The Safer Foundation is a social service provider to individuals with arrest and conviction records. Through a full range of services, including case management, educational instruction and advocacy, we focus on preparing individuals for the world of work by helping them find and keep productive and meaningful employment

General Summary:

The Employment Manager oversees the Working 4 Peace program workforce development initiatives, which integrate violence prevention and reentry services with a strong focus on employment, occupational training, and holistic wraparound supports. The Manager ensures effective program delivery and assists staff as needed, including providing coverage for Life Skills (LS) classes, maintaining timely and accurate documentation, providing Pre-Release services and cultivating partnerships with employers willing to provide opportunities to Safer Foundation clients.

Reporting directly to the Director of Supportive Reentry, the Employment Manager is responsible for ensuring alignment of service delivery with program design and funder requirements, staff hiring, and supervision. The role involves coordination with internal departments such as Quality, preparation of reports to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (and additional funders as the program evolves), and communication with external stakeholders. The Manager compiles, reviews, and presents monthly and quarterly performance data, while supporting cross-functional collaboration to strengthen outcomes and sustain program growth.

Performance Results Description

The Position is properly performed when all essential duties and responsibilities are executed by following the Safer Values.

Exceeding Expectations, Communication and Collaboration, Integrity and Evidence Based Innovation

• Integrity and Evidence Based Innovation –Processes and procedures are developed, trained on, periodically reviewed, and improved throughout the course of the grant. 
• Integrity and Evidence Based Innovation – Attend trainings to improve knowledge of the field and evidenced based interventions, concepts, and practices. 
• Exceeding Expectations - Performance is routinely monitored proactively, and in some cases reactively, and corrective action in the form of verbal coaching, job-aids, training are routinely carried out. 
• Communication and Collaboration - Weekly staffing are conducted to review new and existing clients and progress in the program. Expectations of staff are communicated, and necessary follow-up is provided. 
• Communication and Collaboration - Processes are developed with other internal or external departments or programs involved as necessary to expedite processes and remove barriers. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Stakeholder Interface

The Employment Manager will:

• Manage the W4P workforce development initiatives focus on employment, occupational training, and holistic wraparound supports, ensuring program and Safer Foundation outcomes are met and reporting is submitted timely.
• Manage and train staff, ensuring effective service delivery and professional development.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation, prepare monthly and quarterly reports, and manage the program budget to ensure alignment with organizational and funder requirements.

• Work collaboratively alongside all internal Safer Foundation business units Managers and Directors.
• Identify ongoing methods to increase efficiency in preliminary service delivery using data.

•  Maintain current knowledge of all Safer Foundation programs.
• Develop Implement policies and procedures, including day-to-day prioritization and delegation of tasks and maintenance.
• Attend training to improve knowledge of the field and evidence-based interventions, concepts, and practices. 
•  Travel to other locations, to manage and provide support at other Safer locations (Belmont Cragin, and South Side Office).
•  Gain access to the Cook County Jail, which will require a background check.
• Participate in any other duties assigned that are needed to help drive vision, fulfill mission, and abide by organizational  values.

Stakeholder Outreach and Recruitment

• Acts as a liaison to other programs internally, soliciting feedback from individual programs and working alongside them to solve problems.
• Attend and participate in relative conferences, webinars, and presentations.
• Attend and participate in Safer Foundation outreach events.

Tracking, Document and Reporting

• Assists the Director of Supportive Reentry Services in the compilation, analysis, and reporting of outcomes and data integrity, including reporting metric definitions (when applicable)
• Meets all agency, program, contract, grant, and licensing standards, and policy compliance.
• Gather, synthesize, and present all relevant programmatic data for grant reporting on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis.
• Work alongside Director of Supportive Reentry Services, Salesforce administrator, Systems Analytics, and monitoring reporting dashboards every month. 

Fiscal Reporting and Accountability

• Participates in department budget preparation and reviews, responsible for budget implementation and adherence.
• Order supplies as necessary and within the program budget, gauging total amounts allocated, needs, and availability of funds.

Supervision of People

• Train and supervise staff on proper documentation, procedure, and protocol, troubleshooting issues and coaching on performance. Elevate issues requiring structural changes or input up to the supervisor as necessary. 
• Complete mid-year and annual performance reviews, corrective action plans, when necessary, review and approve timecards and request for time off and expense reports in a timely manner. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Passion for social justice
• Experience in workforce development, violence prevention, or criminal justice fields preferred.
•  Supervisory experience preferred.
• Comfort with ambiguity; experience in a growing initiative, in a fast-paced environment.
• Unwavering commitment to quality services
• Strong ethical principles and display of personal and professional boundaries.
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Adaptable and teachable
• Ability to work with high-risk populations with complex needs.
• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects and activities.
• Ability to work independently, initiate projects, and develop and implement social services and/or educational interventions as needed.
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite

Education and Experience:

• Associate degree and 3+ years of relevant experience are preferred. 
• A minimum of 1 year experience in Workforce Development is preferred. 
• A minimum of 1 year supervisory or management experience