Economic Mobility Specialist
La Colaborativa, Chelsea, MA, United States
and the job listing Expires on April 12, 2026
As a Latina-led community-based organization in Massachusetts, La Colaborativa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering, uplifting, and celebrating the Latinx and immigrant community. Applying a model of survival, stability, and empowerment, La Colaborativa designs and implements innovative economic mobility programs, leveraging a tapestry of disciplines to support residents in their pursuit of economic opportunity, housing stability, access to health care, food and nutrition, as well as youth development.
Position Summary: We are looking for an
Economic Mobility Specialist
to join our Economic Stability & Mobility Department. In this role, you will be a key member of a multidisciplinary team responsible for ensuring the successful implementation of our empowerment and sustainability model by meeting with community members to connect them with resources and economic development opportunities, providing and tracking workforce development progress, delivering training, and coordinating with different teams for benchmark accomplishments.
Key Responsibilities
Coordinate the implementation of career readiness, workforce training, certification, employment search, and upskilling programs, centered on priority sectors, including, but not limited to, program design, community outreach, scheduling, mentoring and coaching, subcontractor coordination, stakeholder engagement, and performance evaluation;
Develop and execute robust, multilingual recruitment campaigns that encompass effective public outreach, partnership development, communications, and resident engagement. Manage all aspects of the application and selection phases, in accordance with established program guidelines;
Execute Community Outreach campaigns for community engagement and awareness on programs and services provided by La Colaborativa and its partners, to connect eligible applicants with relevant resources in order to accomplish our logic model and institutional benchmarks, including but not limited to canvassing, door‑knocking, participation in community events, fairs, pop‑up tents, community meetings, social media content production, establishment of referral systems, etc.
Deliver individual and group working sessions for community members for job readiness and career exploration; including resume creation, resume building, job applications, mock interviews, and support with onboarding processes.
Develop and execute special programs for career exploration for different populations and demographics, including, but not limited to, adults, youth, and Spanish‑ and English‑speaking individuals.
Conduct economic assessments, socioeconomic studies, economic health assessments, and others, with selected members to ascertain economic and financial objectives, strategies and work plans, career goals, and key barriers;
Provide follow‑up to selection processes, advance the onboarding process with selected members, including onboarding paperwork, transportation access, childcare access, and strategies to eliminate barriers to workforce training and/or employment opportunities, improving attendance and participation rates.
Independently and as part of a team, deliver career counseling, career navigation, soft skill development, and job readiness programming, tailored to specific occupations and industries, across varying formats;
Participate actively in the development of outreach and employer engagement, nurturing professional relations and partnerships with recruiters, business owners, and HR and Talent Acquisition managers.
Manage client records and program data with confidentiality and accuracy.
Represent La Colaborativa at events, coalitions, and community meetings.
Develop curriculum and periodically update materials and content, whether for classes,
Ensure follow‑up process for our community members and students overall for job placement strategies, employability, training progress, income/wages, and socioeconomic information, housing, and financial stability, among others.
Coordinate all facets of certification and technical workforce training activities, which may be provided by internal staff or external partners. Oversee scheduling, transportation, and logistics;
Deliver high‑touch, empowering mentorship, career counseling, and career navigation with members. As needed, complete meaningful referrals to specialized services, including immigration legal services, behavioral health counseling, and housing stability services, among other wrap‑around services at La Colaborativa and/or partners;
Carry out effective job placement and employer outreach strategies to ensure all participants are paired with jobs with employers aligned with La Colaborativa’s values at the conclusion of the program;
Proactively assist participants in job search activities, identifying good‑fit jobs mirroring participants’ profiles. Applying novel tools, manage the creation of resumes, interview preparation sessions, career counseling clinics, and job application completion;
Implement leadership development workshops for members enrolled in certification and training programs that elevate awareness of workers rights, healthy work environments, and occupational safety. As assigned, coordinate strategic engagement and organizing activities.
Ensure the companies we partner with observe and respect workers’ rights and procure safe environments that promote growth opportunities and a stable income;
Foster and maintain robust partnerships to advance program objectives;
Monitor performance metrics to discern program efficacy and impact. Perform data collection, prepare regular reports, and routinely update leadership in a timely manner; and
Prioritize cultural safety and sensitivity, specifically with Latinx and immigrant communities, in all facets of work; and
Other duties, as assigned.
