Ed/Voc Specialist - BRAG Restore

The B.R.A.G. Restore Educational/Vocational Specialist works as a member of an interdisciplinary team to provide educational, vocational, workforce development, and life-skills support to young adults ages 16–25 who have been identified as being at high risk of engaging in serious violence. The Educational/Vocational Specialist will work closely with Case Managers, the Program Director, community partners, employers, workforce providers, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to help participants identify and achieve short- and long-term educational and career goals. The Specialist will help participants reconnect to education, secure employment and internship opportunities, develop job-readiness skills, explore career pathways, obtain credentials, and build the skills and professional relationships needed for long-term self-sufficiency.

The Specialist will contribute to developing and implementing each participant’s Sustainable Growth Plan, ensuring educational and vocational goals connect to the participant’s interests, strengths, needs, and long-term aspirations.

Grounded in Good Shepherd Services’ trauma-informed and strength-based approach, the Educational/Vocational Specialist will support participants in developing protective factors, increasing stability, strengthening positive relationships, and building pathways toward education, employment, and healthy adulthood. The Specialist will work in a culturally responsive manner and support programming offered in both English and Spanish, as appropriate.

The position will also facilitate interactive weekly life and job-skills workshops covering areas such as conflict resolution, healthy communication, time management, financial literacy, workplace expectations, resume development, interviewing, and other topics identified through participant needs and interests.

TITLE: EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL SPECIALIST – B.R.A.G. RESTORE

REPORTS TO: PROGRAM DIRECTOR, B.R.A.G. WEST - B.R.A.G. RESTORE

LOCATION: 1995 Jerome Ave., Bronx, NY & 1 East Fordham Rd. Bronx NY

HOURS: 35 Hours/Week, Non-Exempt

SALARY: $50,600 - $54,600

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Work collaboratively with Case Managers and the Program Director to assess participants’ educational, vocational, employment, and career-development needs and goals.

• Assist participants in developing short-term educational and employment goals, such as reconnecting with school, obtaining a GED or other credential, securing employment, completing job-readiness training, or accessing vocational programs.

• Help participants identify and pursue longer-term career pathways, credentials, education, training, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities consistent with their interests and strengths.

• Participate in the development, implementation, and ongoing revision of participants’ Sustainable Growth Plans, with particular attention to educational and vocational goals.

• Conduct ongoing vocational assessments utilizing participants’ background information, interests, skills, work experiences, educational history, and identified career aspirations.

• Conduct individualized job development and job-search activities on behalf of participants and assist participants with identifying positions and opportunities that are appropriate to their interests, skills, and circumstances.

• Develop and maintain relationships with employers, workforce development organizations, educational institutions, training providers, community-based organizations, NYC agencies, and other partners to create meaningful opportunities for participants.

• Cultivate internship opportunities that align with participants’ interests, emerging skills, and longer-term career goals.

• Connect participants to available employment opportunities, including opportunities through the Anti-Gun Violence Employment Program (AGVEP), workforce providers, community organizations, local employers, and other relevant programs.

• Assist participants with job applications, resumes, cover letters, interviews, workplace expectations, professional communication, and other employment-readiness activities.

• Conduct mock interviews and provide hands-on opportunities for participants to practice workplace behaviors and employment-related skills.

• Facilitate interactive weekly life and job-skills workshops tailored to participant interests and needs. Topics may include conflict resolution, healthy communication, time management, financial literacy, workplace expectations, resume development, interviewing, career exploration, and other relevant areas.

• Coordinate with Case Managers to ensure that skills taught through workshops and individual coaching are reinforced through case management and participants’ daily experiences.

• Support participants in developing professional references, building resumes and portfolios, and gaining experiences that strengthen their future employment and educational opportunities.

• Provide participants with support, information, and linkages to educational and vocational programs in the community, including GED programs, credentialing programs, apprenticeships, job training, internships, employment services, and higher education opportunities.

• Assist participants with barriers that may interfere with educational or vocational success, including housing instability, transportation needs, access to health care, social-service needs, documentation, and other immediate stability concerns by coordinating with Case Managers and appropriate community resources.

• Assist participants and community partners with AGVEP paperwork, documentation, and other requirements associated with employment and internship opportunities.

• Advocate for participants with employers, educational institutions, workforce providers, and community partners when appropriate.

• Conduct community outreach, both independently and as part of the B.R.A.G. Restore team, to develop and maintain relationships with young people, residents, businesses, educational institutions, workforce organizations, community agencies, and other stakeholders within the 46th Precinct and surrounding Fordham community.

• Represent B.R.A.G. Restore at relevant community meetings, workforce-development events, educational events, partner meetings, job fairs, and other activities that support the program’s educational and vocational objectives.

• Collaborate with the program’s Case Managers and other staff to support participant engagement, retention, stabilization, and successful completion of program phases.

• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, including monthly Interdisciplinary Conference meetings, to discuss participant progress, successes, challenges, educational and vocational goals, and appropriate next steps.

• Provide regular updates to the Program Director and Case Managers regarding participant progress toward educational and vocational goals.

• Participate in program planning, implementation, and continuous quality improvement activities.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of participant contacts, services, referrals, employment and educational activities, internship placements, workshop participation, and progress toward goals in GSS-approved databases and systems.

• Collaborate with Good Shepherd Services’ Impact & Evaluation team to ensure accurate collection and documentation of program data and outcome indicators.

• Maintain participant confidentiality and comply with all applicable Good Shepherd Services policies, contractual requirements, and documentation standards.

• Participate in required GSS trainings, including trauma-informed practice, youth and family development, bias awareness, mission effectiveness, and other program-specific training.

• Maintain regular participation in meetings and activities coordinated by B.R.A.G. Restore, GSS, BXDA, NYC agencies, and community partners, as required.

• Support a safe, respectful, inclusive, and youth-centered program environment.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required: A bachelor’s degree/ two years of experience in community work, workforce development, education, vocational services, youth development, or community-centered activities related to the duties described above;

• In-depth knowledge of educational, vocational, employment, and workforce-development processes.

• Experience providing employment, educational, vocational, or career-development services to youth and/or young adults.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships with employers, educational institutions, workforce-development providers, community-based organizations, and public agencies.

• Demonstrated ability to perform effective community outreach and mobilize community resources and partnerships.

• Experience and knowledge of working with at-risk youth and young adults, including individuals who may be involved in or at risk of involvement in the criminal legal system and/or violence.

• Demonstrated ability to engage young people through a strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and youth-centered approach.

• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and collaboratively with program participants, staff, employers, educational providers, community partners, and other stakeholders.

• Ability to facilitate interactive workshops and provide individualized coaching and support.

• Ability to work independently while functioning effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

• Proficiency with computers, databases, electronic documentation systems, and common office applications.

• Ability to maintain accurate, timely, and confidential participant records.

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, as required by program operations and participant needs.

• Ability to travel throughout the Bronx and surrounding communities using public transportation and to conduct community outreach as required.

• Ability to walk extended distances and navigate community-based settings.

• Ability to pass required background and employment screenings.

• No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse, or domestic violence, consistent with agency requirements.

• Criminal justice history and/or lived experience with the communities served is preferred, provided the candidate meets all applicable employment and supervision requirements.

• Strong commitment to working toward positive community change and supporting young people at risk of violence involvement.

• Bilingual Spanish-English preferred.

• Valid, clean NYS driver’s license strongly preferred.

• Commitment to working from a strength-based, trauma-informed youth and family development perspective.

• Commitment to Good Shepherd Services’ mission, vision, values, and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and community wellness.