Young Adults Retention Specialist, Grace Institute, New York, NY

Young Adults Retention Specialist

Posted on: July 1, 2013
Application deadline: July 17, 2013
Posted by: Grace Institute

DESCRIPTION

Grace Institute provides tuition-free, practical job training in a supportive learning community for underserved New York area women of all ages and from many different backgrounds. In the tradition of its founding family, Grace Institute is dedicated to the development of the personal and business skills necessary for self-sufficiency, employability and an improved quality of life.

The Young Adults Retention Specialistis responsible for counseling and coaching Grace students, women age 18-24, so that they are able to meet educational/training and employment goals. The Retention Specialist will work closely with students, meet with them individually, conduct regular workshops and support groups, coach participants on career-development and job-readiness skills and follow them throughout the Grace program and into their first year of employment.The Retention Specialist should be aware of the challenges at-risk young adults face and be passionate and committed to direct-service work. Grace Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and encourages diversity within the workplace.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reaches out to newly admitted students before they start program; identifies and discusses challenges and potential persistence issues. Assists incoming students, where necessary, in establishing time-management or project-management plans so they can persist in program.
• Builds professional relationships with participants in order to ensure program persistence and long-term job retention. Participates and supports job-readiness activities including interview-coaching, resume-writing, building appropriate workplace dress and behaviors, and other activities as necessary.
• Develops and leads workshops and support groups dealing with topics such as: time-management, conflict resolution, critical thinking, workplace readiness, and social and emotional intelligence. Researches alternative best-practice methods for leading group-based support activities for disenfranchised young adults. Recommends practices to staff.
• Participates and supports job-readiness activities including interview coaching, resume-writing. Offers advice on appropriate workplace dress and behaviors, and other activities as necessary. Coordinates approach with Career Services and Training and Education depts. Liaisons with instructors and social work team for background information on students.
• Holds crisis-counseling sessions with young adults. Assists selected participants in developing individualized action plans suited to their educational/training and employment needs. Assists students in accessing government or community support to address need.
• Provides employment and post-employment career counseling. Liaisons with partner organizations and Career Service and Alumnae Departments to support students in job-placement and retention. Assists young adult graduates and alumnae in taking advantage of targeted support services and professional development opportunities
• Creates organizational and program materials as necessary, coordinates and regularly updates existing materials. Researches applicable city, state and federal social resources for low-income young adults.
• Helps to ensure that outcome-based performance standards (below) are met:

Increase percentage of young adult population served from 14% to 30% annually. 70% of young adult participants will graduate from the program, an average increase of 15%. 80% of young adult graduates will be placed in a job within one year, an average increase of 10%. 60% of those young adult participants who were placed in a job will retain it for at least one year. 50% of young adult graduates and alumnae will take advantage of targeted support services and professional development opportunities. Grace Institute will create linkages with five new employer partners who are committed to interviewing Grace's young adult population and working with Grace to continually improve outcomes. Reach out to grads on a monthly basis to provide incentives for job retention and to support them in their jobs.

Other

• Consistently exhibits Grace core values during the performance of job.
• Attends staff training and meetings as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

All responsibilities reflect the young adult population at Grace (approximately 30% of total student body, or 40 students per six-month cohort).

QUALIFICATIONS

BA required, Master's degree preferred, in social work, retention services, education or related field. Preferably three-to-five years of direct-service work

• Understands and has experience working with smart, capable, diverse young people, many of whom are part of at-risk populations
• Has strong oral and written communication skills
• Exhibits capacity to think and act strategically to help young people succeed
• Displays capacity for critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and conflict resolution
• Has strong time and project-management ability
• Has ability to use an online database as well as standard computer programs
• Displays an ability to develop and maintain accurate case notes, reports, and other organizational records
• Has knowledge of city, state and federal social resources and case-management skills and processes
• Is able to maintain discretion regarding sensitive issues and confidential information

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send your resume to jobs@graceinstitute.org, along with a cover letter that concisely and sufficiently addresses 1) why you would like to join Grace Institute and 2) how your experience has prepared you for the challenge of this role. Please include Young Adults Retention Specialist in your subject heading. The application deadline is July 17, 2013. No phone calls please.

