Workforce Development Specialist - Mayor's Office on Returning Citizen's Affairs (MORCA)

Washington, DC

Full Time

Mayor's Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA)

Experienced

POSITION:   Workforce Development Specialist
OFFICE:        Mayor's Office on Returning Citizen's Affairs (MORCA)
OPEN:            April 9, 2025
CLOSE:         April 25, 2025
GRADE:        Excepted Service, Grade 5 (ES-5)
SALARY:      $73,674.95

This is an Excepted Service position. Selected candidate must be a District resident or establish residency within 180 days of hire.

Current District of Columbia residents will receive priority and advanced preference for screening and interviews.

BACKGROUND

The Mayor's Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA) provides useful information for the empowerment of previously incarcerated persons in order to create a productive and supportive environment where persons may thrive, prosper and contribute to the social, political and economic development of self, family, and community. MORCA's mission is to provide zealous advocacy, high-quality services and products, up-to-date, useful information for the empowerment of previously incarcerated persons in order to create a productive and supportive environment where persons may thrive, prosper and contribute to the social, political and economic development of self, family, and community. To learn more about MORCA, please visit here: https://orca.dc.gov/

Workforce Development Specialist facilitates the connection to, and monitors constituents’ progress with and linkages to District Workforce Development programs. Conducts community and business engagement to identify new opportunities for engaging returning citizens in meaningful employment. Manage and work with staff to address critical workforce needs and advise the Director on program implementation.

Major duties

Provide connection to District services and resources which address critical needs for MORCA constituents and provide monthly follow-up.
Working with the Workforce Development and collaborating District agencies, develop programs and policies to address obstacles and barriers to employment for returning citizens.
Develop MORCA's workforce development program goals, strategies and strategic partnerships.
Lead engagement with District agencies, community based organizations, local employers and local business organizations and leaders.
Manage MORCA's Access to Jobs grant program, including managing staff, overseeing grant development and disbursement to partners.
Working with the MORCA case management program, contribute to the the comprehensive reentry assessment (risk and needs) to MORCA constituents as a part of the intake process related to workforce development.
Establish linkages with District organizations to develop workforce opportunities for returning citizens.
Create and monitor the progress on an individualized reentry roadmap plan for MORCA constituents into workforce programs, including innovative opportunities leading to apprenticeships, professional licensure or paralegal capabilities.
Refer participants to partner agencies to provide direct service delivery.
Provide the Director with a monthly update regarding the process of clients on the assigned case load of Workforce staff.
Build and maintain professional working relationships with other team members, community partners, agency partners and employers.
Attend scheduled meetings deemed necessary by the Director or the Director of Operations to include community meetings and in-services.
Follow all requirements and guidelines of program funder under guidance of supervisors
Collect and input data into program evaluation database(s) for ongoing supervisory and funder review.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of grant management and development, including issuing grant proposals, developing requests for proposals and disbursing resources to partners.
Knowledge of programs and services provided by workforce agencies.
Maintain integrity of confidential information relating to clients, staff, or stakeholders.
Ability to develop cross-agency partnerships with service providers, educators, business and industry partners, and government agencies.
Ability to express complex ideas with clarity and precision both orally and written.
Ability to utilize database and technology to manage and develop grant and partnership operations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum one (1) year relevant experience in workforce development, grants management programs, or service linkage and related programs.
Experience working within the returning citizens population.

Work environment

The work is performed primarily in-person in an office setting. Time in the field is frequently required for related events.

SPECIAL NOTE - SECURITY SENSITIVE

This position is deemed security sensitive. The incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability – Security Sensitive.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

There is a legal requirement that each new appointee to the Excepted Service either:

be a District of Columbia resident at the time of appointment; or
become a District resident within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment.

The law also requires that Excepted Service employees remain District residents during the duration of the individual’s appointment. Failure to remain a District resident for the duration of the appointment will result in forfeiture of employment.

If you are interested in this role, please upload your resume and answer the questionnaire. Only the candidates deemed most suited for the position based on resume will receive a call to schedule further discussion

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