bay area nonprofit jobs Archives - LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

POSITION: Employer Relations Specialist

REPORTS TO: Director, Employment Services

The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, headquartered in downtown San Francisco, is looking for a full-time Employer Relations Specialist to fill a valued role in our growing organization.

Role Overview: This role is devoted to substantially increase the hiring of LightHouse’s blind and visually impaired jobseekers. This person will augment the historic rate of hiring by systematic relationship-building and employer outreach. The position’s success will be measured by the number and quality of employment outcomes obtained through vigorous outreach to key decision-makers in the California Competitive job market.

Qualifications:

A passion to represent the blind and visually impaired community in a positive and competent manner
A minimum of 5 years of experience in business development or social services
Strong knowledge of Human Resources and Recruitment processes
High customer service and relationship orientation and strong interpersonal and communication skills
Proven ability to build lasting relationships with candidates and hiring managers
Energetic, self-motivated, self-starter
Experience working independently or with a team
Have exceptional planning and organization skills, ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously
Ability to manage confidential information per LightHouse policies
Intermediate computer software skills
Bachelor’s degree preferred
Experience working in the disabled community a plus

Job Responsibilities:

Employer Relations:

Introduce LightHouse Employment Services Program to corporations by systematically contacting Human Resources departments, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion staff, Executive level and hiring managers and educate them on the benefit of hiring, promoting and retaining blind and visually impaired individuals.

Create a comprehensive list and pipeline of targeted employer key hiring contacts based on future job market hiring trends and job market influencers
Set up a contact management system to ensure that such key influencers are regularly touched in person, electronically and by LightHouse communications
Identify and regularly meet with high-level hiring managers and C-suite executives with the power to make agreements and form relationships
Liaise with Human Resource professionals to expand their awareness and knowledge of the blind and visually impaired community and track subsequent hires
Promote LightHouse Services as expert Consulting resource, emphasizing the development of Job Retention Plans for employers.
Present to high-level corporate Diversity and Inclusion trainings and guide discussions to practical increases in hiring of blind job candidates in numbers
Promote LightHouse consulting services to support the formation of in-house training and programs to increase corporate awareness and knowledge of how blind people can perform diverse jobs
Introduce LightHouse Job Retention services to employers to support the retention of existing employees experiencing performance issues due to changing vision
At the direction of supervisor, attend selected corporate or community service provider conferences representing LightHouse Employment Programs
Other duties relevant to department goals as assigned

Recruitment/Student Placement:

Substantially increase the number of LightHouse job seeker placements in the competitive job market.

Collaborate with Employment Specialist to identify selected students to market to targeted employers
Develop a database of key decision makers in targeted employers Human Resource staff and meet with them, developing a direct conduit for candidate referral/consideration
Identify existing and new job opportunities within targeted companies compatible with student job seekers goals to augment Employment Specialists’ efforts
Work with employers to source a broad range of job opportunities including full, part time and contract positions, internships and apprenticeships
Promote “job carving” and “on the Job Training” opportunities with Human Resources staff and Hiring Managers
Collaborate with Youth Employment Services department to identify short term work experience opportunities
Participate in occasional Virtual Training Program presentations at the direction of supervisor while not interfering with the principal employer-facing nature of this position
Implement new LightHouse Open House Job Fairs
Support employer-facing campaigns by collaborating with Communications Department
Identify key decision-makers in targeted employers Human Resource staff to serve as direct conduit for candidate referral/consideration
Other duties relevant to department goals as assigned

Who We Are:

LightHouse has an audacious mission – to transform the lives of the 40,000 blind people in the greater Bay Area and beyond. We do this through tech design, disability advocacy, consultation, classes and community formation in San Francisco, our four satellite offices and Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa. We are a fun, fascinating, widely diverse, warm and friendly community. We work in downtown San Francisco in a 40,000 square foot state-of-the-art workspace renowned for its universal design, steps from Civic Center BART. LightHouse is working for nothing less than to change the future for blind people and the wider community.

Within a five-minute walk are the world headquarters for Twitter, Uber, Dolby, Zendesk and many other tech giants. Within three blocks are all of the principal building for Northern California’s federal, state and local government. Also in our neighborhood are many theaters, San Francisco Symphony and Opera, the Asian Art Museum and dozens of other key cultural anchors of the entire Bay Area.

