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 Education/Career Development Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating all aspects of HiSET instruction, educational achievement, job readiness and career development for youth and young adult participants in the Bridge Education/Career Development Program. As a member of a highly collaborative program environment, the Education/Career Development Coordinator will work closely youth, school systems, higher education institutions, external employment and training partners, job/career counselors, teachers, case managers, and other agency colleagues to assist youth in achieving their educational and career development 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 will report to the Associate Director for the Education and Career Development Program and will supervise the HiSET instructors and career counseling staff.

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 maintain standards and authority.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct assessments and analyze academic achievement levels for participating youth, using the Test of Adult Basic Education other relevant tools; follow up with youth and HiSet instructors to assist them in interpreting results and developing education plans.
• Conduct and analyze youth interest and skill assessments using MassCIS, Meyers-Briggs, and other applications; follow up with youth and career counselors to assist them in interpreting results and developing career development plans.
• Ensure timely collection and documentation of all data and statistics on participants’ education, employment, and career development activities and progress, outcomes, and other relevant information; provide data and information for reports and funding requests.
• Monitor and evaluate HiSET instruction for adherence to program guidelines and promote student success.
• Maintain up-to-date information on alternative education principles and practices, instructional strategies, and state and district educational standards and graduation requirements, and other relevant concepts and materials for program integration and development.
• Maintain current data and statistics on workforce needs and trends, including growing occupations,

training requirements, compensation, and other relevant information and share with colleagues and youth to assist in career development efforts

• Connect youth with relevant education, vocational training programs, college visiting sessions; work closely with colleges and universities to stay up-to-date with entry requirements, tuition rates, financial aid programs, support services, and other higher education opportunities.
• Leverage institutional relationships and reach out to potential employers to build a roster of partners who will hire Bridge youth in supported and supervised workplace environments, internships, permanent jobs, or other capacities, along with skill requirements and other qualifications for access.
• Organize a quarterly series of “Career Day” presentations at Bridge, bringing in professionals of all kinds to share details about the jobs they do, training required, what it’s like day-to-day, etc.
• Organize field trips, job shadowing, and other on-site experiences and opportunities with employers, colleges, and training programs to introduce youth to secondary education and assist them in developing education and career development choices and plans
• Connect youth with hiring events and potential employers to increase career pathways opportunities
• Ensure case notes and reports are accurate, timely, and in compliance
• Participate in staff development, staff meetings, trainings, and program-related activities as assigned.
• Provide direct and indirect supervision of education and career development staff; motivate, challenge, and guide staff in execution and improvement of services.
• Perform other related duties for the purpose of ensuring an effective educational environment and collaborative team.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in education, teaching, social services, or related field; Master’s Degree preferred
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in education, workforce or economic development, job counseling, placement services, mentoring, and/or equivalent experience providing student support services in an education setting, including 2 years in management
• A minimum of 1 year working with youth and young adults, individuals or families experiencing homelessness, or other high-needs populations
• Familiarity with federal, state, and/or local career development frameworks, job development, economic and employment trends; and other concepts and practices in career development
• Empathy, compassion, tolerance, and flexibility in working with high-risk populations
• Excellent verbal and written communication and organization skills, 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.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Bridge endorses and incorporates the cultural responsiveness approach of Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary promotes the Department’s three outcomes student learning:

• Academic achievement: Educators hold high, transparent expectations for all students, and support the development of students' academic skills and identities as learners.
• Cultural competence: Educators understand culture's role in education, their students' cultures, and their own identity and biases to 1) affirm students' backgrounds and identities and 2) foster their ability to understand and honor others' cultures.
• Sociopolitical awareness: Educators and students partner to identify, acknowledge, analyze, and consider options for solving systemic inequities in their communities and the world.
• Performance measures are based on student achievement of ISS goals and outcomes, along with written program goals and objectives, which correspond to MA curriculum frameworks, teaching guides, and AEI policies and principles.
• Participant access, attainment of academic skills, numbers of students who obtain their HiSET and move forward in continuing education or training, and/or stable employment are part of performance measurement.

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. 

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.