Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1949 to welcome Holocaust survivors and returning World War II veterans looking to rebuild their lives in Kansas City. Today, JVS welcomes refugees and immigrants from around the world who are fleeing persecution in search of safety and opportunity. JVS embraces, encourages and empowers our newest neighbors in their journey to self-sufficiency.  Offering an extensive array of services in community integration, health & wellness, and workforce development, JVS is Kansas City's premier immigrant-and-refugee-serving organization. 

JVS offers a number of benefits to employees:  health, vision and dental insurance, short-term disability, 403b plan including 3% employer contribution, paid holiday, sick and vacation time, and opportunities for professional development.

Section 1: Overview and Purpose of Position

The Employment Preparedness Coordinator will work in coordination with the Employment team, providing support to JVS clients as they work towards self-sufficiency through employment. The Employment Preparedness Coordinator will be the point person for employment training and job clubs and will therefore coordinate with community partners, volunteers, clients and JVS staff. This position will report to the Employment Manager, but work closely to ensure core services are met in other employment and self-sufficiency focused programs, such as Matching Grant, Refugee Cash Assistance, and Refugee Temporary Assistance Connection Program. 

Section 2: Qualifications (skills, education, experience)

  • High School diploma (relevant experience may be substituted for diploma).
  • Minimum 1-2 years of experience working with immigrant populations and/or low-income populations preferred. 
  • Valid driver license, valid auto insurance, access to personal vehicle, and clean driving record with no moving violations within the past three years.

Section 3: Responsibilities/Duties

  • Develop an annual program/activities plan that will prepare JVS clients to enter the job market, including US workplace expectations, interview preparedness, understanding taxes, etc. 
  • Map and partner with cultural and social service organizations to provide job preparedness training to complement rather than duplicate efforts. 
  • Conduct regular employment preparedness sessions, including employment orientation, job club, etc. 
  • Coordinate with the Volunteer Team to engage community volunteers with subject matter expertise to provide training sessions, individualized tutoring, etc. 
  • Work with the Cultural and Language Services department to ensure appropriate interpretation is available for all training activities. 
  • Update and maintain program schedule and event schedule. 
  • Stay up-to-date on program compliance for employment preparedness and job club activities, ensuring offerings are in-line with grant requirements
  • Case note all client interactions including outreach, participation and follow-up. 
  • Coordinate regular focus groups or feedback mechanisms for JVS clients  to get insight on activities they would like to see.

Section 4: Skills Needed

  • Strong relationship building skills and ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.
  • Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multicultural environment.
  • Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skill
  • Proven ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
  • Strong organization skills.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research, and problem-solving purposes.

Section 5: Working Conditions and Physical Effort

  • Hours:  Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00 pm, with flexibility for occasional evenings/weekends as dictated by client needs
  • When not working in the community, work is typically performed in an interior temperature-controlled office work environment. Position requires periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Salary Range: $37,960 – $46,300

A note to Potential Candidates:

Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary individuals and BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single qualification listed in the job description. Here at JVS we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may come from a background less traditional to our field of work and that is okay. JVS strongly encourages you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every qualification described.

Please submit your resume to recruit@jvskc.org