Workforce Development Community Liaison - Chicago, IL
ICNC works to strengthen companies in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor on Chicago's Near West Side. In addition to representing and providing assistance to hundreds of companies in its community, ICNC owns and operates Make City, a small business incubator which houses 100 small business tenants in its 416,000 square foot facility.
ICNC also co-owns The Hatchery, a new food and beverage manufacturing incubator, where this position will be located.
The Hatchery Chicago is a non-profit startup incubator that helps food and beverage entrepreneurs grow their businesses. It is a one-stop-shop aiming to solve three major challenges in the industry: access to production space, access to financing, and access to technical assistance and an entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Hatchery is one of the largest food & beverage incubators in the U.S. and is among the first to be built from the ground up. We are looking for someone who is a great culture fit with strong communication skills and enjoys working in a dynamic, fast-paced, and entrepreneurial environment.
Position Activities & Responsibilities:
The Workforce Development Community Liaison, a grant funded position, will provide support to and be responsible for a wide range of workforce development activities, on-the job-training experiences and employment as well as community and employer outreach, specific to food and beverage, for the workforce development programs at the Hatchery. This is a full-time position and reports to ICNC’s Director of Workforce Development.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Community Workforce Development
Community Training Program Supports
Community Program Outreach
The Hatchery and Administrative Supports
Qualifications:
Working Conditions
Open, casual office environment/incubator shared with regular staff and food and beverage entrepreneurs. Most time will be spent at the Hatchery when outside meetings with employers, job seekers, entrepreneurs or community-based organizations are not scheduled. This position includes regular local travel.
Position Structure and Benefit Incentives
How to Apply
Please email letter of interest, current resume, and three professional references to:
ICNC
Workforce Development Community Liaison
[email protected]
The subject line must include the recruiting code WFDCL.
For further information about the organizations, please visit ICNC’s website at www.industrialcouncil.com and the Hatchery Chicago’s website at www.thehatcherychicago.org.
The ICNC and The Hatchery Chicago are equal opportunity employers and provides a smoke-free, drug-free work place.
ICNC also co-owns The Hatchery, a new food and beverage manufacturing incubator, where this position will be located.
The Hatchery Chicago is a non-profit startup incubator that helps food and beverage entrepreneurs grow their businesses. It is a one-stop-shop aiming to solve three major challenges in the industry: access to production space, access to financing, and access to technical assistance and an entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Hatchery is one of the largest food & beverage incubators in the U.S. and is among the first to be built from the ground up. We are looking for someone who is a great culture fit with strong communication skills and enjoys working in a dynamic, fast-paced, and entrepreneurial environment.
Position Activities & Responsibilities:
The Workforce Development Community Liaison, a grant funded position, will provide support to and be responsible for a wide range of workforce development activities, on-the job-training experiences and employment as well as community and employer outreach, specific to food and beverage, for the workforce development programs at the Hatchery. This is a full-time position and reports to ICNC’s Director of Workforce Development.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Community Workforce Development
- Identify, recruit and train community residents and job seekers (particularly women) with employment barriers for food and beverage jobs
- Assess the staffing needs of food and beverage businesses, assist with developing job descriptions, track placement and retention
- Obtain and share food and beverage job leads with community residents and entrepreneurs
- Responsible for providing comprehensive case management services to all participants
- Provide or refer job seekers for wrap-around supports such as transportation, financial literacy, childcare, housing, behavioral health, work readiness, legal, trauma education and other barriers to employment and retention
- Manage relationships with community-based organizations in order to refer job seekers and entrepreneurs for support services not offered in-house
- Design and lead activities that will increase opportunities for women’s access to training and employment
Community Training Program Supports
- Manage the recruitment, administration, reporting and follow-up of community training classes including ServSafe trainings
- Assist in improving workforce readiness and entrepreneurship among women in the community, Impact culinary training and other programs
Community Program Outreach
- Market all Joint Venture food and beverage programs, available production space and services to food and beverage job seekers, entrepreneurs and community partners
- Explore and develop a database of resources to address the unmet needs of women job seekers and entrepreneurs
- Support community residents in understanding the Hatchery Chicago programming, how to enroll as a member, the process for obtaining licensing and certifications and registering for classes and events
- Actively pursue new relationships and create strategic partnerships with city, state and national organizations that offer services to women-owned entrepreneurs and job seekers
- Create leadership council of women in food and restaurant industries to promote employment, networking events/workshops, mentoring and training programs
- Support fundraising goals and opportunities
- Facilitate tours of the Hatchery for workforce development partners, donors and community residents, as needed
The Hatchery and Administrative Supports
- Ensure all program activities and grant obligations are implemented and achieved
- Prepare and share accurate performance reports (monthly/annually)
- Create and maintain an effective electronic filing system via SharePoint to support programs and clients relations
- Pursue professional and personal development opportunities through appropriate conferences, workshops, seminars, or webinars
- Assist with workforce development community events as assigned
- Perform other related duties as assigned by Director and/or Executive Director
Qualifications:
- Minimum two-year college degree in related field or a minimum of four-years of relevant program experience required
- Must have Illinois Food Handler Certificate or be eligible to obtain it within sixty days from date of hire
- Prior experience working with underserved female job seekers and/or entrepreneurs, highly preferred
- Become and remain knowledgeable of ICNC and Joint Venture programs and service
- Previous experience, training or knowledge about workforce development, candidate screening and project management
- Ability to work independently, prioritize, organize, problem solve and exercise good judgment with minimal supervision
- Skilled coordinating a variety of projects simultaneously
- Must have knowledge in resume building, drafting job descriptions, interviewing and networking
- Able to work effectively under time pressure and/or deadlines
- Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing
- Knowledge of Salesforce is a plus
- Excellent administrative and organization skills
- Will become familiar with City of Chicago food service rules and regulations
- Active listener and understands the importance of accountability
- Self-starter that is energetic, creative, proactive, and responsible
- Great follow-up and interpersonal skills
Working Conditions
Open, casual office environment/incubator shared with regular staff and food and beverage entrepreneurs. Most time will be spent at the Hatchery when outside meetings with employers, job seekers, entrepreneurs or community-based organizations are not scheduled. This position includes regular local travel.
Position Structure and Benefit Incentives
- This is a full-time position; 40 hours per week; 8:30am-5pm, Monday-Friday; with need to work some weekends and evenings and ability to work remote 20% of work week
- Starting annual salary range is $52K-$59K; commensurate with experience
- Benefit incentives includes: One week paid vacation to start and one week personal/sick time off, participation in group health insurance plan, SIMPLE IRA, short and long term disability and life insurance; training and career development opportunities available
How to Apply
Please email letter of interest, current resume, and three professional references to:
ICNC
Workforce Development Community Liaison
[email protected]
The subject line must include the recruiting code WFDCL.
For further information about the organizations, please visit ICNC’s website at www.industrialcouncil.com and the Hatchery Chicago’s website at www.thehatcherychicago.org.
The ICNC and The Hatchery Chicago are equal opportunity employers and provides a smoke-free, drug-free work place.