ABOUT BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS, INC.

For more 50 years, Bridge Over Troubled Waters has provided a comprehensive continuum of care for runaway, homeless, and high risk youth in Boston, and has been a national model in providing innovative youth services. Our mission is to transform the lives of youth through safe, supportive and encouraging relationships, counseling, housing, and skill-building, to guide them towards self-sufficiency and achieving their goals.

Bridge is committed to building a diverse workplace and strongly encourages people of color and other ethnic backgrounds to apply!

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Job and Career Development Counselor will be responsible for a career counseling and coaching strategy for youth and young adult participants in the Bridge Education and Career Development Program. As a member of a highly collaborative program environment, the Job and Career Development Counselor will work closely with youth, external employment and training partners, job/career counselors, teachers, case managers, and other agency colleagues to achieve their employment and career goals. Communication, information sharing, and mutual support among each youth’s support team will be essential to give young adults the best opportunities to meet their goals. This position involves working with young adults in groups as well as individually, and it involves working closely with employers, vocational training programs and colleges.

The Job and Career Development Counselor reports to and will be supervised by the Education/Career Development Program Coordinator.

We are looking for candidates who are enthusiastic, client-centered, compassionate, competent, and flexible to meet the needs of our high-risk and challenging population of young people. Professional background and experience are important, yet personal experience and characteristics, dedication, understanding, and empathy, too, are important, as well as ability to build trusting relationships and maintain boundaries.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assess work experience and career-related strengths and challenges of all youth participating in services at Bridge Over Troubled Waters to assist them in evaluating their interests, skills, and abilities and making decisions about job and career goals.
• Participate in recruiting Bridge youth and young adults to take part in the Education/Career Development Program.
• Guide youth to discover what motivates them and assist them in utilizing that motivation to plan for future stability
• Guide all youth in the Education/Career Development Program to develop an individualized education and career development plan, in coordination with education and/or vocational training needs
• Provide in-depth employment and career counseling and support for all youth participating in the Education/Career Development Program to assist them in achieving their education and career development plan
• Advise youth at Bridge about educational and/or training programs they need for particular careers
• Develop a database of public and private training programs, internship and apprenticeship opportunities, application and entry requirements, tuition and financial aid, etc., and maintain relationships with appropriate staff members within job development organizations
• Assist youth at Bridge in the job search process by guiding them to websites and other resources and assisting them in using job search resources effectively
• Teach job search and job retention skills, such as interviewing, resume writing, problem solving, time management, communication skills, etc.
• Conduct group workshops on a variety of career development topics
• Maintain regular communication with the Education/Career Development Program team, case managers, and other services providers on job/career progress and needs of the youth served.
• Participate in staff development activities, staff meetings, trainings, and other program-related activities as assigned.
• Perform other related duties for the purpose of ensuring an effective educational environment and collaborative team.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, counseling, education, social services, or related field; master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of 1 year experience in education, workforce, or economic development, job counseling, placement services, mentoring, and/or equivalent experience providing student support services in an education setting
• Familiarity with and experience using and interpreting interest and aptitude assessment programs such as Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, MassCIS, etc., or interest in gaining expertise
• Empathy, compassion, tolerance, and flexibility in working with individuals experiencing homelessness and/or other forms of trauma
• Excellent communication and organization skills, both verbal and written, and ability to work as part of a team
• Available for working flexible hours, including evenings and weekends if needed
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Ability to interact with people from culturally diverse backgrounds and display strong customer relation skills.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently and exercise sound judgment in making decisions and act accordingly.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: 

Bridge Over Troubled Waters is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers a competitive salary and benefits package including medical, dental and vision plans, paid time off and a retirement savings plan. Bridge also provides a bonus of $2,500 for all new employees that they are eligible to receive it in two $1,250 installments after 6 months and at one year of service with Bridge. 

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

Bridge Over Troubled Waters’ duty is to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of recognized hazards.  As such we have adopted a MANDATORY COVID 19 VACCINATION POLICY for our employees. This policy is intended to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees as well as their families, our clients, and visitors who spend time in our facilities from COVID 19’s infectious conditions. This policy complies with all State and Local Laws and is based upon guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health and licensing authorities, as applicable. Employees who have underlying medical conditions that contraindicates administration of all available COVID-19 vaccines, are pregnant, or object to receiving any of the COVID-19 vaccines available based on sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance may request a vaccine exemption through Human Resources.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Inc.  is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status.