Counselor, Youth Development, Non-Profit & Social Impact

Position:

Minnesota Training Partnership (MTP) is seeking a full-time Employment Counselor to provide comprehensive employment assistance to lower-income individuals seeking stable, household-sustaining jobs. Currently this position is sometimes remote, and largely in-office at the United Labor Centre in Minneapolis and other community-based program locations.

MTP is an experienced and successful provider of workforce development services, particularly those that connect people to, or help them advance in union jobs.

The leadership of the Minnesota AFL-CIO established MTP in November 2017, and the organization was awarded 501(c)(3) tax‑exempt status in September 2019. MTP’s affiliation with Minnesota AFL‑CIO assists us to leverage strong connections to unions and employers to benefit program participants. The mission of MTP is to advance equity by strengthening the pipeline of underserved populations into stable job opportunities and upgrading incumbent worker skills.

MTP’s employment and training programs are funded by grants from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families, City of Minneapolis, Ramsey County, Hennepin County, union partners, and subcontracts with organizations funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Employment Counselor will play a key role in supporting job seekers seeking employment services at United Labor Centre and other locations. This position is responsible for providing individualized employment counseling, career planning, work readiness training, and job placement support to participants, particularly those facing systemic barriers to employment. The Employment Counselor will build relationships with unions, employers, and community organizations to help participants enter sustainable, household‑supporting careers.

Frequent travel throughout Minneapolis and the greater Twin Cities metro is required.

• Conduct individual and group outreach to engage people with lower incomes from a wide range of cultural backgrounds in our comprehensive employment services. Provide culturally competent outreach to BIPOC communities, immigrants, English language learners, women, and people experiencing housing instability or unemployment. This will include in‑person outreach, and outreach through the telephone, email, and online technology such as Zoom and Teams.
• Determine program eligibility for participants, and assist them to enroll according to the comprehensive, specific and non‑negotiable requirements of the program grantor(s).
• Meet program enrollment goals according to pre‑determined timelines as outlined in program contracts and internal plans.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with unions and labor organizations, community‑based organizations, educational institutions, employers, and other stakeholders.
• Represent the organization at in‑person and online community events and meetings. This includes attendance at community events, public housing locations, workforce centers, food shelves, clinics, libraries, adult education providers, and other sites to recruit participants.

• Train participants in topics related to employability, job search, job applications, resume writing, interviewing skills, digital literacy, work readiness, job retention, household financial management, and related topics. Utilize person‑centered, trauma informed training strategies. Training will occur both individually and in group settings utilizing in‑person and online formats.
• As applicable to some individuals, connect participants to short‑term training at approved training partners as applicable and assist them with enrollment and program completion.

• Assist participants in understanding and accessing the full range of services available at our organization and in the community.
• Use assessments and labor market information to align participant interests with high‑demand occupations, including union careers in a wide range of occupational areas and Registered Apprenticeship…