Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights

Heartland Housing, Inc.

Heartland Alliance Health, Inc.

Heartland Human Care Services, Inc.

Heartland Alliance International, Inc.

Job Title: Partnership Developer – Refugee & Immigrant Community Services

Business: Heartland Human Care Services

Grade: Grade 4

Program/Department: Refugee & Immigrant Community Services

Reports To: Supervisor, Vocational Training Programs

FLSA Status: N-exempt

Date Created: 12/29/2022

Date Revised: 12/29/2022

Summary:

The Partnership Developer supports the Vocational and English Language Training (VELT) team of Refugee and Immigrant Community Services (RICS) to establish and expand partnership for the College & Career Pathways team. The Partnership Developer will be responsible for exploring and forming recruitment partnerships with community partners, such as community-based organizations and community colleges. The Partnership Developer will also forge employment partnerships with local businesses, and form agreements with those partners to create employment opportunities for graduates of our Bridge and Integrated Education and Training (IET) programming. The Partnership Developer will lead partner appreciation and recognition efforts and solicit ongoing feedback from partners about their experience working with our program graduates including suggestions to strengthen our curriculum content and key competencies in our targeted career pathways. In addition to these functions, the Partnership Developer will conduct analysis of service provision gaps in Chicago to identify additional pathways and relevant vocational training programs we may want to develop in the future.

The Partnership Developer leverages industry knowledge and best practices to promote the mission and vision of Heartland Human Care Services and the institution. Supports culture development and management efforts.

Essential Functions:

Duties & Responsibilities

• Conducts research and outreach relative to area employers and job skills training opportunities to benefit current and future College & Career Pathways programming, engaging with partners to create mutually beneficial solutions.
• Develops and maintains an information bank regarding full- and part-time as well as entry-level and more advanced employment opportunities for individuals served by the College & Career Pathways team.
• Conducts research and gap analysis of vocational training programs available to RICS program participants, actively maintaining knowledge of employment and vocational training trends in Chicagoland.
• Partners with community-based organizations and local employers to seek feedback on our current and future Bridge and IET offerings.
• Supports the development of career pathways learning opportunities by collaborating with program staff and engaging local employers and subject-matter experts, attending internal and external meetings as required.
• Collaborates with program staff to develop and implement a new partner appreciation strategy.
• Collaborates and communicates with other RICS teams as needed to inform research and partnership development priorities.
• Prepares and submits both internal and external reports.
• Other job-related duties, as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities (if applicable): None

Education and Experience:

• High School or General Education Diploma required. Bachelor's degree from an institution of higher learning preferred. Five (5) years of relevant experience in partnership development, workforce skills training, communications, marketing, employment-related social services or other social services required. Experience working with refugee or immigrant populations a plus.

Certifications/Licenses: None

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups, including but not limited to public speaking and presentation skills. Ability to multi-task and maintain organization. Excellent attention to detail. Demonstrated experience interacting with diverse individuals and communities.
• Access to reliable transportation required. This position involves in-person meetings with community partners in Chicago and the suburbs.
• Excellent communication skills. Strong networker, convener, relationship builder and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations in a professional and diplomatic manner.
• A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and analytical ability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to work independently and remain self-motivated with minimal direct supervision.
• Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills.

Work Arrangement:

This role is eligible for a “hybrid” work arrangement. It is expected this person would be able to meet for “in person” meetings when needed or at the request of others. In-person meetings may be required on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, etc.). There may also be the availability to work from home when appropriate.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise in the work environment is moderate.
• Requires flexibility and ability to travel to local venues.
• The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and talk and hear.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to use hands, key, handle or feel, stoop, kneel, and crouch.
• The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.