Biotech/Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Job Seeker Liaison

Reynolds is one of the largest community colleges in Virginia and serves Virginia’s capital city and five nearby counties. Annually, our four campus sites serve approximately 13,000 credit students and provide training for 7,400 students through the Community College Workforce Alliance. Reynolds is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse, culturally competent staff at all levels of the organization who reflect the demographics of our students. We also believe in providing an ongoing investment in our faculty and staff to deepen their skills and competencies to serve the full range of our student population.

Reynolds has been awarded a three-year $3.94 million grant, through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge, to create a robust workforce development system to support the Greater Richmond MSA’s growing Biotech and Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (APM) sector.

The grant supports three full-time positions including a Job Seeker Network Liaison who will drive student enrollment in Biotech and APM technician training and education programs through engagement with influencers and connectors in neighborhoods and districts within the region historically underserved by higher education and through partnerships with faith, human-services, and community-based organizations.

In coordination with the region’s community colleges, local Virginia Career Works Centers and Network2WorkRVA, the Job Seeker Network Liaison will design and manage tactics and resources that eliminate barriers to attaining credentials and a quality job for unemployed and underemployed regional residents. From initial outreach and program orientations to identifying and providing the most needed support services, this Good Jobs team member’s exclusive focus will be on ensuring biotech and APM jobs go to those who most need a Good Job.

As the Job Seeker Liaison will work to attract, train and support a diverse labor force into biotech and APM jobs with a focus on technician and production jobs. A primary strategy for generating potential enrollments into Biotech and APM related education and training will be engaging community connectors who identify and motivate job seekers looking for a career pathway. Connectors are trusted, natural community supports in neighborhoods to whom individuals with barriers or challenges to employment are likely to turn for assistance. The goal is to build a Connector network in the Greater Richmond MSA that will focus on Biotech and APM jobs and that will also ensure a sustained and effective community network exists for the delivery of education and training, assessments and credential attainment, and support services such as transportation, child care, and job preparation and contacts.