The successful candidate will join a unique organization in which blind and sighted professionals work together at every level. Our governing Board of Directors, management and staff are all composed of roughly equal numbers of blind and sighted people, a parity unprecedented in our field.

Founded in 1902, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides skills, resources and community for the advancement of all individuals who are blind or have low vision. Our innovative programs have been featured in 60 Minutes, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal and beyond. The blind community comes to LightHouse to learn how to travel independently with a white cane, to rejoin the workforce, use accessible technology, and meet a community of mentors and peers. From unique tactile maps, to an unparalleled camp for blind campers, to a world prize for blind ambition, LightHouse offers programs unavailable elsewhere

Learn About Us:

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
1155 Market Street, 10th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
www.lighthouse-sf.org

Employee Benefits:

The LightHouse offers a rich package of benefits, including medical, vision and dental insurance. Employees are eligible for an employer-matched 401(k) plan and subsidized health club membership, among many other perks.

Compensation:

Depending On Experience; industry competitive.

How to Apply:

Please submit a cover letter and résumé in word processing document attachments (no PDFs please) and employment application (downloads in a Word document) to hr@lighthouse-sf.org, including the job title in the subject line. including the job title in the subject line. To fill out the application, please enable editing in the document.

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION: Employment Specialist

REPORTS TO: Employment Immersion Manager

STATUS: Exempt

WC CLASS: Administrative/Clerical

JOB PURPOSE:

Founded in San Francisco in 1902, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is one of the most progressive blindness agencies in the world. A private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, LightHouse’s mission is to promote the independence, equality and self-reliance of people who are blind or have low vision. We do this through teaching, consulting, community building and advocacy in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

The LightHouse is currently in a period of growth, with more than 100 employees and an increased capacity to carry out our mission. In addition to direct services and blindness skills training, we invest in new technology, consult on design for blind consumers, and work to de-stigmatize blindness around the world.

The LightHouse is seeking a full-time individual to collaborate with the Employment Immersion Team during a transitional period of the Program. The primary purpose of this job is to work with Employment Immersion students participating in two key phases: of the Program: Job Preparation and Job Development.

Under the direct supervision of the Employment Immersion Manager, the Employment Specialist will assist students to secure employment through implementation of the established Program Curriculum.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor degree or equivalent and relevant work experience
Experience working as an Employment Specialist/Job Developer in the disabled community a plus
Knowledge of the employment process a plus
Familiarization with ADA requirements a plus
Familiarity with Accessible Technology software a plus

EXPERIENCE:

Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Working efficiently and calmly under pressure. Quick effective problem solving. Highly organized with capability to prioritize and meet multiple deadlines with minimal oversight. Superior ability to network and liaise between multiple parties simultaneously. Strong written and verbal communication.

Other: Personal initiative. Curiosity about people, a sense of humor and a strong team-oriented style. Enthusiasm for LightHouse services and the transformative effect we have on the lives of individuals who are blind or have low vision.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Sit at a desk and perform computer-intensive work for long periods of time; operate standard office equipment; travel independently.

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Assist students in the crafting of resume: Collect data pertaining to employment/volunteer experience, skills/transferrable skills, education, etc.in template format for student use.
Instruct and guide student in Job Search techniques: Job Boards (Private and Government) Hidden Job Market and Networking (including assistance with creating LinkedIn profiles) when indicated). Assist with on-line applications and exams.
Instruct student in techniques for creating cover letters.
Instruct student in techniques of tailoring resumes and cover letters to meet the needs of prospective employers using Position Descriptions of jobs to which they are applying.
Participate in role-play activities with EI Team member and student to hone student interview skills.
Record student activity in database for use in creating Progress Reports.
Act as “back-up” to Job Group Facilitator when required.
Confer and collaborate with management and members of the EI Team, Lighthouse staff and DOR Counselors to ensure superior student experience.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Equal opportunity to all regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, or sexual orientation. We strive to maintain a scent-free environment and a drug-free workplace.

All employees at LightHouse are hired for an indefinite and unspecified duration and consequently, no employee is guaranteed employment for a specified length of time. Employment is at the mutual consent of the employee and LightHouse. Accordingly, either the employee or LightHouse can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause (“employment at will”).

TO APPLY:

Send your resume and cover letter to hr@lighthouse-sf.org. All attachments must be formatted as Word Documents or accessible PDFs. No undescribed image files please.