Industry and Student Retention Liaison (IDPL) - Career Pathways

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Instituto del Progreso Latino is a community organization whose mission is to contribute to the fullest development of Latino(a) immigrants and their families through education, training and employment that fosters participation in the changing U.S. society while preserving cultural identity and dignity. Founded in 1977 to help Latino’s learn basic skills, pass the civil service exam and obtain higher paying post office jobs, Instituto has grown to a flourishing educational center serving over 14,000 Chicago families per year.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Industry and Student Retention Liaison (ISRI) will 1. Serve as the industry Liaison to help address the shortage of skilled employees in the healthcare industry and other fields by creating long term and mutually beneficial relationships with businesses, associations, and local workforce agencies. 2. Promote the value of the entry level skilled workforce by connecting them to employment, training and development opportunities that will result in career advancement opportunities and long-term retention sustainability. 3. Work in collaboration with the Lead Employment Specialist in the design, implementation, and facilitation of group and individuals job readiness workshops.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Industry Liaison Duties

• Create and implement processes that will connect, maintain, and cultivate the organization’s professional and long-term relationships with employer partners, associations, local workforce boards, industry lead workgroups, clients and program graduates.
• Keep abreast of the local workforce and employment trends that affect our employer partners and clients. Make program improvements based on those findings.
• Work closely with local Workforce Development agencies, local workforce boards, and other training organizations to identify new partnerships.
• Coordinate employer presentations for clients and program graduates to learn about the different employment industry industries, career pathways, and details related to their trade of choice.
• Maintain optimal relationships with existing employer networks by communicating with them via email, phone calls, or in-person site visits to strengthen the work relationship.
• Develop new partnerships to further increase the employer network to promote and offer Instituto’s job placement and retention services.
• Work closely with Instituto’s employer network to ensure their satisfaction with the clients and the program graduates work performance.
• Initiate and maintain ongoing contact with a variety of business and industry representatives as well as job placement/training agencies to promote programs for the participants’ placement.
• Submit Employers Satisfaction Surveys to the existing employer network at the 30-day, 60-day, and the 1-year employment retention benchmarks.
• Compile the employers’ satisfaction survey results and meet with the Dean of Career Pathways, the Dean of College Academic Affairs, the Associate Dean of the Nursing, and the Employment Specialist to review the employers’ comments.
• Design and execute an improvement action plan with the review team to ensure a high level of employers’ satisfaction that addresses the areas of improvement received from the employers.
• Provide internal feedback on how to improve the students and the employer’s retention.
• Represent Instituto and Career Pathways at various stake holders, community and/or business meetings, committees, and task forces to promote existing and new programs outside business hours and weekends.

Student Retention Liaison Duties

• Provide employment retention follow-up services to participants after initial job placement to ensure the job retention benchmarks are met.
• Provide coaching and post-employment follow-up tracking services to participants.
• Compose and send correspondence (introductory letter, monthly contact letter, year-end follow-up letter) to program participants at each employment retention benchmark.
• Verify the 30-day to 180-day, and up to the 12-month employment retention benchmark for program participants by obtaining the necessary proof of employment retention documentation.
• Collect supplemental wage data from clients and College of Nursing graduates by obtaining copies of employers check stubs.
• Obtain completed Employment Verification Forms (VOE) and Consent for Release of Information forms from employers at the different employment retention benchmarks when clients or program graduates cannot be located.
• Document the collection of the verification of employment forms in the participants’ paper and electronic files, as well as in the different data tracking systems used in the Career Pathways department.
• Record the corresponding case note for all encounters and efforts made to reach program participants to conduct employment retention services.
• Maintain participants follow-up records (paper and electronic), including file preparation, organization of file, and verification that all information has been received and properly filed.
• Conduct follow-up interviews with participants to capture their most updated contact information such as new address, phone numbers, additional contact information, and supplemental wage information.
• Provide Labor Market Information, job leads, and employment referrals to ensure job retention and skill enhancement opportunities.
• Provide job leads/employment referrals if program participants become unemployed and are seeking new employment opportunities.
• Maintain awareness of the socioeconomic factors bearing on unemployment, local labor community problems, and/or resources relating to the labor market.
• Work with employers and the Career Pathways Employment Specialist to manage and support participants as they transition into employment.
• Work in collaboration with the Employment Specialist to determine the program participants’ skill gaps and establish training plans to address them and become competitive job seekers.
• Assist the Employment Specialist in the development and facilitation of the Career Development activities for the Job Readiness Workshops offered to program participants in an on-going basis throughout the year.
• Provide individual coaching and job search activities that will lead to program participants securing employment.
• Teach clients conflict resolution techniques on employment related issues.
• Maintain ongoing contact with participants to identify personal and social problems that may impact their employment retention. Make appropriate referrals to have those matters addressed.
• Use active listening skills to understand program participants concerns at work and assist in securing resources to address their concerns.
• Providing on-going employment retention follow-up services for the clients and the College of Nursing graduates placed into employment to ensure their employment retention goals are achieved, and/or to help them identify other employment opportunities when a career change is needed
• Coordinate with the different Career Coaches to determine the participant’s eligibility to receive support service and connection to other wrap-around services available at Instituto, such as childcare, academic advising, and transportation assistance as needed.
• Assess individuals for additional training opportunities and make appropriate referrals to access upskilling training to earn stackable credentials.
• Ensure that participants have access to and are receiving all needed support services that will enable them to retain their employment for the expected 12 months benchmark.
• Coordinate with the Financial Coach the provision of financial aid literacy to all participants who have accepted employment.
• Ensure case record documentation is current, accurate, thorough and complaint with established case notes policies and guidelines.
• Prepare monthly programmatic placement and employment retention reports.
• Assist in the facilitation of the Career Pathways Program weekly orientations.
• Participate in the multiple program outreach activities and other meetings conducted throughout year, during the week, weekends, and outside of regular business hours, as needed, as the demand of recruitment activities increases.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• An Associate degree s degree is preferred, or at least 2-3 years of experience .
• Bilingual, the ability to speak Spanish and English is required.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Internet usage and in managing software including Microsoft Windows, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, as well as the Google applications.
• Outreach and recruitment experience required.
• Ability to meet performance quotas as required by funders and Instituto.
• Result and solution driven.
• Demonstrate strong organizational and time management skills.
• Communicate clearly and effectively in writing, verbally, and by phone.
• Exhibit solid interpersonal skills.
• Possess solid negotiation and persuasive skills.
• Develop knowledge of appropriate employment compensations and benefits for particular positions.
• Responsibly handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Ability to work with various levels of management and with various program initiatives.
• Maintain excellent customer service skills and professional demeanor under all circumstances.
• Ability to be a team player and to handle multiple tasks at once.
• Ability to adhere to deadlines and manage unpredictable changes effectively.
• Ability to work well without minimal supervision, demonstrating a self-motivating attitude and high level work ethics.
• Support teamwork and collaboration towards the completion of programmatic goals.

The above job description is intended to describe the general conditions of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities and requirements.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The nature of this work requires an ability to operate standard business office equipment. Job tasks require the ability to communicate and exchange information, as well as compile and maintain work files.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The majority of work performed is in a general office environment. Extended and weekend hours may be required to complete job tasks. Attendance at organization sponsored events and meetings may also be required outside of regular office hours.

BENEFITS

• Medical
• Dental
• Vison
• Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• 403b retirement saving plan

PAID TIME OFF

• Vacation
• Sick
• Personal
• Holidays

Instituto del Progreso Latino is an Equal Opportunity Employer