Workforce Development Specialist

Workforce Development Specialist

Looking to make an impact and have a career with purpose? It’s an exciting time to join Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts because we are GROWING! We’re adding a full-time Workforce Development Specialist to our dynamic team based in downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts to support our mission of inspiring and preparing young people for life and career success.

Job Title: Workforce Development Specialist

Reports to: President & CEO

Department: Programs

Location: New Bedford office and Southern Massachusetts service communities including Greater New Bedford, Greater Taunton, Greater Fall River, and Cape Cod.

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

FTE Status: Full Time, Salaried, 40 hours per week

Regular Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm (includes a paid 30-minute meal break) Monday-Friday. Note: Regular hours are subject to change as required by the President and business needs. Evening and Weekend hours will be required at times to align with the availability of the participants that we support.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $57,000 annually

Benefits: JA offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance coverages, employer paid life insurance and disability insurance, paid time off, paid holidays off, cell phone stipend, professional development, and a fun and fast-paced work environment that advances education efforts that make a positive difference across the region.

To Apply: Please email a cover letter and resume to Jeffrey Pelletier, President & CEO, at Jeffrey.Pelletier@ja.org.

ABOUT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHERN MASSACHUSETTS:

Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts (JA) is a regional non-profit organization that’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy. Junior Achievement is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement’s programs—in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy—ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.

Our JA Workforce Pathways for Youth Program is designed to empower young adults by providing personalized career guidance and skill development through a structured, research-based approach. Participants engage in one-on-one, virtual coaching sessions, supplemented by digital resources and interactive modules, to develop transferable skills, build a professional portfolio, and create actionable career plans. Volunteer coaches, trained through a comprehensive, self-paced curriculum, support participants in navigating complex career decisions and achieving their goals. This program emphasizes continuous reflection and adaptation, ensuring participants are well-prepared to succeed in the dynamic and ever-changing modern workforce.

Our Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) supported Advancing Leaders Academy Workforce Development Program, supports out-of-school youth in our community through a comprehensive set of recruitment, educational, career, and personal development services. This high impact program supports out-of-school youth to achieve their educational, career, and personal development goals through direct to participant program services, collaborative activities with our program partners, and referrals to community partners.

Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts is the local affiliate of Junior Achievement USA, the nations’ oldest and largest economic education organization with over 100 years of experience. Junior Achievement associates are known for their passion for the JA mission. Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts offers a collaborative, inclusive work environment and the opportunity to impact the lives of young people in our community.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: Under the leadership of the President & CEO, the Workforce Development Specialist will lead our workforce development efforts across our service communities spanning Southern Massachusetts. This position will lead all aspects of JA’s workforce development activities including the JA Workforce Pathways for Youth Program and the JA Advancing Leaders Academy Program.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work collaboratively as a member of the Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts team to support the activities and goals of the organization in a professional and inclusive manner.
• In addition to the specific duties outlined below, other duties may be assigned including working some early mornings, weeknights, weekends and holidays based on the needs of the business.
• Work collaboratively with the President & CEO to set workforce development strategy, policy and goals.
• Direct all aspects of the organization’s workforce development activities across the covered service communities.
• Directly recruit, engage with, and support participants to meet their career, education, and personal development goals.
• Work closely with existing partners and build new community partnerships to support the implementation of the organization’s workforce development programs.
• Assure adherence to program implementation models and file all needed reports and documentation.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Delight the Customer: Provide value to JA stakeholders and constituencies beyond their expectations; Seek and respond to feedback to ensure that constituent needs have been met.
• Execute Effectively: Focus on appropriate details so that work gets done accurately; Use the most appropriate sequence of activities to complete work in a timely manner; Implement appropriate work structures and processes to accomplish goals.
• Understand & Plan the Work: Identify action steps needed to accomplish work objectives; identify and obtain resources needed to accomplish objectives; coordinate planning efforts with others; establish clear, realistic timelines for goal accomplishment.
• Communicate Effectively: Demonstrate genuine interest when listening to others; Listen actively, reflecting and summarizing comments to ensure understanding; answer questions clearly and concisely.
• Drive for Results: Consistently achieve work objectives; Readily put in time and effort required to achieve goals; Work to resolve routine and unexpected problems.
• Demonstrate Adaptability & Resourcefulness: Overcome obstacles and constraints without becoming discouraged; Maintain a positive outlook and sense of humor in difficult situations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Required: Bachelor’s degree and/or 2 years of relevant work experience; familiarity working in a fast pace environment; ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks; reliable with a high level of maturity and sound judgment; Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel locally and regionally; flexible and comfortable with ambiguity; works well in a team environment; strong oral and written communication skills; strong computer skills; ability to build and sustain relationships, proficiency in youth engagement and program delivery.
• Preferred: Experience working with youth directly or through youth serving organizations; experience in the nonprofit sector; experience in the workforce development sector.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to: sit, walk, occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, continually required to talk or hear, occasionally required to bend, lift, or climb, frequently required to lift and carry light weights (25-50 pounds), and specific vision abilities include: close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust or focus.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" relationship.

JA of Southern Massachusetts is an Equal Opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation, in accordance with federal and state law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $57,000.00 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

Ability to Commute:

• New Bedford, MA 02740 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $50,000 - $57,000