Career Readiness Coordinator

General Summary: Founded in 2001, ArtWorks for Milwaukee’s mission is preparing youth for tomorrow by providing transferable career skills through arts internships today.  We currently offer two, year-long, paid internships for high school students: graphic design and mental health advocacy; and environmental arts.  ArtWorks engages teens through the arts, but the ultimate goal of internships is to prepare youth for the working world.  We contribute to equity in the workforce by hiring diverse groups of teens to work collaboratively towards shared goals.

Scope of the Position:  The career readiness coordinator is a new role to provide additional support to our interns in their professional development and success beyond ArtWorks. The coordinator is responsible for the interns’ ongoing job skills and career readiness development throughout their internship.  Additionally, the coordinator will work with interns to create a transition plan for their pursuits after ArtWorks and provide support and coaching once the interns leave ArtWorks.

Specific Job Responsibilities:

Intern Recruitment/Training:

• Recruit high school interns leveraging ArtWorks’ existing network and cultivating new relationships with schools, youth-serving organizations, etc.
• Work with lead artists in the interviewing and selection of interns
• Coordinate completion of required paperwork for new interns
• Co-facilitate intern orientations to ensure clear job expectations and intern engagement.

Intern Coaching for Success:

• Attend program sessions at least monthly (includes Saturdays and evenings)
• Work with each intern to create goals for a successful internship
• Assist interns in discovering their strengths
• Assist interns in understanding their challenges and how to overcome them
• Work with internship supervisors to maintain consistent focus on transferable job skills throughout program sessions
• In coordination with lead artists, monitor intern attendance and engagement, identifying, supporting, and working to resolve work-related issues they may be experiencing.
• Provide feedback and evaluations to interns
• Act as a positive role model and mentor to all participants
• Share intern progress and growth with ArtWorks’ staff

Intern Career-Readiness:

• Recruit, plan, and coordinate with volunteers to deliver monthly professional development workshops for interns
• Communicate with and orient volunteers/partners about ArtWorks’ mission, the projects interns are working on, their career interests, etc.
• Prepare interns for each workshop to ensure maximum engagement and impact
• Debrief with interns/volunteers/partners on the workshop experience to ensure continued improvement and impact
• Work with lead artist to integrate and reinforce learning from workshops to the weekly internship work sessions.

Post-Internship Success:

• Work with interns to create a plan to improve in school, prepare for college, or secure employment after their ArtWorks’ internship
• Maintain contact with interns for 3-6 months after their internship to document progress and challenges
• Track intern progress post ArtWorks
• Forming an intern alum network to continue engaging our alum community and supporting them.

General:

• Develop metrics to measure the success of workshops and the intern alum network
• Adhere to policies and guidelines of ArtWorks and program site
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• At least two years teaching, facilitating, or mentoring experience in a similar role
• At least two years working with or coaching youth
• Cultural competency to work well with all communities and individuals and a commitment to equity and inclusion
• Bias toward continuous improvement
• Comfortable with ambiguity and fluidity of roles
• Ability to work independently and under minimal supervision
• Flexibility and multitasking skills
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills while working on a team
• Effective time management
• Strong analytical skills
• Participate in sessions/events on Saturdays and some evenings
• Bachelor’s degree in education, human resources, psychology, social work, or a related field OR two years’ professional experience in workforce development, education, human resources, psychology, social work, or a related field
• Ability to travel easily to program sites and work evenings and occasional weekends.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Knowledge of social emotional learning (SEL)
• Experience working with youth who have experienced trauma or have mental health issues
• Experience creating lesson plans or curricula
• Interest or experience in the arts is a plus, but not essential.

ArtWorks for Milwaukee is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Reports To: Executive Director

Direct Reports: Interns (shared responsibility with lead artists)

Position Status: 12-month contract; 20-25 hours/week

Compensation: $17.50-$20/hour depending on experience

Benefits: Flexible work schedule including remote work, paid time off, professional growth and development opportunities.