Senior Workforce Pathways Specialist

Senior Workforce Pathways Specialist

Commonwealth Corporation is a quasi-public workforce development agency that strengthens the skills of Massachusetts youth and adults by investing in innovative partnerships with industry, education and workforce organizations. Their main objectives include building regional industry partnerships to train youth and the unemployed for in-demand jobs, boosting their job opportunities; improving workforce skills to meet employer requirements, leading to more competitive businesses, job growth, and better wages;

and engaging youth in pathways for post-secondary education and future careers.

The Skill Up:
Career, Technical and Workforce Training, and Employment Services Initiative (Skill Up) is a program developed by the Department of Youth Services (DYS) and managed by Commonwealth Corporation to deliver high-quality career development, technical training and workforce programming and services that are aligned with local labor market needs within or across the five DYS geographic regions in Massachusetts. The initiative aims to reduce recidivism for DYS youth through the provision of high-quality services leading to employment with benefits at family sustaining wages.

Additionally, the initiative seeks to reduce employment barriers and provide career, technical and workforce training that improves opportunities and reduces access and engagement barriers for youth as they transition back to the community from their residential treatment programs.

The Workforce Pathways Specialist team is responsible for connecting DYS youth to meaningful career, vocational, training, and employment opportunities, meeting youth where they are at and include everything from early job exploration to apprenticeships and credential-bearing programs. These roles integrate employer engagement, subsidized employment coordination, and development of awareness of training providers and other opportunities statewide. The Specialists collaborate closely with DYS Central Office Leadership, DYS Regional & field staff, Career Navigators, Single Service Providers, training providers, Mass Hire partners, and employers to support youth in building skills, earning credentials, and accessing sustainable career pathways.

• Job Opportunity Research & Communication
• Research and distribute regional Hot Jobs postings and employment opportunities sourced from online job boards such as Job Quest and Indeed
• Connect with Mass Hire offices statewide and use job blast distribution lists to share opportunities with DYS teams
• Create and maintain job boards and flyers for training and employment opportunities across district offices on a rotating basis

• Employer & Training Provider Engagement;
  Certifications & Credentials
• Build and expand networks of employers and training providers aligned with labor market demand and youth career interests
• Collaborate with Mass Hire programs, DTA, Comm Corp's CTI team, and other partners to connect youth to training and upskilling opportunities
• Support the growth, development & maintenance of subsidized employment sites statewide
• Compile a list of existing industry recognized certifications and credential bearing training programs. Develop and implement a communication strategy to support DYS staff and youth in understanding of application requirements and pathway
• Coordinate with Career Navigators and DYS staff to identify youth interested in vocational/technical training and bridge them to relevant programs

• Trades & Apprenticeships Exposure
• Develop relationships with pre apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs and prerequisites/requirements to share information with the youth
• Support connections to programs that offer job shadowing, industry tours, internships, and hands on career exposure, especially in trade and technical fields
• Advise youth and staff on opportunities based on skill requirements, and advancement potential
• Compile a list of existing Trade and Apprenticeship programs. Develop and implement a communication strategy to support DYS staff and youth in understanding of application requirements and pathway

• Youth Engagement & Direct Support
• Available for consults…