Refugee Employment Manager in Kansas City, Missouri at Jewish Vocational Service (JVS)

Manage and provide direction to the employment services program that serves a wide range of clients. The program manager will oversee a team of employment staff, contacting and reporting to referral sources, developing employer resources and databases for placement, and monitoring compliance issues. The manager will also engage in direct client services. Develop and maintain relationships with local employers. Provide supervision to program staff. Manage and collect data for reporting purposes. Implement best practices in the field of workforce development. Provide opportunities for team and self for training in the field to maintain best practices.

Job Development

• Become familiar with job market trends and community employment opportunities, sharing information with persons served and other staff members as needed.
• Market individual program participants and JVS programs to employers throughout the community using JVS materials and on-site personal interviews with employers.
• Educate and train prospective employers about the various populations served by JVS, including job accommodations and JVS services.
• Assist employers in identifying, modifying, and eliminating barriers to the employment and advancement of persons served.
• Collaborate with the Workforce Development Advisory Council, leadership teams, and key stakeholders to develop and provide training opportunities to advance DE&I in the workplace, regularly emphasizing topics specific to refugee communities to ensure accurate and timely data entry and program outcome reports.
• Communicate with referral sources regularly regarding the progress of each participant.
• Refer participants to other community agencies or services when deemed necessary.
• Maintain professional rapport with a broad range of persons served, guests, co-workers, other agencies, and organizations.
• Mediate and resolve cultural, religious, and disability issues affecting employment.
• Compile data to ensure accurate completion of monthly dashboard reports and billing. Prepare billing reports promptly, ensuring the accuracy of information.

Compliance

• Oversee all aspects of employment programming, including eligibility and timely enrollment, identifying and tracking cash and in-kind match, completion of monthly and annual reporting, and ensuring adequate documentation of employment information in the case file.
• Audit case files regularly and coordinate with Community Integration teams to increase efficacy, compliance, accuracy, and best practices.
• Analyze past trends and financial projects to determine enrollment demographic targets, direct financial assistance allocations, and program guidelines.
• Meet with clients as needed to clarify policies and procedures to ensure maximum compliance with funder guidelines.
• Train staff members on policies and procedures; provide updates on the program as necessary.
• Create and update an Employment Training Manual when required.
• Escalate issues and trends in barriers to self-sufficiency for strategic intervention.
• Ensure timely completion of all data reporting to guarantee compliance.
• Assure compliance with all grant requirements and work with the Grants team to ensure all programmatic requirements are met for funding.

Supervision

• Be available for support and advocacy and act as a resource for staff.
• Fill in for staff in the department as needed.
• Provide weekly coaching of direct reports.
• Assign and review caseloads to ensure staff is working at capacity.
• Coach team on providing employer feedback, including appropriateness, recommendations for worksite and job modifications, etc.
• Implement emergent practices obtained through JVSU (strengths-based coaching, emotional intelligence, core values, professional development planning, etc.).

Other duties, as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of employment and/or specific client populations
• Knowledge of employment, community resources, and community-based organizations.
• Bi-lingual and able to speak the language of the clients served; preferred but not mandatory.
• Ability to work with minimal guidance and direction from a supervisor.

Skills Needed

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with a proven ability to meet deadlines and effectively prioritize, delegate, and execute multiple tasks.
• Ability to be self-directed and highly flexible in daily work.
• Ability to work effectively in an environment that is multicultural and multilingual.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to develop positive working relationships with internal and external collaborators.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency in Word, Excel, Google Docs, and the use of internet-based communication.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Schedule: Position requires flexibility; some weekend and/or evening hours are required.
• Environment: This is primarily a service coordination role with approximately 50% of the work completed in-office. Much of the work is performed in a temperature-controlled interior environment and requires prolonged periods of sitting and computer use.
• Travel: Occasional travel to community events, public service providers, and other service locations is necessary. Use of a personal vehicle is required, with mileage reimbursement provided.
• Community Work: Some tasks may be performed at community sites (e.g., schools, libraries, or partner agencies). While traveling or working off-site, employees may be exposed to temperature extremes.
• Physical Requirements: Position requires frequent bending, squatting, sitting, standing, pulling, pushing, and lifting or moving items weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Equipment: Use of a company-provided cell phone is required.