Junior/Senior Coach for Work-Readiness, Groundwork for Success

Groundwork Inc. is looking for a highly-motivated, organized, detail-oriented professional to lead our work readiness, internship and career exploration programs and support juniors and seniors involved in Groundwork for Success, a leadership development, work experience, and college preparation program for high school students from the high-poverty community of East New York, Brooklyn.

About Groundwork:

Groundwork helps neighbors build powerful communities.  We identify small neighborhoods, typically public housing developments and the blocks that surround them, and work with community members and institutions to provide high-quality educational programs and support services to the children and families who live there.  Our after-school and summer programs for elementary and middle school children give them the skills and confidence they need to become engaged, educated citizens.  Our work experience and college preparation programs for teenagers teach youth to become leaders while guiding them to success in academics and in life.  Our programs for adults offer parents and other community members the resources they need to support their families and build organized community power.

We believe that this combination of education, support and empowerment helps families transform their lives and their communities.

Responsibilities
Junior-Senior Coach for College Access leads students’ transition from high school to college. Key responsibilities will include:

·  Counseling  80 – 100 GWS junior and seniors

·  Teach Work Readiness course.

·  Organize annual GWS Career Fair

·  Supervise the Groundwork internship program and SYEP.

·  Offer workshops on career exploration

·  Meet regularly with the College Access Coach and other coaches to collaborate on college access and career awareness

·  Coordinate monthly activities and trips for GWS Scholars such as visiting job sites, job shadowing and other career-related opportunities.

·  Develop and facilitate workshops for high school students that promote career exploration and job readiness

·  Provide ongoing career and educational counseling.

·  Guide scholars through the process of becoming job eligible and help scholars obtain proper employment documents

·  Support the College Bound Program with Groundwork’s 8^th Graders.

Salary and Benefits: 

• $40K - $45K, negotiable depending on experience.  Excellent medical, dental, and vision benefits.  Four weeks annual vacation + paid holidays.  403(b)(3) plan.  Life insurance and short- and long-term disability (employer funded).

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree.  Master’s degree in social work, school counseling, education, or related degree is strong preferred.
• Strong commitment to Groundwork’s social mission.
• At least two years experience in a youth development organization or high school setting.  Experience in a high-performing work readiness program serving high school students is strongly preferred.
• Ability and desire to provide career counseling services to a diverse population of high school students from low-income, first-generation college-bound, and minority backgrounds
• Experience working with youth and adults in high poverty communities.
• Solid understanding of youth development methodologies and strengths-based approaches to assessment and counseling.
• Superior organizational, planning, and problem solving skills. 
• Strong PC, Microsoft Office, and Internet skills.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and to work independently and creatively.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship building, oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to interact well with a high-performing, mission-driven staff.
• Entrepreneurial attitude – the successful candidate will be willing to do whatever it takes to build a strong and effective program.