What are the responsibilities and job description for the Peer Mentor position at SOAR?
EDA Recompete – Outreach and Retention - Peer Mentor
Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) is hiring full-time positions to provide guidance, support, and encouragement to prime age employment gap (PAEG) workers under its Phase II application to the EDA Recompete Pilot Program. This is a grant-funded position serving 12 SOAR counties: Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Perry, and Pike. Priority will be given to applicants residing in or within close proximity to any of these 12 counties.
These positions will report to the Peer Mentor Manager.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Conduct one-on-one mentoring sessions with PAEG clients seeking to re-enter the workforce, providing emotional support, encouragement, and guidance throughout their journey.
- Assist individuals in identifying their skills, strengths, and interests, and help them explore potential career paths and job opportunities.
- Offer practical advice and assistance with resume writing, job searching, networking, and interview preparation.
- Provide resources and referrals to community organizations, training programs, and other support services as needed.
- Foster a supportive and non-judgmental environment where individuals feel comfortable discussing their challenges and aspirations.
- Monitor progress and track outcomes to ensure that PAEG workers are making meaningful strides towards their employment goals.
- Collaborate with other project team members including close coordination with staff from the Eastern Kentucky Workforce Training and Support Network (WTSN)
- Stay informed about current trends and best practices in workforce development, peer mentoring, and related fields.
Expectations
- Previous experience working with individuals facing barriers to employment, such as returning citizens, individuals with disabilities, or long-term unemployed individuals, strongly preferred.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and establish trust with diverse populations inside the PAEG.
- Empathetic and non-judgmental attitude, with a genuine desire to help project clients succeed.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to effectively prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities.
- Knowledge of community resources and support services for individuals seeking employment preferred.
- Familiarity with basic computer skills, including word processing, email, and internet research.
- Positive attitude
Culture and Core Values
SOAR’s mission is simple: grow Eastern Kentucky’s population.
Our team culture is anchored by putting the interests of Eastern Kentucky first in all that we do. We believe treating others the way we want to be treated is always within our control. Our core values include faith, selflessness, grit, integrity, and empathy. We do our best to exemplify these daily in our interactions with each other and with external partners.
Why SOAR?
The SOAR organization offers a chance to be part of a movement that’s bigger than any one of us individually. Tackling the challenges facing Eastern Kentucky is going to take all of us to come together to find the solutions. Through communications, collaborations, and convenings, SOAR is helping to get the right people in the right rooms to ensure the future of Eastern Kentucky burns as bright as ever.
SOAR offers a competitive salary along with the following benefits:
- 100% paid individual health insurance
- SIMPLE IRA retirement plan
- Cell phone stipend
- Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel
- Internet-enabled device provided
- Annual bonus
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SOAR is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.
