Work Force Alumni Coach

About Us

The Cambridge Housing Authority ("CHA"), a leader in developing and maintaining affordable housing communities, is seeking a qualified and highly motivated candidate. By focusing on policy innovation and family economic opportunities, the CHA is committed to developing and managing safe, high quality, affordable housing for low-income individuals and families. CHA provides long-term rental housing and rental assistance to more than 5,500+ individuals and families through its Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Programs. CHA has been awarded accreditation by the Affordable Housing Accreditation Board (AHAB) and was the seventh affordable housing provider in the nation to receive this prestigious accreditation.

CHA offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience. Our generous benefits package includes health and dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, life and disability insurance options, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, retirement pension and deferred compensation 457b plans, and more! CHA employees enjoy flexible work schedules.

Summary 

The Work Force Alumni Coach provides advising and coaching services to graduates of The Work Force program, a nationally recognized, five-year educational support, college prep, and career-readiness program for public housing teens in Cambridge. The Alumni Coach will support the successful transition of program graduates into post-secondary educational programs and their persistence towards graduation within three to five years. The Alumni Coach works with each year’s graduating Work Force class and coaches them over five years, or until graduation, with a heavier emphasis on providing services to graduates during their first two years of post-secondary education. 

The Alumni Coach collaborates closely with a variety of stakeholders, including the Teacher Counselors from all four Work Force youth program sites, the guidance departments of the city’s public and charter high schools, the staff at the City of Cambridge’s Office of College Success, and other youth and educational providers. The Alumni Coach also collaborates with higher education partner personnel to expand services for Work Force alumni. In addition, the Alumni Coach will work closely with The Work Force Program’s Employment Partnership Coordinator, and the City of Cambridge’s Office of Workforce Development, to provide career planning and summer job placement for Work Force seniors and alumni.

All activities must support the CHA and Work Force’s strategic goals and objectives and produce results that accomplish the goals of the Resident Services department. 

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

A Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling or a related field, with at least three years of experience coaching and mentoring first-generation youth from low-income families to prepare them for post-secondary success. A Master’s degree in related field is preferred.

Technical Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have strong computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, MS PowerPoint, and working knowledge of Salesforce). Ability to learn other computer software programs may be required by assigned tasks. Ability to use social-media effectively to disseminate information preferred.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provides 1:1 and small group advising services to each year’s cohort of Work Force graduates to finalize financial aid and college enrollment processes.
• Provides individual and small group advising to program graduates on designated campuses and virtually throughout the academic year to assist students in resolving challenges that impact their academic success and persistence towards graduation.   
• Helps to connect students to appropriate campus‐based personnel and services as necessary.    
• Supports students in the completion of FAFSA renewals prior to priority deadlines.  
• In collaboration with Work Force Program’s Teacher-Counselors, develops and implements curriculum for 1:1 advising, workshops, and events focused on personal leadership, community and academic engagement, college preparedness, career exploration, self‐advocacy, and other topics of relevance to first‐generation college students.
• Collaborates with Work Force Employment Partnership Coordinator to identify career exploration and summer employment opportunities for Work Force alumni.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with higher education partners to expand campus‐based services for Work Force graduates.
• Collaborates with Work Force staff to plan events, connect with Work Force seniors, participate in regular Teacher-Counselor meetings, and other shared initiatives.
• Participates in select events sponsored by the city’s College Success Initiative, and collaborates with the Initiative’s Office of College Success Coordinator.  
• Maintains and updates participants’ files and program database.  
• Participates in Resident Services and Work Force staff trainings and meetings.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Behavioral Competencies

Commitment: Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and success; conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure; persists despite obstacles and opposition.  

Customer Service: Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands, monitors and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind; recognizes working colleagues as customers. 

Effective Communication:  Ensures important information is passed to those who need to know; conveys necessary information clearly and effectively orally or in writing; demonstrates attention to, and conveys understanding of, the comments and questions of others; listens effectively.  

Responsiveness and Accountability:  Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness; holds oneself personally responsible for one's own work; does fair share of work.  

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Leadership:  Provides direction by clearly and effectively setting course of action for department and subordinates; manages performance by providing regular feedback and reinforcement to subordinates.  

Job Competencies

• Experience working with target population of youth and young adults.
• Advising, mentoring, and/or counseling related experience.
• Proven effectiveness in developing and supporting resilience and leadership in low‐income, first‐generation young adults.
• Proven effectiveness in engagement of young men of color.
• Experience with curriculum development, workshop facilitation and program coordination.
• Ability to work collaboratively with higher education and community agency personnel.
• Strong time‐management and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to maintain a stationary position, operate computers and other office equipment, move about the office, attend onsite and offsite meetings, and communicate. The employee must be able to accurately exchange information in person, in writing and via e-mail and telephone. The employee must occasionally transport up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee works in an office environment (with moderate office noise) as well as in the field.  In the course of field activities, the employee may be exposed to weather, field hazards (i.e. structures in disrepair, pets), violations of public health and moving mechanical parts and/or machinery. The noise level in the office work environment is moderate.

8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Monday through Friday
37.5 hours per week