Workforce Development Coordinator

Job Overview and Requirements: The Kentucky Association for Environmental Education is seeking an enthusiastic individual with a passion for our mission to work with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works (EQPW) on workforce development efforts. 

Partnerships are key to this job. The Workforce Development Coordinator (WFDC) will work closely with the Environmental Education (EE) Team to facilitate connections between the K-12 curriculum and EQPW jobs, including coordinating career panels, and attending school/district- sponsored career fairs. They will build and oversee a high school job training, shadowship and internship program for EQPW. Waste management, water quality (stormwater and sanitary sewers), and transportation are the focal topics for the program. They will work with the Community Outreach Team to promote jobs and assist with applications at appropriate city or community-sponsored events such as job fairs, neighborhood events and Truck-a-Palooza. The WFDC will work with the Marketing Team to develop assets that highlight specific career/career paths such as web text, videos and print publications. The WFDC will build partnerships with entities offering job training funds, job training courses and career placement services to help bridge those in need of work to the skills necessary to succeed in EQPW jobs.

The selected applicant will have professional development opportunities, along with the ability to network with professionals throughout the service area and state of Kentucky. The position will be based in the EQPW office in Lexington, KY. If you would like to have a significant impact and work with an amazing team, we encourage you to apply! Learn more about the work we do at LexingtonKy.gov/EE.

Questions can be addressed to apoe@LexingtonKY.gov.

Summary of Essential Job Functions:

• School-based workforce development: work with EE staff to connect K-12 units to careers, especially careers related to city jobs; work with EE staff to coordinate career panels; work with Fayette County Public Schools on career days and similar opportunities.

• Relationship building: build relationships with Fayette County Public Schools (alongside the Environmental Education Team Manager), local colleges and local universities to facilitate the connection of students to EQPW-related careers; build relationships within EQPW to deeply understand the work done, skills needed, workforce development opportunities, and advancement paths available; build relationships with granting, job training and job placement agencies.

• High school job training and exploration: develop and coordinate a program for high school students to participate in job training, shadowships and internships with a focus on students from underserved populations; recruit and train city staff members as partners in the shadow and internships components of the program, providing connections to the full spectrum of jobs within the EQPW; develop and implement guidelines and processes for student and staff participants.

• Community outreach: Attend city and community organized events to promote job opportunities with EQPW; assist interested parties in obtaining necessary training and/or applying for jobs.

• Marketing: work with the marketing team or other contractors to design assets that help convey and highlight the careers/careers paths available within EQPW.

• Apprenticeship program: develop opportunities for high school graduates and college students/graduates (particularly from underserved populations) to secure an apprenticeship position within the department; develop and implement guidelines for each type of apprenticeship pathway; seek funding for associated training.

• Tracking and assessment: provide feedback opportunities for both students and host site staff; make program adjustments accordingly.