Qualifications and Skills
Bilingual (fluency in English/Spanish) required. Haitian Creole, French, or Portuguese is a plus.
Bachelor’s Degree required; preferably in Social Work, Human Services, Workforce Development, Education, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
One (1) to three (3) years of experience in the nonprofit, education, workforce development, community development/community service, or related field;
Strong coaching and organizational skills; teamwork‑oriented.
Knowledge of state and federal economic development and workforce development policies, programs, and resources preferred;
Experience in project management and case management, especially in education or community development.
Exposure to or with knowledge of major employers, in‑demand occupations, and emergent trends;
Experience working in immigrant and multi‑cultural communities;
Demonstrable track record of working independently and dependably completing assignments on‑time and on‑budget, surpassing expectations;
Highly skilled at written and oral communication, as well as tactfully interacting with people through a trauma‑informed, culturally sensitive approach;
Excellent ability to carry out responsibilities independently as well as collaboratively as a team;
Capable of being adaptable, agile, and proactive;
Detail oriented, methodical, and organized, with excellent time management and organizational skills;
Experience in planning and facilitating workshops, trainings, or group sessions.
Experience working in an innovative manner, tackling challenges and assignments in unconventional ways or on tasks that require creativity;
Background in excelling in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment. Experienced at creating and implementing systems to remain organized and complete tasks on‑time; and
Empathetic and compassionate, with a strong sense of community.
Capacity to lift at least 20 pounds occasionally, as set up for activities such as workshops, clinics, and fairs, is required.
Comfortable managing multiple projects, employer partnerships, and community outreach initiatives.
To Apply If you are enthusiastic about our mission and the opportunity to empower the community, please submit your resume and a cover letter to: carlosg @ la-colaborativa .org
La Colaborativa is an equal‑opportunity employer. La Colaborativa actively embraces diversity and welcomes applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
Job Type: Full‑time
Pay: $64,000.00/year
Health insurance
Paid time off
On‑the‑job training
Employee assistance program
Schedule:
Full‑time, in‑person (8‑hour shift, 37.5 hours/week)
Monday–Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m (generally).
Occasional participation in events or meetings outside regular hours may be required.
Evenings as needed
Ability to Relocate: Chelsea, MA: Relocate before starting work (Required)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
As a Latina-led community-based organization in Massachusetts, La Colaborativa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering, uplifting, and celebrating the Latinx and immigrant community. Applying a model of survival, stability, and empowerment, La Colaborativa designs and implements innovative economic mobility programs, leveraging a tapestry of disciplines to support residents in their pursuit of economic opportunity, housing stability, access to health care, food and nutrition, as well as youth development.
Position Summary: We are looking for an
Economic Mobility Specialist
to join our Economic Stability & Mobility Department. In this role, you will be a key member of a multidisciplinary team responsible for ensuring the successful implementation of our empowerment and sustainability model by meeting with community members to connect them with resources and economic development opportunities, providing and tracking workforce development progress, delivering training, and coordinating with different teams for benchmark accomplishments.
Key Responsibilities
Coordinate the implementation of career readiness, workforce training, certification, employment search, and upskilling programs, centered on priority sectors, including, but not limited to, program design, community outreach, scheduling, mentoring and coaching, subcontractor coordination, stakeholder engagement, and performance evaluation;
Develop and execute robust, multilingual recruitment campaigns that encompass effective public outreach, partnership development, communications, and resident engagement. Manage all aspects of the application and selection phases, in accordance with established program guidelines;
Execute Community Outreach campaigns for community engagement and awareness on programs and services provided by La Colaborativa and its partners, to connect eligible applicants with relevant resources in order to accomplish our logic model and institutional benchmarks, including but not limited to canvassing, door‑knocking, participation in community events, fairs, pop‑up tents, community meetings, social media content production, establishment of referral systems, etc.
Deliver individual and group working sessions for community members for job readiness and career exploration; including resume creation, resume building, job applications, mock interviews, and support with onboarding processes.
Develop and execute special programs for career exploration for different populations and demographics, including, but not limited to, adults, youth, and Spanish‑ and English‑speaking individuals.
Conduct economic assessments, socioeconomic studies, economic health assessments, and others, with selected members to ascertain economic and financial objectives, strategies and work plans, career goals, and key barriers;
Provide follow‑up to selection processes, advance the onboarding process with selected members, including onboarding paperwork, transportation access, childcare access, and strategies to eliminate barriers to workforce training and/or employment opportunities, improving attendance and participation rates.
