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Search Success! Nick Ferro Joins Building Futures as Social Services Director!

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Pillar Search & HR Consulting and Building Futures are proud to announce, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, that Nick Ferro, LICSW, QMHP has joined Building Futures as Social Services Director.

As Social Services Director, Nick will lead, implement, and develop social services at Building Futures for current participants and alumni and establish a robust network of external partnerships to provide services not offered directly. Approximately 100 to 150 individuals per year will be engaged at various stages of the different program interventions. Social services are provided to under-resourced program participants, all of whom are experiencing poverty and other significant employment barriers, to ensure successful completion of Building Futures’ program(s) and gain family-sustaining careers, primarily in union construction occupations.  Additionally, Nick will plan, implement, and manage a new partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC), called Bridge to Opportunity (BTO), which will create a formalized reentry pathway to careers in construction for currently incarcerated individuals. With a dual focus on programmatic and participant supports, he will develop new organizational partnerships, provide pre- and post-release case management services, and oversee the development and implementation of the pre-release training program.

Nick brings an impressive background to Social Services Director role. He joins Building Futures from the Rhode Island Department of Corrections where he has worked as a Clinical Social Worker for 6 years, and Envision Behavioral Health, where he has been an owner/operator for two years. Nick’s work experience also includes roles with Open Doors Rhode Island, Lifespan Hospitals, and Child and Family Services of Newport County. Nick earned his Master of Social Work from Rhode Island College School of Social Work and his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island.

About Building Futures: The mission of Building Futures, a nonprofit based in Providence, RI, is to meet employer and industry need for skilled workers through the Registered Apprenticeship system while creating family-sustaining career opportunities for low-income, diverse residents. Learn more about Building Futures here.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.

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New Search! Director, Academic Services with JVS!

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JVS has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for the Director, Academic Services.

ABOUT JVS:

JVS is a non-profit, non-sectarian agency. Their mission is to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers; and to partner with employers to hire, develop, and retain productive workforces. JVS provides a broad range of workforce development services including adult education, skills training, job readiness training, job placement, and support, and access to post-secondary education. JVS assists employers in their search for well-qualified job applicants and their initiatives to upgrade the skills of their incumbent workforce. JVS’s unique education and career pathway model has been widely recognized by funders, policy makers, and practitioners in Massachusetts and nationally.

ABOUT THE JVS ACADEMIC SERVICES PROGRAMS:

Academic Services provides clients with the academic pathways and related wraparound services necessary for economic independence. These include a high school diploma offered via their partner, the Boston Public Schools Central Adult High School; and multiple Bridges to College pathways that provide students with the knowledge, academic skills, and guidance they need to succeed in college and on the job. Academic Services works with 200 participants annually. Additional information may be found at Adult Diploma Pathway and Bridges to College and Career.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the leadership of the Vice President of Academic Services and Career Path Programming, the Director of Academic Services is charged with executing and leading agency Academic services based on identified needs of clients, employers, funders, and other stakeholders. In collaboration with the Vice President, the Director will execute on the set goals and manage the performance expectations of Academic Services programs, teams, and staff. The Director of Academic Services is responsible for collaborating with the VP around the fiscal health of Academic Services programs, program budgets, and budget modifications, as well as annual revenue and expenditure projections and assisting with development efforts to support academic services. The Director is part of a larger JVS team, all of whom are supporting the education, training, and employment needs of clients and employers.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Department Leadership:

  • Provide oversight and leadership of Academic Services
  • Ensure all contractual and reporting requirements are met
  • Ensure JVS Academic Services are accessible, customer-centered, and providing options
  • Expand scope and impact of program services, and develop new services based on partner organizations and client feedback
  • Generate strategy and solutions in response to unforeseen and planned changes, setback, and challenges
  • Communicate and provide program updates, reports, and metrics; foresee possible changes that may impact volume of work, staffing, or services to the Vice President of Academic Services
  • Increase internal and external visibility of the Academic Services programs
  • Hire, train, supervise, develop, and set performance expectations for the Academic Services team

Build Relationships, Collaboration, and Teamwork:

  • Manage external relationships relevant to Academic Services (BPS, DESE, colleges, philanthropy, state and federal)
  • Support and promote the missions and philosophy of JVS both internally and outside of the agency
  • Establish relationships with key stake holders (clients/ students, employer, partner organizations, funders) and work collaboratively in a structured and on-going manner
  • Encourage collaboration between Academic Services and other JVS divisions to ensure agency performance goals are met
  • Represent JVS at stakeholder and other professional events • Collaborate with development staff on grant proposal and reporting activities

Administrative/ Communication:

  • Manage and oversee full, timely contract implementation including staffing, systems design, and development
  • Ensure Academic Services programs operate in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal, statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures
  • Support budgeting process by monitoring and controlling budgetary expenses and revenue performance
  • Manage contract reporting, ensuring that reports are accurate and submitted in a timely fashion
  • Oversee customer satisfaction surveying and evaluation system; serve as a liaison with clients, including hearing and resolving any complaints or grievances
  • Analyze and report program progress success and challenges to VP for sharing amongst JVS leadership, funders, evaluator, and other stakeholders
  • Perform other duties as requested

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Five years of program management and supervisory experience, with extensive experience in non-traditional/ alternative education
  • Experience leading and managing high-performing teams
  • Knowledge of DESE ACLSE contracting preferred
  • Presentation and facilitation skills
  • Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
  • Interpersonal, communication and organization skills
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently
  • Possess negotiation skills

EDUCATION REQUIRED:

  • BA/BS or equivalent

JVS COMMITMENT:

JVS is strongly committed to diversity and a workplace environment that respects, appreciates and values employee differences and similarities.  By providing and supporting a work culture that fosters and builds upon diversity and its strengths, JVS will better serve our local communities and continue to provide quality services.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

JVS is an employment at-will organization and an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, JVS prohibits retaliation against an applicant or employee because he or she has engaged in protected activity under the statutes prohibiting discrimination in the workplace.

M/F/V/DV

TO APPLY: 

JVS has partnered with Cindy Joyce of Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for the Director, Academic Services. Please submit your cover letter and resume to Cindy at cindy@pillarsearch.com.