Program Associate, DOL

Description

Location: Cleveland, OH 

Position Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30pm

Salary Range & FLSA Status: Nonexempt, $40,000-44,000

This position provides data and administrative support related to employment programming focused on providing career pathway services to individuals with criminal justice involvement funded by the Department of Labor (DOL) and to TE’s legal services department. This position reports to the Senior Manager of CLEAR, with a dotted line to the Program Manager of Community and Re-Entry and provides support to the Manager, Data Analytics for data review, report compilation and quality assurance in both our database (Commence) and the DOL system (GPMS). 

Towards Employment offers a robust and competitive benefits package designed to support our team’s health, financial well-being, and work-life balance.  Those benefits include:

• Employer-subsidized medical, dental, vision and prescription insurance.
• Traditional and Roth 401(k) plans with an employer match and profit sharing.
• Company-provided life and short-term disability insurance. 
• Paid Parental Leave.
• 10 vacation days, 10 sick days, 13 paid holidays, and time off between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
• Additional Perks include; flexible schedules, salary advances, cell phone reimbursement and an Employee Assistance Program offering free mental health support services.

Join a team that invests in you! 

Position Summary:  

Support the overall DOL funded programming through timely and accurate data collection, data entry, and frequent reporting to ensure program and participant success. Duties focus around the administrative and clerical tasks necessary for quality program operations including hard and electronic case file maintenance, prerelease and recording post release workshop starts, workshop completions and general program needs. Works with supervisors [JR1] [SD2] on assignments as required.  

Assist with administrative support needs associated with legal aspects of programming that include running background checks on program participants and entering information into Commence database; presenting information regarding legal services to workshop participants, filing correspondence, follow up with courts under the direction of the Program Manager and/or Legal Director.

BACKGROUND: Founded in 1976, Towards Employment (TE) is a non-profit leader in providing innovative solutions to move people out of poverty, into quality jobs and along a career pathway. Towards Employment has gained local and national recognition for achieving excellent outcomes through the hard work of its dedicated staff of 74 and an $8 million annual budget. Towards Employment offers a continuum of support to low-income individuals preparing to enter the workforce or looking to advance from low-wage employment while also fulfilling the staffing needs of local employers.

GENERAL DUTIES: We are looking for someone to serve as a Program Associate for

• DOL grants -Maintaining the tracking of participants in DOL and Towards Employment  databases and pulling/entering information regularly.
• Legal services- Conducting participant background checks serving as the liaison between participants and legal, communicating with courts and connecting legal referrals with legal services.
• Misc. reporting and analysis- Working with internal partners to run reports and measure metrics to ensure job placement retention.

• Work in close collaboration with the Sr. Manager of CLEAR and the Pathways to Success program manager to ensure individual contract data requirements are met.
• Carries out responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and procedures.
• Ensure accurate input into the Dept. of Labors GPMS, and Towards Employment’s Commence data management system.
• Work with Manager Data Analytics to review data for accuracy and provide information for monthly contractor progress reports.
• Work with TE staff connected with DOL to provide data entry administrative support, ensuring accuracy of input and data to meet contract requirements and report preparation.
• Identify any data deficiencies and relay to relevant program staff. Provide follow-up to ensure data is corrected and in compliance.
• Develop and maintain solid relationships with other program staff that contributes to overall program cohesiveness
• Develop and maintain a productive work relationship with staff and remain the liaison on program legal referrals, background checks, BMV checks and attend all scheduled meetings.
• Facilitate legal presentation for all Career Readiness Training Workshops
• Attend program and agency meetings as requested and required

• Active member of the Data Functional Team. Complete associated assignments and assist the functional team to meet identified goals of the Functional Team work plan.
• Meet contract and organization timelines for data input and reporting.
• Participate in rotation of back up support to Front Desk/Reception. 
• All other duties as assigned by Program Manager, Community & Reentry Programs.

• Minimum of a high school diploma or GED with at least two years administrative and data entry experience.
• Must have previous and verifiable database experience, tracking and abilities.
• Previous experience in legal setting or working with attorneys a plus.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail is required.
• Ability to work independently and in teams, be flexible and dependable.
• Must be results-oriented, self-starting, assertive, outgoing, and willing to learn.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to Towards Employment mission and values.
• Reliable transportation.
• Attention to detail, strong organizational, time management and problem-solving skills.
• Must have proficiency with computers, including Microsoft Office, Internet and email, database experience. 

Competencies Success in this positions requires:

• Continuous Improvement – Committed to learning, development, assessment, and measurement to continuously improve.
• Coaching Capacity – Ability to provide guidance and support the advancement of others.
• Team Builder – Leads others through collaboration, influence, and managerial strength.
• Social Justice Advocate –Passionate about promoting equitable opportunities for all community members.
• Problem-Solving Mindset –Proactively identifies challenges and develops innovative solutions that align with the TE mission.
• Commitment to TE Mission – Dedicated to advancing the core values of TE, ensuring that every action contributes to a culture of equity, respect, and empowerment for all.