Training Specialist

Job Summary:

The Training Specialist is responsible for the recruitment, screening, and enrollment of Mass Hire Merrimack Valley Career Center customers into skills training programs funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Career Technical Initiative (CTI), and other specially-funded training initiatives. This position aims to help customers interested in training achieve their employment goals in regional priority industries via specially funded training grants. The Training Specialist will creatively recruit customers for training, determine customers ‘eligibility for specific training programs, conduct enrollment procedures, and support enrolled customers through program completion. The Training Specialist will also develop relationships and collaborate closely with training providers, Market Makers, and others in the workforce development system.

Essential Functions/Key Responsibilities:

Maintain knowledge of and engage with ARPA, CTI, and other specially funded training partners to:

• Understand regional strategy and training priorities
• Develop expertise on regional training providers, including key programs, training cycles, eligibility requirements, and prerequisites.
• Solicit feedback from training providers regarding ideal applicants and the success of past referrals.
• Collaborate with regional Market Maker on all the above.
• Build and implement a marketing campaign, including social media, to aggressively recruit. participants, both existing MassHire customers and other interested residents of the Merrimack Valley region for training opportunities; continually assess and work toward implementing effective recruitment methods that yield positive enrollment outcomes.
• Create marketing collateral to promote programs.
• Utilize data to recruit participants.
• Coordinate and lead various internal career center and community outreach activities to attract training candidates, which may include information sessions, industry panels, and other events to promote training opportunities.
• Facilitate enrollment of candidates into training programs.
• Meet with and assess needs of training candidates, including career aspirations, income requirements, current skill level and future training needs, personal preferences, and program    t to ensure enrollment appropriateness and readiness.
• Support customer applications by ensuring accurate completion of registration forms, CORI/SORI requests, and collection of all documentation as required by the training program funding source.
• Make direct connections to training partner(s) as needed.
• Assist MassHire customers in navigating resources.
• Refer customers to support services before and after training enrollment to ensure access to support programs (mentorship, housing, childcare vouchers, etc.).
• Case manages training program participants to promote persistence, maintaining contact at a minimum of every 30 days Provide post-placement support Collaborate with MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Center recruiters and business service representatives to facilitate placement of training graduates into training-related employment.
• Perform required data entry using the state's MOSES system and any other database/system as required by the training program funding source.
• Engage internal stakeholders for technical assistance and sharing best practices Participate in staff development and cross training opportunities that expand and support functional skills and promote professional growth.

Skills and Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience involving career counseling, case management, recruitment, or counseling.
• Knowledge of and connections to the Merrimack Valley community to facilitate recruitment of training participants.
• Working knowledge of social media and computer software and technology.
• Access to reliable transportation, including proper vehicle insurance maintenance.
• Ability to travel within the greater Merrimack Valley (including Lowell).
• Willingness to work evenings and Saturdays when needed, which the collective bargaining agreement will pay.
• Ability to work effectively with and meet the needs of people from a diverse range of backgrounds,
• cultures, and identities, including underserved communities and people from the different racial groups, socioeconomic statuses, nationalities, and languages that make up GLCAC’s clientele to support the agency’s mission of building a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization for employees and clients alike.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of MassHire system and regional employment trends is a plus.
• Experience working with and supporting a culturally diverse population.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and multi-task.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a team.
• Strong oral, written, communication, platform, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in the use of computers.

Work Environment: This job operates in a professional office environment and uses standard office
equipment, such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. This job regularly requires the employee to sit, walk, and stand, as well as use hands repetitively to handle or operate standard office equipment. The employee is occasionally required to kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.