Purpose:

A non-profit organisation that empowers individuals and entrepreneurs with technical and soft skills for the modern digital workplace is seeking a Placement Specialist who is responsible to design, develop and implement job placement strategies and interventions, for the company candidates needing host placements and absorptions into employment, under the strategic direction of the Placement Manager and Head of Funding and Accounts. The role ensures successful initial employment of the company candidates and alumni in jobs with partners and employers related to their technical capabilities and career interests.

The role is also responsible for maintaining current relations with host partners to promote the satisfactory performance of hosted the company candidates on the job. In addition, the role also provides the Placement Team with measures of success at accomplishing its mission of permanent job placements and workforce development. This role will be responsible for marketing the company candidates and alumni to the relevant employers and identify industry demands and create a talent pipeline across the country

Key Job Outputs:

• Develop, organise and implement job placement strategies, interventions, and activities
• Communicate timeously and effectively with the Funding and Accounts Team about placement opportunities, placement feedback and employment where required
• Connect and network with the clients regarding candidate hosting, placements and all areas related to this area and function
• Develop and maintain relationships with employers whose talent needs match the knowledge, skills and abilities obtained through the company programme offerings
• Manage placement leads via the placement database and any additional systems as necessary
• Maintain job board on Career Services website with an emphasis on enhancing the number and types of positions available to candidates and alumni
• Develop additional training content for candidates in the workplace based on skills gaps identified by host companies
• Facilitate Funding and Accounts Co-Ordinator with arranging Alumni Engagement sessions and Newsletters
• Analyse the job market continuously for positions appropriate to candidates and Alumni, which will be presented to the Placement Manager
• Maintain relationships with partners in our networks which include office visits; workplace support and guidance and invitations to the company events
• Handle confidential candidate/alumni information with tact, discretion and in compliance with POPIA
• Utilise persuasive communication and relationship building to transition a candidate/alumni’s internship position into employment opportunities
• Work closely with the Delivery Team to ensure candidates are not only ready for the workplace but ensure candidate portfolios (CVs; Online Portfolios; GitHub and LinkedIn) are at an exceptional standard that will put the candidates at an advantage in the job market
• Maintain and enhance procedures and processes related to the candidate/alumni with the Placement Manager
• Provide feedback and input to the Placement Team to ensure that placement efforts, improvements, and enhancements are done in a way that is fit-for-purpose and meaningful
• Attend Career and Networking events as required to further develop placement opportunities and engagements for candidates and alumni. Provide timely, high-quality feedback to candidates
• Liaise with the Delivery Team to ensure candidates are technically matched to opportunities with host organisations
• Any other ad hoc duties assigned by management and leadership
• Solid understanding of programming fundamentals (Python, JavaScript, pseudocode, etc.) and modern software engineering practices.
• Be able to spend time in field for intelligence gathering, partnership building

Core Competencies:

• The ability to translate plans into action with measurable outputs
• Demonstrates a passion for imparting knowledge to others
• Able to create detailed delivery plans
• Have a data-driven mindset for tracking placements and reporting outcomes
• Persuasive communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong understanding of career pathways and work-readiness in the Tech Industry
• Flexible and approachable, enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Comfortable working on both tedious and complex tasks
• Builds supportive people relationships
• Good communication skills
• Great interpersonal skills
• Consistent, planned and excellent organisation skills
• Strong public speaker
• Open and reflective communication skills
• Comfortable in delivering events and presenting to large groups
• Able to deal with conflict in-line with company policy
• Epitomise the behaviours, attitudes and skills they will be developing in youth.
• Ability to work independently and to use own initiative
• Committed to excellence and teamwork
• Flexible and able to multitask

Qualifications:

• Diploma/bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Business Administration or Management, Communications, Human Resources Development, Training & Development or related field

Experience:

• +2 years of employment placement/staffing, youth/young-adult development; Employer Engagement; Business Development
• Experience working with people with disabilities (advantageous)
• Preferred Skills
• 3+ years of experience in training and development or placements
• Experience working with government and/or corporate funders
• Evidence and track record of placing talent into employment opportunities
• Experience in delivering employability interventions
• Experience working with unemployed youth (advantageous)
• Networking and business development
• Experience working with youth with disabilities (advantageous)
• Experience in monitoring and recording successes and provide constructive feedback to team members/reports/other parties
• Valid Driver’s license and road worthy vehicle for field visits

Salary: Market related

Should you not hear from us within 2 weeks, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful.

All personal information received will be processed in accordance with The Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4 OF 2013