Teacher Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title:

Work Force Teacher / Counselor

Grade:

9

Department: Resident Services

Reports To: Work Force Director

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Union: Teamsters Local 122

About Us

The Cambridge Housing Authority ("CHA"), a leader in developing and maintaining affordable housing communities, is seeking a qualified and highly motivated candidate. By focusing on policy innovation and family economic opportunities, the CHA is committed to developing and managing safe, high quality, affordable housing for low-income individuals and families. CHA provides long-term rental housing and rental assistance to more than 5,500+ individuals and families through its Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Programs. CHA has been awarded accreditation by the Affordable Housing Accreditation Board (AHAB) and was the seventh affordable housing provider in the nation to receive this prestigious accreditation.

CHA offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience. Our generous benefits package includes health and dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, life and disability insurance options, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, retirement pension and deferred compensation 457b plans, and more! CHA employees enjoy flexible work schedules including a hybrid work environment consisting of a combination of on-site and work from home days.

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to provide social services to the Cambridge Housing Authority’s (“CHA” or “Authority”) youth population. Incumbent will provide comprehensive services to adolescent individuals and their families to increase employability of youth by increasing their self-esteem, understanding of the avenues to economic independence and ability to make sound decisions. The Teacher/Counselor will perform classroom instruction, individual counseling and case management functions.

All activities must support the CHA’s strategic goals and objectives and produce results that accomplish the goals of the Resident Services Department.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s Degree with course work in education, school guidance counseling, social work or a related field. Formal training in the areas mentioned above is strong preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Technical Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have strong computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, and MS Outlook). Ability to learn other computer software programs may be required by assigned tasks.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Recruits program participants, including solicitation of referrals from CHA site managers and public school personnel of CHA youth who are chronically truant, dealing with domestic or personal problems, having problems with academic performance or performing adequately but are in need of additional educational support to achieve full academic potential
• Assesses client needs and develops service plans
• Maintains regular and frequent in-person contact with parents of participants
• Assists in placement of participants in appropriate program levels and work sites
• Establishes priorities for service delivery and, as needed, maintains the waiting list
• Develops lesson plans and teaches life skills and job readiness classes
• Conducts periodic assessments of participant progress for evaluative purposes
• Provides case management services to all participants, in close collaboration with the Job Developer
• Maintains close relationships with parents of program participants, assists them in dealing with school-related issues and orienting them to issues involved in post-secondary education
• Maintains working relationships with key administrative and guidance personnel, teachers in Cambridge Public Schools and with admissions personnel at post-secondary educational institutions
• Maintains a resource file for all local educational and social service support programs, including local public school resources and those available through other agencies
• Obtains permission from parents/guardians (or students, when necessary) to access school records on all Work Force participants, gather information on school attendance and performance information on all Work Force enrollees on a regular basis and shares information on a timely basis with Job Developer
• Promotes access to higher education by maintaining relationships with local and out-of-state colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational institutions, arranging and attending campus tours, planning and directing college fairs and educational seminars and assisting Work Force participants with applications for admissions and financial aid
• Assists in the recruitment, placement and supervision of Homework Center Coordinators and Volunteer Tutors for all three Homework Centers
• Collaborates and works closely with the Cambridge Office of Workforce Development to help develop and promote vocational / educational opportunities for Cambridge youth
• Maintains case files on all participants
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Behavioral Competencies

Commitment : Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and success; conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure; persists despite obstacles and opposition.

Customer Service : Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands, monitors and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind; recognizes working colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication : Ensures important information is passed to those who need to know; conveys necessary information clearly and effectively orally or in writing; demonstrates attention to, and conveys understanding of, the comments and questions of others; listens effectively.

Responsiveness and Accountability : Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness; holds oneself personally responsible for one's own work; does fair share of work.

Teamwork : Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Job Competencies

• Demonstrated experience in the delivery of youth services and in the delivery of services in low-income, multi-cultural communities
• Strong skills in counseling and/or teaching
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with adolescents, their families, school personnel and staff of other agencies

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 frequently required to maintain a stationary position, operate computers and other office equipment, move about the office, attend onsite and offsite meetings, and communicate. The employee must be able to accurately exchange information in person, in writing and via e-mail and telephone. The employee must occasionally transport up to 10 pounds.

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.

Office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
37.5 hours per week