Independently and as part of a team, deliver career counseling, career navigation, soft skill development, and job readiness programming, tailored to specific occupations and industries, across varying formats;
Participate actively in the development of outreach and employer engagement, nurturing professional relations and partnerships with recruiters, business owners, and HR and Talent Acquisition managers.
Manage client records and program data with confidentiality and accuracy.
Represent La Colaborativa at events, coalitions, and community meetings.
Develop curriculum and periodically update materials and content, whether for classes,
Ensure follow‑up process for our community members and students overall for job placement strategies, employability, training progress, income/wages, and socioeconomic information, housing, and financial stability, among others.
Coordinate all facets of certification and technical workforce training activities, which may be provided by internal staff or external partners. Oversee scheduling, transportation, and logistics;
Deliver high‑touch, empowering mentorship, career counseling, and career navigation with members. As needed, complete meaningful referrals to specialized services, including immigration legal services, behavioral health counseling, and housing stability services, among other wrap‑around services at La Colaborativa and/or partners;
Carry out effective job placement and employer outreach strategies to ensure all participants are paired with jobs with employers aligned with La Colaborativa’s values at the conclusion of the program;
Proactively assist participants in job search activities, identifying good‑fit jobs mirroring participants’ profiles. Applying novel tools, manage the creation of resumes, interview preparation sessions, career counseling clinics, and job application completion;
Implement leadership development workshops for members enrolled in certification and training programs that elevate awareness of workers rights, healthy work environments, and occupational safety. As assigned, coordinate strategic engagement and organizing activities.
Ensure the companies we partner with observe and respect workers’ rights and procure safe environments that promote growth opportunities and a stable income;
Foster and maintain robust partnerships to advance program objectives;
Monitor performance metrics to discern program efficacy and impact. Perform data collection, prepare regular reports, and routinely update leadership in a timely manner; and
Prioritize cultural safety and sensitivity, specifically with Latinx and immigrant communities, in all facets of work; and
Other duties, as assigned.
Qualifications and Skills
Bilingual (fluency in English/Spanish) required. Haitian Creole, French, or Portuguese is a plus.
Bachelor’s Degree required; preferably in Social Work, Human Services, Workforce Development, Education, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
One (1) to three (3) years of experience in the nonprofit, education, workforce development, community development/community service, or related field;
Strong coaching and organizational skills; teamwork‑oriented.
Knowledge of state and federal economic development and workforce development policies, programs, and resources preferred;
Experience in project management and case management, especially in education or community development.
Exposure to or with knowledge of major employers, in‑demand occupations, and emergent trends;
Experience working in immigrant and multi‑cultural communities;
Demonstrable track record of working independently and dependably completing assignments on‑time and on‑budget, surpassing expectations;
Highly skilled at written and oral communication, as well as tactfully interacting with people through a trauma‑informed, culturally sensitive approach;
Excellent ability to carry out responsibilities independently as well as collaboratively as a team;
Capable of being adaptable, agile, and proactive;
Detail oriented, methodical, and organized, with excellent time management and organizational skills;
Experience in planning and facilitating workshops, trainings, or group sessions.
Experience working in an innovative manner, tackling challenges and assignments in unconventional ways or on tasks that require creativity;
Background in excelling in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment. Experienced at creating and implementing systems to remain organized and complete tasks on‑time; and
Empathetic and compassionate, with a strong sense of community.
Capacity to lift at least 20 pounds occasionally, as set up for activities such as workshops, clinics, and fairs, is required.
Comfortable managing multiple projects, employer partnerships, and community outreach initiatives.
To Apply If you are enthusiastic about our mission and the opportunity to empower the community, please submit your resume and a cover letter to: carlosg @ la-colaborativa .org
La Colaborativa is an equal‑opportunity employer. La Colaborativa actively embraces diversity and welcomes applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
Job Type: Full‑time
Pay: $64,000.00/year
Health insurance
Paid time off
On‑the‑job training
Employee assistance program
Schedule:
Full‑time, in‑person (8‑hour shift, 37.5 hours/week)
Monday–Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m (generally).
Occasional participation in events or meetings outside regular hours may be required.
Evenings as needed
Ability to Relocate: Chelsea, MA: Relocate before starting work (Required)
#J-18808-Ljbffr