Community Organizer, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Washington, DC

Community Organizer

Posted on: June 23, 2013
Application deadline: June 28, 2013
Posted by: Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Community Organizer is the front-line sales representative in the local Avon Walk Washington, DC market responsible for the recruitment of Avon Walk for Breast Cancer participants. This position is a critical team member responsible for engaging the community to generate and convert Leads at various public forums and private events. This individual is accountable for insuring that the outreach and conversion goals are not only met but exceeded. This position also manages other in-market participant engagement activities. The position is based in your home office and requires local and national travel and various night and weekend commitments. During busier times of the year, schedule will be full time working Tuesday through Saturday.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

SALES, RETENTION, EVENTS, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

SALES:

1. Represent the Avon Walk in the local market by serving as the lead sales representative for the event to a variety of audiences (Leads, Participants, general public etc.).
2. Works diligently to convert Leads to registered Walkers through excellent phone, email and in-person tactics.
3. Maintains a desire and pace for sales and achieving results through enthusiasm, knowledge and energy when working interested parties (Leads) using strong in-person selling tactics and abilities.
4. Plan and execute Avon Walk informational meetings (Orientation Meetings) in the local market.
5. Deliver prepared sales communications that completely describe the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer event in order to persuade potential participants to donate or participate in our Event series.
6. Adjust sales communication to continually target the needs and interests of specific individuals interested in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer to achieve event recruitment goals.

OUTREACH & LOCAL EVENTS:

1. Plan and execute Lead-generating activities (outreach events and other grassroots marketing and sampling opportunities etc.) in the local market.
2. Identify and solicit potential corporations or organizations for participation in the Avon Walk event and to host informational meetings for employees.
3. Plan and execute special sales events in the local market (such as a Kick Off events, special recruitment-focused events, etc.).
4. Plans and executes retention-based meetings and events for currently registered participants for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer events.

CUSTOMER SERVICE:

1. Offer impeccable customer service to interested parties relative to recruitment, event fundraising and training information by way of leadership, motivation and knowledge.
2. Performs other related duties as assigned by management (such as researching and/ or staffing outreach events, unique duties assigned while working actual events, and various administrative tasks).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

1. Minimum 2 year of progressively responsible customer service experience in a high-paced environment, preferably in the area of high-volume, customer relationship management.
2. Strong sales skills and experience as well as interest in sales and customer service.
3. Demonstrated ability to provide leadership, organize fundraising activities effectively, and participate in high-level customer service support.
4. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong organizational, detail and interpersonal skills.
5. Excellent public speaking skills.
6. Experience fundraising and training for an outdoor athletic event and the ability to motivate others to fundraise and train to walk in a long-distance event.
7. Demonstrated project management skills, including facility in managing and prioritizing projects with multiple and often competing deadlines, and ability to work under pressure.
8. Proven ability to deliver high-touch customer service and work with customer relations management (CRM) database systems (e.g., keep contact logs, conversation notes, and implement follow-up flags).
9. Ability to work very independently from a home office, to work under supervision, and to work in a team-based and goal-oriented environment.
10. Proficient with the PC and Microsoft Office, specifically Word and Excel.
11. Ability to communicate with employees and other agency contacts in a courteous and professional manner. This includes client interactions with the Avon Foundation and its affiliates.
12. Ability to work evening and weekend hours. During the high sales season (January-April), ability to work a varied schedule of Tuesday-Saturday.
13. Ability to work 3 + Avon Walk for Breast Cancer events which means a 6-day commitment per event. Employees may work a minimum of 3 events with strenuous physical activity with possible continuous lifting of up to 50 pounds. Ability to stand for 16 hours daily over the course of the event. Ability to work at varied hours; event preparation can entail early morning and late night activity.
14. Local and national travel required.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree preferred. Proven success in customer relationship management software. Experience in special events for not-for-profit institutions or charitable causes. Direct, personal experience with fundraising programs, as well as long-distance walking and physical training programs. Strong experience in organizing, coordinating, and motivating groups of event participants, and volunteers. Familiarity with CRM programs.
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send cover letter and resume to jobs.dc@avonwalk.org