Workforce Development Advisor
Position Description
About PowerCorpsPHL
PowerCorpsPHL (PCPHL) connects people to careers and advances community. PCPHL engages out-of-school or out-of-work 18- to 30-year-olds in an immersive, paid 4- to 24-month program that results in connection to living wage jobs in energy, green infrastructure, and community-based careers.
PCPHL specifically recruits young people most impacted by the city’s gun violence epidemic and lack of opportunities. To date, 92% of graduates transition to career pathway employment and justice-involved young people average an 8% one-year post-program recidivism rate compared to the citywide average of 45%.
Specifically, PowerCorpsPHL runs three programs and one social enterprise in Philadelphia and provides technical assistance to cities nationwide interested in adapting our model to their region.
Philadelphia initiatives include:
1. TRUST: an urban-farm-based healing initiative exclusively for justice-involved young adults and young adults vulnerable to gun violence. TRUST offers rolling enrollment and immediate income while engaging in work-readiness skill-building and therapeutic supports with the goal of preparing them to enter other PowerCorpsPHL programming or enter other employment.
2. Foundations: an AmeriCorps program engaging un- and under-employed young people in crew-based environmental and community-based projects. Foundations offers full-time work experience, professional development, supportive services, and career exploration with the goal of transitioning graduates into career- specific training or entry-level employment.
3. Career Training: industry-specific advanced training tracks in Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Urban Forestry,
Solar, Masonry, Park Rangers, and Youth Work. Career Training on-the-job and classroom-based training is designed with employers and industry with the goal of transitioning graduates into career-track employment in the field.
4. Philadelphia Reforestation Hub: a first-of-its kind public-private-partnership model for wood waste capture and job skills training. Developed in partnership with Cambium Carbon, PCPHL operates a sawmill and lumber yard to give new life to fallen city trees, while providing jobs and career pathways for local residents.
Nationally, PCPHL provides technical assistance to three cities and several key national partners to design, seed, and expand the number of equity-focused, workforce development climate corps in the nation based on the model and learning of PowerCorpsPHL. This nascent work has resulted in:
- the launch of the Environmental Justice Corps in Buffalo, NY in 2021
- the launch of the Reading Climate Corps in Reading, PA in 2022
- the launch of PowerCorpsBOS in Boston, MA in 2022
- hundreds of hours of technical assistance to communities affiliated with the Delaware River Climate Corps initiative and member organizations of The Corps Network
Position Overview
The Workforce Development Advisor is responsible for the day-to-day holistic support of corps members and alumni in building work readiness and working through barriers to self-sufficiency. The Workforce Development
Advisor will work with a team of Workforce Development staff members to provide both proactive and responsive
corps member and alumni guidance and mentorship. The Workforce Development Advisor reports to the
Assistant Director of Workforce Development and will work on-site with corps members at least 50% of the time.
Essential Functions
The Workforce Development Advisor will:
- Coordinate and deliver a comprehensive set of professional development activities to corps members each cohort and to alumni as needed, including: o Job readiness assessments and career coaching o Individual training and employment plans, career pathway exploration, and goal setting o Connection to resources for education, training, and employment barrier reduction o Development and delivery of career-connected workshops and panels o Facilitation of workshops and panels to promote soft skills development o Support resume and cover letter writing, job search, networking, and interview preparation
- Provide responsive professional development support to address workplace performance issues and areas of opportunity, including: o One-on-one counseling o Self-assessment and self-advocacy coaching o Referrals to relevant staff for supportive service needs or performance improvement plans
- Work with Crew Leaders and the Programs team to provide guidance that takes into account the multiple factors involved in corps member goals and needs
- Work with the Supportive Services team to provide holistic interventions that take into account the multiple factors involved in corps member goals and needs
- Document and communicate all corps member and alumni services and interventions
- Contribute to program reports monthly and as requested
Education, Experience & Skills Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as Social Work or Education, with a minimum of two years direct service experience working with Opportunity Youth and/or similar high risk population, OR
- A minimum of 5 years direct service experience working with Opportunity Youth and/or similar high risk population
- Ability to work as a part of a collaborative team
- Minimum two years experience in counseling, education, or workforce development
- Experience working with justice impacted young adults
- Strong written and verbal communication skills to diverse audiences
- Experience with recording and tracking of data
- Excellent self-direction and the ability to take ownership and drive responsibilities through to completion
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity and cross-cultural issues
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Salesforce
- Willingness to work outside in various weather conditions
- Willingness to travel to different locations within Philadelphia on a regular basis
- Successful completion of background checks (PA state criminal, Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse,
National Sex Offender Public Registry, and F.B.I. fingerprinting)
Core Competencies
Caring Relationships
- Motivate and lead program staff to work collaboratively perform with excellence
- Establish and foster, with diverse partners, positive relationships and open, informative and effective communication
- Demonstrate high level of enthusiasm for and ability to convey the PowerCorpsPHL mission to internal and external stakeholders in a clear and compelling manner
- Exercise sound judgment
Professionalism and Professional Development
- Self-direct and assume full ownership over responsibilities
- Set clear direction and accountability for staff while offering opportunities to share resources, obtain professional development and advancement to reach goals and objectives
- Provide clear communication and high level of organization to all staff; including sound written and oral communication skills
- Present strong problem solving processes
- Commit to professional development to advance skill growth of serving urban youth
Cultural Competence and Inclusion
- Promote inclusive behaviors and practices and equity among staff; setting high standard for open dialogue and problem solving
Adolescent Development and Empowerment
- Commit to the advancement of urban youth; including staff development
Program Management
- Evaluate program effectiveness and build capacity to develop systems and align resources to optimize success
- Develop relationships and plans to advance the goals of the PowerCorpsPHL program
Please submit a resume and cover letter to gentris@powercorpsphl.org with the subject line as “Position Title_Last Name” (ex. Support Services Advisor_Smith).
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
- No weekends
Supplemental pay types:
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Work Location: In person