Background

Forestdale is a child welfare agency working to enhance family well-being and prevent child maltreatment through parenting, prevention, and foster care services for families in Queens and Brooklyn. We help thousands of families work through complex trauma, raise the next amazing generation of children, and youth successfully launch into adulthood. Forestdale’s mission is “to ensure that children and families have the fundamental assets they need to thrive and live independently.”

Job Summary

The career development specialist is an energetic, enthusiastic coach who provides ongoing employment support for youth in the Strong Futures Internship Program. Support includes career assessment and counseling, mentoring, facilitating employment workshops that includes the development of soft skills; monitoring of the internship program through regular contact with the internship supervisors and identifying and developing of potential external employers.

Salary: $26.38 – $32.69 hourly.

Major Responsibilities/Activities

• Directly manage the Strong Futures Internship Program
• Track outcome and goals of the program
• Identify resources which support individual career goals for youth (e.g. educational/vocational programs, internships, trainings)
• Ensure youth participate in workshops, training programs, and employment events
• Work closely with internship/externship program participants and supervisors to ensure goals are being met
• Escort youth to job fairs and other career-building events
• Work collaboratively with internal agency staff to identify employment needs of youth
• Assist in facilitation and development of Independent Living Skills workshop
• Assist Educational Specialists in providing educational support services
• Update databases and submit all necessary reports in a timely manner
• Conduct outreach to community organizations and maintain a positive rapport with all constituents
• Assist department in coordination of special events

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years workforce development experience working with 16-24 year olds
• Flexibility with work schedule; availability to work at least 3 late evenings a week (e.g. 10-6, 10:30-6:30, 11-7, 12-8, 1-9) and 1 Saturday a month

Additional Information:

Forestdale Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Forestdale Inc. is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.