Vocational Program Coordinator

VOCATIONAL PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR Work with a purpose as part of a team empowering people to change their lives.
Join a team dedicated to helping every person—participants, volunteers, donors, and staff—realize the fullness of who it is God created us to be as we fight poverty with dignity.
About Salt & Light (S&L) We are a non-denominational Christian nonprofit not affiliated with any one church, rather, working with many different individuals, churches, businesses, and organizations in fulfilling our mission and vision.
Our doors first opened January 2004 in Champaign, IL as we began handing out food and clothing to local families.
Very quickly we became the largest “emergency food program” in Champaign County, and a leader in the community for providing access to basic resources.
In addition to the weekly assistance provided through the food pantry and clothing closet, we partnered with area churches and businesses in large events designed to help families with school supplies in the fall, meals at Thanksgiving, and gifts at Christmas.
We later added financial education classes and a computer lab, both of which represented not just the addition of new programs but signaled the desire to move away from just providing things, to offering opportunities for people to grow.
After wrestling with the theologies and ideologies found in the book When Helping Hurts, we felt led to design a more developmental approach to meeting basic needs.
Our new model created opportunities for individuals to acquire the resources they needed through use of the skills, gifts, and abilities God had given them.
Instead of being handed a preselected bag of groceries, our participants now shopped with store credit they earned through volunteering.
The stores we now operate in Urbana and Champaign are open to the entire community and generate revenue to support the store credit participants earn in addition to our other programs and services.
About the Position Reporting to the Director of Community Engagement (DCE), the Vocational Programming Coordinator (VPC) helps to fulfill our mission and vision by overseeing a broad range of administrative and programmatic responsibilities.
In this role you will have an incredible opportunity to impact the lives of individuals with the capacity for full-time self-sustaining employment.
This includes establishing a safe, spiritually healthy environment that serves everyone – participant, volunteer, donor, and staff – by creating opportunities for everyone to grow both individually and collectively.
We are looking for someone who is efficient and comfortable being a member of a team.
The ability to multi-task is essential in this position, and the ideal candidate would be resourceful, a good problem-solver, and organized.
The ability to balance the administrative responsibilities with developing the people will be crucial.
Alignment with Salt & Light’s Statement of Beliefs and a pastoral reference are required for consideration.
Responsibilities Meet monthly with vocational participants to evaluate their progress towards their long-term goals.
Meet quarterly with long-term participants to evaluate their progress towards their long-term goals.
Facilitate training of volunteer allies, their placement as facilitators of an affinity group, and ongoing education/oversight.
Coordinate (facilitate when necessary) classroom instruction of Work Life and Finance & Finances curriculums.
Work with business partners in placing participants.
Track participant progress and report to management.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Position Qualifications & Skills Alignment with our “Statement of Beliefs”, and commitment to our Mission & Vision.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
Preferred Education & Experience Minimum of a BSW with preference given to candidates with an MSW or similar case management experience Minimum 3 years of case management/social work experience with adults Wages & Benefits Starting Salary of $40,000 – $50,000 Health Insurance (S&L covers 80% of cost on average) Generous Paid Time Off Pre-tax supplemental insurance options 401k options Why You Should Apply You want to be a part of something bigger than yourself You want to make a difference in the lives of others and the community you are a part of Significant opportunities for both personal and professional growth Healthy, flexible, and relationally focused work environment Statement of Beliefs The Bible: We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and stands as the central authority over our lives, our faith, and the direction of our ministry.
(2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 5:18) God: We believe in one God, the Father, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Three persons eternally share the Divine Nature.
God is both self-existent and personal.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; John 14:10, 26; 15:26) Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ, the Son, is fully God and fully human.
He was born of the Virgin Mary.
He lived a sinless life, died for the sins of humanity, was resurrected bodily on the third day, ascended into heaven, and is coming again as King and Judge.
Jesus Christ is the only provision that God has given for people to be reconciled to Him.
Jesus’ life on earth also serves as the model for the Christian life.
(John 14:6; Acts 4:12; I Corinthians 15:1-8; Isaiah 7:14; Romans 8:34; Acts 1:10) Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is God.
He came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ.
He indwells us the moment we place our faith in Christ and enables us to live a life that is pleasing to God.
The Holy Spirit also endows each believer with a unique spiritual ability to serve the church and the world.
(John 14:16, 15:26-27, 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 1:13-14) Salvation: Salvation is reconciliation with God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
God offers us salvation by His grace alone and we receive it as a gift through personal faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
This right standing before God must be received.
It cannot be earned.
God freely offers salvation to all people, and our salvation is secure when personally appropriated through repentance and faith in Christ.
Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior should be obedient to Him by repentance, confession, baptism, and lifetime faithfulness to Him.
(John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 1:13; 2:4-5; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10; Romans 6:1-4; Revelation 2:10) Human Condition: We believe that every person has worth as a creation of God, but that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
According to Genesis, human beings are created in the image of God.
As such, we are unique among all of God’s creation.
Through Adam’s sin and the abuse of our God-given free will, we have turned against God, and this has resulted in spiritual death for all humankind.
Humanity lives in a state of alienation and profound need, which can only be satisfied by reconciliation with God through Christ.
Without this reconciliation, all people stand under God’s righteous judgment.
Humanity, although fallen, maintains the image of God and is, therefore, still dignified, and unique.
God continues to love us and reach out to us, even though we are hostile to Him.
Believers in Jesus Christ receive a new nature that becomes the foundation for a process of transformation.
(John 3:16; Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17) Any questions related to our Statement of Beliefs should be directed to the executive Director, Nathan Montgomery (nathan@saltandlightministry.
org)