Common Wealth Development is seeking a motivated, energetic youth worker to join our team. THIS INDIVIDUAL WILL FOCUS ON YOUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING FOR MADISON-AREA HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH. This includes working directly with teens and help deliver our employment and financial education, job placement, and mentoring programs to youth facing barriers to employment. This position is also responsible for building and maintaining crucial relationships with school partners and local businesses to support Work-Based Learning programs through Madison Metropolitan School District. This is a full-time position with some evening and weekend hours required. Hourly wage is $20-$21/hour, depending on experience, with full benefits, including: health insurance (health, dental, optical), retirement plan with employer sponsored match up to 10%, 2 weeks paid vacation, 1 week personal time, & 1 week sick leave with increases after 3 years of continuous employment.

Applicants are required to have a valid driver’s license and daily access to an insured car.

 MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop positive employment opportunities with businesses that will partner with Common Wealth Development to provide supportive job placements for economically disadvantaged youth from our program.
• Support partnership with Madison Metropolitan School District by maintaining databases and following up with students to ensure program completion.
• Facilitate the placement of teens into jobs and follow up on their progress with employers for multiple programs.
• Network with businesses, community, school personnel, and families to promote the programs.
• Identify and recruit economically disadvantaged teens for the programs.
• Arrange and conduct employment and financial education trainings and workshops.
• Mentor youth in the programs to ensure successful employment, money management, and orientation toward higher education.
• Communicate and work effectively with a team to ensure highest quality programming and support for teens.
• Assist in program planning and evaluation.
• Maintain written records and computer database.
• Perform other tasks as requested by the Youth Workforce Development Manager and the Executive Director.
• Experience and commitment to working with teens from low-income homes and/or racially diverse backgrounds in a culturally responsive manner.
• Knowledge of workforce development as a component of comprehensive community and economic development.
• Experience building relationships with multiple partners such as businesses and community members
• Strong personal connections to economically under-resourced communities.
• Strong personal connections to racially and/or ethnically diverse communities.
• Commitment to racial justice
• Bilingual in Spanish and/or Hmong.
• Experience leading training sessions for teens.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with businesses, youth, families, and school personnel.
• High level of motivation and ability to prioritize tasks and handle multiple responsibilities at once and work effectively both independently with minimal supervision and as a member of a team.
• Attention to detail and ability to follow through on tasks in a timely manner.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and database programs.

 DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience and commitment to working with teens from low-income homes and/or racially diverse backgrounds in a culturally responsive manner.
• Knowledge of workforce development as a component of comprehensive community and economic development.
• Experience building relationships with multiple partners such as businesses and community members
• Strong personal connections to economically under-resourced communities.
• Strong personal connections to racially and/or ethnically diverse communities.
• Commitment to racial justice
• Bilingual in Spanish and/or Hmong.
• Experience leading training sessions for teens.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with businesses, youth, families, and school personnel.
• High level of motivation and ability to prioritize tasks and handle multiple responsibilities at once and work effectively both independently with minimal supervision and as a member of a team.
• Attention to detail and ability to follow through on tasks in a timely manner.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and database programs.

Common Wealth values diverse life experiences in its hiring process and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Bilingual, bicultural, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Common Wealth Development offers a language proficiency bonus of up to $1500.00 per year, for employees who are fluent in Spanish and/or Hmong.  We value the work of our local schools and educators, and graduates of Madison area high schools are strongly encouraged to apply. Our team is diverse in every sense of the word, but united in our linked fate, shared prosperity, and our commitment to an upstream approach to health equity and violence prevention.

Preference will be given to complete applications received by 5:00 pm Monday, September 16th, 2022

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL POSITION FILLED.

The required cover letter should describe your experience and/or ability to:

• Work with and/or mentor racially and economically diverse teens in a culturally responsive manner
• network with the business community and/or help individuals find employment; and
• lead training sessions.