SONIA BLOUNT

**** ******** ****** · 267-***-****

Email: adkm32@r.postjobfree.com · LinkedIn Profile: Sonia Blount

Innovative, strategic, and forward-thinking professional with 5+ years of experience with a proven track record of building strategic employer partnerships, establishing a pipeline for career and internship opportunities, and facilitating professional development workshops. Seeking a role where I can use my strategic relationship building skills to connect students with career or experiential learning opportunities.

EDUCATION:

Temple University, Fox School of Business Philadelphia, PA

Master of Science, Innovation Strategy & Entrepreneurship Graduation Date: May 2018

Board Member, Temple University Black Alumni Alliance January 2018- Present

Member, Chamber of Commerce November 2016 - Present

Career Development Chair, Temple University Net Impact November 2016 - June 2017

Vice President of Community Relations, Fox Graduate Student Association December 2016 - June 2017

Bachelor of Business Administration, Human Resource Management

Human Resource Management Graduation Date: August 2013 Member, Society for Human Resource Management September 2012 - May 2013

RELATED EXPERIENCE:

Eagles Wings Ministries July 2020- Present

Community Workforce Partner (Contract)

●Create and manage workforce programs focused on employment opportunities for 50+ disabled and mentally challenged participants.

●Organize training quarterly training programs with employers and community partners.

●Manage ministry website and social media and provide monthly updates to stakeholders.

●Aggregate training and participant data and present information to the Board or Directors, community partners, and donors.

The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA

Employer Engagement Navigator September 2019 - July 2020

●Outreached to 100+ employers within the Chamber of Commerce network to provide workforce development resources and connect members to services provided by Philadelphia Works.

●Managed and facilitate relationship building with employer partners to increase their connections to the labor market and the public workforce system.

●Organized bi-monthly Employer Trainings to facilitate for 15+ companies to discuss workforce development challenges and solutions, local hiring initiatives, and retention for targeting industries (Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technology, Business & Finance, Life Sciences, Hospitality & Entertainment, & Legal).

●Managed and track interactions with Chamber members, business leaders, elected and appointed officials, other Action Team participants, and local partner organizations through the Chamber’s information management system.

●Work collaboratively with the workforce development board of Pennsylvania to coordinate industry-related events focused on improving the regional labor market needs.

School District of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA

Recruitment & Selection Specialist November 2018 - March 2019

●Serve as the talent acquisition and selection specialist for Early Childhood Education candidates of job opportunities with the 8th largest district in the country.

●Prepare and maintain employment records such as hiring, termination, leaves, transfers, or promotions, using human resources management system software.

●Perform searches for qualified job candidates, using sources such as LinkedIn, PA Reap, networking events, job fairs, teacher referrals.

●Evaluate candidate interviews and online application to obtain information on teaching experience, training, certification, and education.

●Provide technical and troubleshoot assistance to applicants completing the online application process.

●Develop or implement recruiting strategies and targeted branding materials to meet current or anticipated staffing needs.

●Review hiring trackers to ensure candidates that received offer letters were onboarded and placed.

Temple University Career Center Philadelphia, PA

Employer Partnerships - Outreach Specialist July 2015 - October 2018

●Researched and built relationships with education, healthcare, and public health-based employers and developed recruitment strategies to increase on-campus engagement for targeted students.

●Planned and executed Diversity & Inclusion programs and events focused on career and professional development events including employer and student outreach, event logistics, organizing catering, post event survey tracking and marketing.

●Partnered with diverse student organizations and alumni affinity groups to provide employers for targeted events

●Manage a high volume job and internship database of more than 1000 job and internship postings.

●Assist the Associate Director of Communications with marketing design for weekly job and internship digital content for newsletters sent to over 5000 students with a 45% average click rate.

●Develop and facilitate pilot programs that created opportunities for diversity hiring and recruiting

●Facilitate meetings with the career network committee, external employers, and staff to develop marketing strategies for targeted students, discuss recruiting best practices, and strategic direction planning.

Philadelphia Center for Arts & Technology/Foundations Inc. Philadelphia, PA

Program Advisor June 2012 - June 2013

●Organized and facilitated professional development and job readiness workshops for 25 high school students in preparation for summer youth WorkReady employment opportunities.

●Developed and maintained partnerships with new employers and promoted opportunities to participating students.

●Collaborated with professional development staff to create weekly recruitment efforts that increased program awareness resulting in a 70% increase in student enrollment.

●Provided individual counseling and weekly workshops for students on resume writing and interview skills.

●Established a process for new employer sites including reviewing applications, site negotiation, monthly reporting, and confirmed site budget.

●Performed a variety of administrative duties including reviewing program compliance, update operating budgets, data collection, and generation of quarterly reports for annual grant submission.

Youth For Change Philadelphia, PA

Executive Director May 2012 - June 2015

●Developed a program that provided educational enrichment classes, activities, and community service opportunities for 50+ underserved youth in North Philadelphia ages 5-12.

●Compile program data monthly financial report documentation on cost reduction and expenses to submit for annual budget review and grants.

●Recruit and manage a team of 40 volunteers quarterly to meet program staffing needs, community engagement, and outreach initiatives.

●Organized and facilitated monthly partnership meetings with key stakeholders and community leaders to identify opportunities to foster collaboration community programs and events.

●Tracked program performance, policies, and analyzed data to support continuous improvement.

COMPUTER SKILLS: Microsoft Office Software: Powerpoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, WebEx Training, Canva (Promotional/Marketing), Google Docs, Symplicity (University Job posting database)

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