by eleven core operating principles:

1. Employers are our customers.
2. We promote long-term success as an outcome of the program.
3. Program services are comprehensive and interconnected.
4. Relationships with key stakeholders are based on reciprocity and mutual accountability.
5. The program balances the needs and interests of customer companies and prospective TCR! participants who are ready for placement.
6. Programs services and administration are based on best practices and high standards.
7. TCR! trusts participants to make decisions regarding their own progress based on feedback from coaches, instructors, and staff.
8. TCR! practices performance-based assessment.
9. TCR! creates value for all key stakeholders: participants, employers, and the community.
10. TCR! only places participants in settings that are conducive to their growth, development, and success.
11. TCR! models an inclusive workplace where everyone is valued and there is desire for everyone’s success.

All TCR! staff are expected to adhere to these principles in work with other staff, customers, participants, and other key stakeholders.

Job Profile and Reporting Relationships

The Employment Coach is a key player on the Twin Cities RISE! team. The Employment Coach facilitates skill development that enables participants to: 1) obtain and succeed in a skilled job paying at least $10.00 per hour and including benefits; 2) transfer these skills to different jobs as the economy changes; and 3) strengthen the life management skills that provide the foundation for career success. These skills include: problem solving, decision-making, personal responsibility, self-discipline, sociability and teamwork, among others. Additionally, the Employment Coach continues to provide one-on-one support to participants until they have successfully completed at least one year of employment. The Employment Coach reports directly to the Director of Employer Services with other support from the program management team.

Job Responsibilities

Coaches are responsible for achieving the following results and outcomes:

1. Provide all participant coaching services within TCR! general program and financial policy guidelines and procedures. Further, provide participants with regular feedback and positive reinforcement. (Includes participation in intake/admissions, recruiting, etc. as assigned.)

a. Establish professional relationships, build rapport and manage individual caseload and accompanying files of assigned participants who have achieved ‘employment ready’ level in program.

b. Conduct weekly meetings/coaching sessions with each participant which will result in full time employment within 20 weeks of the participant achieving ‘employment ready’ status.

c. Retain a minimum of 50% of an established caseload throughout the calendar year.

d. Support a minimum of 70% of established caseload to achieve varied positive outcomes up to and including employment within a calendar year.

e. Refer participants who encounter basic need barriers to employment to Foundational Work Skills Coach.

f. Assess, identify and develop a participant job search strategy which will result in Core Skills application techniques from Twin Cities RISE! Empowerment and Motivational Interviewing disciplines.

g. Provide all participants coaching, emotional, social and networking support within TCR! general program and financial policy guidelines and procedures.

2. Teach and reinforce participants’ work skills in areas such as problem solving, teamwork, conflict management, work habits, etc.

3. Using TCR!’s model for skills assessment and development, determine participants’ needs and create a comprehensive and systematic employment plan (job strategies) to promote their skill development with the outcome of a career position. Maintain current knowledge of participant’s past work experience and career direction and criminal background if applicable, completing employment readiness checklists for each assigned participant.

4. Teach and assist participant to identify areas of improvement, tailor/modify cover letter and resume using key words and other tools to effectively utilize their resume for job search. Ensure Participant is confident in identifying and presenting his/her transferable skills.

5. Assist in identifying job matches for employment ready participants on websites or advertised employment postings. Coach will monitor job application activity level to ensure it meets program standard of a minimum of 20 qualified job applications per week for advanced participants.

6. Identify and place participants in internships and jobs meeting the final placement criteria in collaboration with the Employment Services Coordinator.

7. In collaboration with assigned ESC assess participant’s readiness level and create and implement a specific and measurable job strategy which will result in final placement.

8. Ensure that performance standards contained in the individual job strategy plans are consistently reviewed, adjusted and enforced for each participant. Provide one-on-one feedback on effective interview techniques and follow-up to the application process. Collaborate with ESC as needed to address deficiencies, adjustments and follow-up.

9. Build and sustain an employment network as relevant to supporting individual participant job readiness, employment and success.

10. During first year of employment meet with participant, according to coach’s manual, to ensure that participants are retained by hiring company for a minimum of one year.

a. Retain a minimum of 84% of participants placed in employment through one year of employment

b. Retain a minimum of 75% of participants placed in employment through two years of employment

11. Instruct classes assigned.

12. Participate in program planning, evaluation and other special projects as requested by the Coach Supervisor, and Chief Operating Officer. Provide information to management as requested to support the development of participants and TCR! as an institution.

13. Model the work behaviors we are teaching participants in interactions with TCR! staff as well as external stakeholders.

14. Other duties assigned.

Qualifications:

1. Associate Degree in psychology, human services, counseling, human resources, or related field. Combination of experience in this field as well as in a corporate business setting, preferably staffing.
2. Experience assessing and advising others in a variety of personal and professional issues such as counseling, employment, personnel, and finances. Work experience in the areas of skill and career assessments, business services, networking-including utilization of community resources; job development and placement skills are required.
3. Must have knowledge of employment support in the areas of career exploration, life skills, realistic work expectations, community resources, job seeking and job retention skills. In addition, understanding of current social and labor market conditions is required
4. Knowledge of the hiring needs of employers and ability to assess employability of participants.
5. Must be willing and able to appreciate and use the tools necessary to document and support participant’s development, including participant case notes, progress reports and financial reports.
6. Assertive personality with strong verbal communication skills.
7. Ability to successfully model positive and appropriate behaviors to a wide variety of participants.
8. Strong planning, time management and organizational skills.
9. Ability to use computer and administrative tracking systems.
10. Ability to work collaboratively with other coaches, instructors and employer services coordinator.
11. Ability to maintain focus and effectiveness during rapid changes and transitions; show a consistent pattern of being able to recognize the activities needed to accomplish an objective and to plan and initiate appropriate steps to do so with minimal supervision in the process.
12. Knowledge of facilitation, teaching and training techniques.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to hr@twincitiesrise.org. No phone calls. EOE