Role: This Paid Internship Program (PIP) Specialist establishes and cultivates relationships with current employer contacts, new employer contacts, department chairs, and other potential recruiters to develop internship and job opportunities for YIC students. The specialist advises and supports students seeking full-time employment and internship/apprenticeship opportunities on search methods, resume preparation, or other types of required documents. The specialist assists YIC students in applying for open employment and internship/apprenticeship positions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Student Support:

● Provide support to YIC students who are ready to transition into the Paid Internship Program (PIP) and/or Competitive Integrated Employment Program (CIE).

● Review students' person-centered plans containing information on each student's skills, strengths, capabilities, and accommodations (if applicable).

● Advise students and provide guidance on internship planning including the development of learning outcome goals, preparing resumes and cover letters, interviewing skills, research skills, and/or other internship-related documents and activities

● May administer and interpret tests as a part of this process including mock interviews

● Develops, communicates, and markets employment resources to students through program promotions, classroom presentations, workshops, YIC staff and community partnerships

● Assist in development of reels, resumes, cover letters and applications (if not already completed).

● Assist students in identifying available positions or internships opportunities in their field of interest.

● If not acquired already, advise students and help them acquire any additional skills needed for internship and/or employment of choice.

● Work with the YIC team to ensure that students are gaining relevant skills needed for their career path of interest.

● Promote internship and job opportunities to YIC students in their career path of interest, or entry level positions that will lead to employment in their career path of interest.

● In concert with students, plan, coordinate and execute the placement process to ensure a solid vocational profile and list of potential employers.

● Work collaboratively with students to coordinate and facilitate recruitment days, employer panels, and targeted job fairs.

● Establish timelines, schedules, and tasks in accordance with internship/job placement and track both ideal conditions and potential barriers.

● Provide onboarding support and follow up with students during the first 30, 60, 90, and 6 months of internship (depends on length of internship, but most internships are up to 6 months).

● Provide onboarding support and follow up with students during the first 30, 6 month, and 1 year of employment and collect verification of employment documents from students to provide to counselors for Regional Center reporting.

● Establish and maintain accurate, complete and timely files, notes, and reports in Therap (our database system).

Organizational and Community-based Activities:

● Monitors the effectiveness of internship/apprenticeship program; conducts surveys and evaluations

● Design, develop and execute internship/job search and job development plan through 1:1 negotiations with identified small businesses, incorporating informational interviews and hands on experience.

● Showcase students to select employers, leading to negotiation and attainment of internships and/or meaningful employment.

● Generate leads with local employers, create economic development proposals based on students' complimentary skills, highlighting business benefits and gains, and creates jobs.

● Cultivate internship and job opportunities for YIC students in concert with directors, funders, Regional Centers, and other YIC community partners in service.

● Establish and cultivate relationships with current employer contacts, new employer contacts, department chairs, and other potential recruiters to develop full-time and internship opportunities

● Serves as the main point of contact for employers by managing the day-to-day pipeline of employers, while executing on YIC’s employer relations strategic plan

● Engages employers by identifying and providing opportunities for recruiters to connect with students on an on-going basis throughout the service year

● Establishes and cultivates contacts with employers to develop and increase the number of full-time, internship and apprenticeship opportunities

● Ensures Regional Center paperwork is completed and approved before students start working in an internship or job, including all required paperwork for PIP and CIE

● Utilizes social media platforms, email, posters, etc to inform and engage external employers, recruiters, and other contacts

● Aid in expansion of services, outreach, marketing, recruiting, and other projects related to YIC's PIP and CIE programs.

● Initiate and maintain personal contacts with potential employers and with other community organizations.

● Schedule and visit potential and existing employers to identify and develop positions

for students.

● Research current industry trends, updates on labor market, and organizational opportunities.

● Attend job and career fairs to look for internship and employment opportunities that would match YIC students' skills.

● Networking with professional/community organizations that are involved in mentorship/training activities.

● Communicate with employers during students’ internship/employment and report results to directors.

● Work with YIC counselors to collect and track internship/job placement data.

● Performs other related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

● Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Communications, Sociology, Business, Psychology or related degrees a plus; OR

● A minimum of 4 years full-time experience as a headhunter, recruiter, HR specialist, coordinating employer engagement efforts, an internship program, or co-op program with a disability service provider or in a college, university, or accredited trade school may substitute for a Bachelor’s degree.

KNOWLEDGE and/or SKILLS

● Excellent organizational skills

● Ability to multitask

● Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment

● Ability to communicate diplomatically in person and in writing is required

● Must be able to work occasional evenings and/or weekends

● Must be able to travel based on business necessity

LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATES

● Valid California Driver’s License and Insurance

COMPETENCIES

● Conflict resolution

● Relationship building and management

● Communication

● Leadership and navigation

ANALYTICAL AND REASONING SKILLS

● Ability to collect and analyze data.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

● Ability to build and cultivate relationships; work cooperatively; establish rapport and gain trust; listen and elicit pertinent information effectively; and interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

WRITTEN AND VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

● Ability to speak and write in an organized and effective manner; speak confidently in small settings; and write with excellent grammar.

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS

● Ability to exercise duties in an organized manner; plan, prioritize and complete duties in a timely manner; be detail oriented; and multi-task.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

● Written and Spoken English

● Written and Spoken Spanish is desirable, but not required

● American Sign Language is desirable, but not required

Salary and Benefits: As a new hire, your starting hourly rate will likely be between the 25th percentile and the midpoint of the range; however, all offers are based on the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications. Benefits: Employee is entitled to five (5) Paid Sick Days each calendar year and up to 3.076 hours per/semi-monthly paycheck, up to eighty (80) total hours annually of Paid Vacation Time. Employees are entitled to Paid Federal Holidays. YIC will pay 100% coverage of medical premium with Kaiser Platinum HMO plan (for employee and up to 3 dependents), and YIC will pay 100% coverage of Vision and Dental premiums (contact HR for plan details). YIC is

registered with the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program. If an employee elects to participate in the CalSaver Retirement Savings Program, the employee selects a contribution amount that is deposited into a Roth Individual Retirement Account maintained by CalSavers.

Work Hours/Days: Varies, but typically 40 hrs/wk, 5 days/wk. This position works occasional evenings and/or weekends.

Classification: Non-exempt, hourly position.

About YIC: Yes I Can Unity Through Music and Education (YIC) is a nonprofit disability service provider based in Santa Clarita that provides customized training and employment services to creatives with disabilities referred by the California Regional Centers who require services and support(s) to assist them in pursuing entry-level careers or self-employment within the entertainment industry.

YIC provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, gender, disability, national origin, ethnic background, citizenship, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

YIC is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, YIC will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Selina Thomas, Human Resources Representative at sthomas@yicunity.org.

Yes I Can (YIC) Unity Through Music & Education, Inc.

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Paid Internship Program Specialist