Job Description

In February of 2021, Mayor London N. Breed and Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton announced the City’s plan for reinvesting $120 million in San Francisco’s African-American community over the next two years, with the creation of a new, citywide initiative: “The Dream Keeper Initiative.” This funding follows an extensive community and stakeholder engagement process led by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and is part of Mayor Breed’s roadmap for reforming public safety and addressing structural inequities in San Francisco. To help support this Citywide effort, OEWD is recruiting for staff to support Workforce Dream Keeper Initiative programming.

The OEWD 9772 Community Development Specialist (Community Engagement Specialist – Dream Keeper Initiative) will be assigned to the Community Engagement team to provide direct services that support outreach, recruitment, referral, and placement for Dream Keeper Initiative programs and program graduates, with an emphasis on supporting our most vulnerable residents to successfully transition into competitive employment opportunities.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Community Development Specialist (Community Engagement Specialist – Dream Keeper Initiative) will partner with OEWD service providers to promote Dream Keeper Initiative workforce development programs, assist Dream Keeper graduates with job placement, and provide employment services to disadvantaged job seekers through tools such as WorkforceLinkSF and the Workforce Hotline. The Specialist will work directly with community members, consistent with applicable public health guidelines.

SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO) THE FOLLOWING:

Outreach and Recruitment:

• Work with OEWD staff and service providers in conducting outreach and recruitment to unemployed and underemployed communities for referral to workforce development programs funded through the Dream Keeper Initiative to help address economic inequities faced by Black San Franciscans
• Participate in job fairs, hiring events, and other employment resource activities to promote Dream Keeper Programs
• Work with staff at other City agencies, including the Human Rights Commission, Department of Human Resources, and other Dream Keeper-funded departments, to collaborate on outreach and recruitment efforts
• Coordinate efforts with OEWD Adult, Young Adult, and Sector Training Program staff to understand OEWD Workforce Programming
• Make referrals to job centers and other services when appropriate to maximize candidates’ job readiness for Dream Keeper programs
• Partner with the Human Rights Commission to provide outreach to past participants in the Opportunities for All paid internship program

Job Placement Assistance:

• Collaborate with Dream Keeper service providers to identify participants employment needs and help support job placement for graduates of Dream Keeper programs
• Maintain focus on living wage job opportunities, with benefits and long-term career potential
• Work with OEWD Business Services staff to identify employers that are hiring entry level job seekers in priority industries, particularly employers participating in the First Source Hiring Program that align with participant career goals
• Collaborate with service providers to ensure that Dream Keeper program graduates are registered on the WorkforceLinkSF system in order to help facilitate job placement
• Support resume review, job matching, job applications, and advanced case management through the WorkforceLinkSF, under the guidance of Sr. Community Engagement Specialists
• Support OEWD staff efforts to maintain accurate records regarding Dream Keeper graduate placement and retention, working with Sr. Community Engagement Specialists around data collection, analysis, and sharing
• Engage directly with employers to support participant placements when appropriate

General Employment Services:

• Provide support to disadvantaged job seekers and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the Workforce Hotline
• Assist OEWD Community Engagement staff by answering Workforce Hotline phone calls and emails, providing referrals to appropriate employment resources, and supporting through Microsoft Teams and the WorkforceLinkSF
• Work with Sr. Community Engagement Specialists to identify, screen, refer and match job applicants to appropriate employment opportunities through WorkforceLinkSF
• Support community engagement efforts as required to advance OEWD’s economic recovery and employment equity goals, including community events, resource fairs, hiring events, and other public activities
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience and education.  Additional screening mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine candidates’ qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited to continue on in the selection process.  Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement in the process.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge and experience developing and implementing adult workforce programming, distinctly understanding the unique needs of San Francisco neighborhoods and specific vulnerable populations.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage multiple relations with multiple stakeholders including: community-based organizations, local officials, employers, labor, industry associations and others.
• Experience working in a government and/or non-profit settings interacting with the development and implementation of workforce programs that serve disadvantaged populations.
• Knowledge of San Francisco’s neighborhoods, local government, workforce development, and social services infrastructures. 
• To best support the Dream Keeper Initiative, understands the workforce needs of vulnerable communities, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of the City’s Black community.

The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university AND two (2) years of administrative/professional experience in community development, housing and/or housing development, workforce development, finance, education, social work, children/youth work, criminal justice or elections related work; OR
2. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the following fields: public or business administration, urban planning, government, social work, education, finance or criminal justice AND one (1) year of administrative/professional experience in community development, housing and/or housing development, workforce development, finance, education, social work, children/youth work, criminal justice or elections related work; OR
3. Possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in public policy, planning, social work, public administration, finance, education, criminal justice, or business administration; OR 4.Possession of a Ph.D. or Juris Doctor degree from an accredited college or university. SUBSTITUTION: VERIFIABLE ADMINISTRATIVE/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE INVOLVING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING AND/OR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, FINANCE, EDUCATION, SOCIAL WORK, CHILDREN/YOUTH WORK, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND/OR ELECTIONS RELATED WORK MAY SUBSTITUTE FOR THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT IN MINIMUM QUALIFICATION #1 ON A YEAR-FOR-YEAR BASIS.

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualification requirements by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

VERIFICATION OF EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=456

NOTE: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco. 

Additional Information

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 - 11:59 PM

Compensation

Conviction History

Benefits 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Disaster Service Workers

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.

Anabel Simonelli-Kupelian, Chief People Officer, anabel.simonelli@sfgov.org.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.