Job Description: Biotechnology Education and Employment Specialist

Jewish Vocational Service helps individuals and businesses achieve their employment goals by providing the skills necessary for success in today’s workplace.  Individuals making the transition into new work environments benefit from JVS career and employment counseling, job placement, English instruction and occupational skills training programs.  JVS is a non-sectarian, not-for profit corporation founded in 1973.  JVS is a nationally recognized innovator in workforce development, and plays a leadership role in collaborative employment and training efforts throughout San Francisco. 

Position Summary:

Under the supervision of the Allied Health Sector Manager, the Education and Employment Specialist provides educational advising, case management assistance, employment counseling, and other necessary supportive services to students enrolled in City College of San Francisco’s Bridge to Biotechnology program.  This position works in close collaboration with Allied Health Sector team members, CCSF biotech faculty and staff, biotech employers and other community and public agencies to ensure its smooth and effective operation.

Responsibilities:

Educational & Employment Counseling/Job search & Placement Assistance

• Conducts initial assessment of students’ needs and helps students complete all required CCSF and JVS paperwork. 
• Assists students in uncovering roadblocks to success and develops strategies to address these potential barriers throughout the continuum of training, placement, re-placement and retention of employment.
• Facilitates academic support services for students experiencing or anticipating academic challenges.  Collaborates with CCSF faculty and staff to collectively develop academic plan for students needing remedial services.  
• Collaborates closely with CCSF biotech faculty and staff to identify needs of Bridge to Biotech students and develops innovative supportive services to address these needs.
• Arranges for other support services as necessary while in CCSF biotech program and beyond such as counseling, childcare, housing, and financial budgeting.
• Offers vocational counseling to clients in their pursuit of certification and employment.  Assists clients in identifying appropriate short and long term employment objectives; maps out strategies for reaching employment objectives; provides corresponding job development; and supports the client throughout the job search. 
• Provides job search and placement assistance to biotech clients and follow-up services to placement maintaining contact with supervisors and clients for up to 12 months.  Makes appropriate job referrals and assists with the job match. 

Workshop Facilitation and Classroom Instruction

• Coordinates and facilitates job search skills workshops for biotech students and graduates in areas such as resume and cover letter writing, interviewing skills, networking skills, etc.
• Coordinates educational workshops for biotech students to address barriers to completion including math and writing skills. Facilitates communication between workshop instructors and CCSF biotech instructors to ensure alignment with student needs.

Employer Account Management

• As part of the Healthcare sector teams, provides ongoing occupational research of the local labor market.  Helps identify companies and businesses with potential growth.  Performs labor market analysis, and communicates information to clients and team members.

• Performs ongoing outreach to sector employers; develops and maintains collaborative relationships with hiring managers. Promotes JVS services to prospective sector employers and community groups.

• Assists employers to assure the successful integration of workers into the workforce.  Responsible for managing assigned employer accounts.  Provides presentations to employers, conducts site visits and organizes employer panels. 

Program Outreach and Community Relations

• Conducts outreach to new CCSF biotech students highlighting JVS services offered to students through classroom presentations, one-on-one consultations, phone calls and emails.  

• Promotes other JVS programs and services and builds partnerships with other JVS staff, CCSF, employers and collaborative agencies.

• Represents JVS in related community forums and at biotech networking events.

Program Administration

• Ensures compliance with agency and program funding reporting requirements including contract documentation, program statistics and client case files. 

• Responsible for tracking and reporting client progress and employer engagement activities to MIS department.   Maintains participant case records, program data and other statistical records as needed. 

• Participates in departmental, agency and community meetings.

• Other duties as needed.

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills & Experience):

• A minimum of two years experience providing educational or employment support to clients in a vocational or academic setting. 

• Experience in employment counseling, job development, and placement with persons from various professional and ethnic backgrounds.  Excellent cross-cultural communication skills and the ability and willingness to work with economically and culturally diverse clientele. 

• Familiarity with biotech career pathways as well as the needs and concerns of biotech employers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

• Familiarity with Bay Area training and employment resources, including support services and other resources for trainees and job seekers.

• Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills; patience, diplomacy, and a high level of customer service skills required.

• Well organized, ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet goal objectives; excellent team player.  True attention to detail, ability to complete paperwork accurately in a timely fashion. 

• Excellent presentation skills, including public speaking, networking, and written communications. 

• Computer proficient in Microsoft Office or similar program, understanding of concept of relational database, competent in using Internet and excellent research abilities.

• B.A./B.S. degree in a related field or equivalent experience.

Salary:   $37,000 - $42,000

Benefits (only if applicable) - Including, but not limited to: Medical, Dental, Retirement Plans, Life, Flexible Spending, four weeks vacation, federal and Jewish Holidays.

Limited-term positions are not eligible for benefits, except workers’ compensation insurance and San Francisco Paid Sick Leave Ordinance.

How To Apply:  Please email cover letter and resume to myuan@jvs.org; please use Biotechnology Education and Employment Specialist  in subject line.

JVS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, ethnic background, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disabilities. Please let us know if you need accommodations for the interview process.

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Copyright © 2006 Jewish Vocational Service. All Rights Reserved.
225 Bush Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94104 (Map)
Email: hire@jvs.org

Phone: (415) 391-3600, Fax: (415) 391-3617, TDD: (415) 391-2846