Talent Networks Add Value to Employers & Job Seekers In today s rapidly changing employment market, it is critical to have a fluid, statewide workforce system skilled in quickly responding to employers and job-seeker needs. More than half of New Jersey workers are employed in six industries and pay more than two-thirds of wages paid in New Jersey. These newly-created Talent Networks will assist employers searching for qualified candidates by leveraging their experience, understanding of the ever-changing job market, and their access to New Jersey s training providers and educational leaders. How does a Talent Network help your business? The goal of the Talent Networks is to connect businesses in six key industries with educational institutions, workforce development agencies, government and community groups to identify the skills and training Garden State employers require in prospective employees to remain competitive in the global market. By being trained in those skills, students and job-seekers will be able to find long-term jobs in New Jersey and help to boost the state s economy. What sectors are represented in the Talent Networks? Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution (Rutgers University): Known as a corridor state, New Jersey is well positioned to maximize job opportunities in the areas of trucking, wholesale trade companies, warehousing and the movement of goods. Life Sciences (BioNJ): Biotechnology, life-science firms, developing medical devices often include high paying, talent-driven jobs that require specialized skills. This industry is just beginning to show its long-term promise. Advanced Manufacturing (New Jersey Institute of Technology): These smaller, leaner, high-tech, specialty manufacturers are areas primed for growth if properly nurtured and provided with the uniquely skilled workforce that suits their needs. Financial Services (Newark Alliance): From banks and mortgage firms to CPAs and programming operations, financial services are the backbone that supports numerous ancillary industries. Health Care (Rutgers University): Growing even at the height of the recession, the healthcare industry possesses a wide range of jobs, from aides to people collecting data. Technology and Entrepreneurship (New Jersey Technology Council): Encompassing a wide assortment of businesses, from start-up companies to telecommunication firms, job growth opportunities are extensive. WD-69 (10/11)-0
Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution Talent Network John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Partners: The County of Union/Union County WIB; Union County College; Raritan Valley Community College Summary: Enabling the movement of goods and people and providing more than one in ten jobs in the state, the Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution (TLD) Industry is critical to New Jersey s economy. The industry hired over 35,000 workers each quarter in 2009 2010 to fill new and replacement jobs, yet employers report difficulty finding qualified workers at a time when many people are looking for work. Serving the state s jobseekers, workforce development, and education institutions are important partners for finding and preparing these workers, the network will serve as the primary point of contact to address employer workforce needs and enhance connections between employers, workforce and education services, and jobseekers. Activities & Objectives: The Talent Network Coordinator will invite workforce and education providers interested in TLD to become members of the network and will work with members, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD), to enhance members understanding of the TLD industry, to set strategic goals, and to assist members to better align their services with the skill and workforce needs of TLD employers. The Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution Talent Network (TLD TN) will work closely with LWD to form a Talent Development Advisory Group for TLD employers to inform state officials and network members of their workforce skill and hiring needs. Network staff and members will work together to enhance employers awareness of the training, screening, and hiring assistance services that workforce and education providers can offer, cultivate a collaborative network of employers, education, and workforce providers, and provide jobseekers and network members with up to date information on the workforce and skill needs of TLD. A unique aspect of the TLD TN is its use of experts and insiders to engage employers and to enhance the capacity of TLD TN members to work effectively with employers. A full time Employer Engagement Specialist with connections in the TLD industry will recruit and engage industry partners, while Three pilot partners, including The County of Union and the Union County Workforce Investment Board, Union County College, and Raritan Valley College will document and field test promising strategies for working with employers, working with the TLD TN Coordinator to create formal training, and providing peer topeer training for other network members. Operations Contact Jennifer Cleary, Senior Project Manager jcleary@rci.rutgers.edu (732) 932 4100 x6215 WD 69.6 (10/11)
Life Sciences Talent Network BioNJ Partners: The network will seek education and training partners seeking to optimize relationships with educators and draw upon specific expertise from providers such as New Jersey universities and colleges, high schools with strong science focus or those who are creating such programs as well as private training organizations who provide courses to the industry. Additionally, organizations such as the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey and the New Jersey Technology Council in order to further enhance our efforts among industry organizations for the Talent Network. We will continue to seek out additional professional organizations where industry professionals and companies interact. Summary: Expanding the current activities and success of the Life Science Talent Network, BioNJ will use the Talent Network grant to implement new and effective programs to connect industry talent with job opportunities, and continue to create innovative resources to engage the sector, both professionals and employers. Activities & Objectives: Through a wide variety of resources, including in- person presentations and networking, the use of social media tools, our website, and through many other venues, we are focused on constantly increasing the outreach and promotion of the BioNJ Talent Network as the key hub for industry- related talent information and resources for companies doing business in Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, Diagnostic and Clinical Operations in New Jersey. From education to internships and job opportunities to transition services, the BioNJ Talent Network will work to expand its services and resources to continuously address the current and future talent needs of organizations within our industry. To accomplish our objectives we will orchestrate and encourage networking among jobseekers, employers, education and training providers, as well as other career resources including connections for starting a new business in the industry. Operations Contact Vicki Gaddy Director, Bio NJ Talent Network VGaddy@hq4u.com 609-890- 3185 WD- 69.4 (10/11)
Advanced Manufacturing Talent Network New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Partners: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Continuing Professional Education, Advanced Manufacturing- Related Companies, Colleges and Universities, including Career Placement Offices, Business Start- up Incubators, and Manufacturing- Related Research Centers, Academic Departments and Industry Advisory Boards and Continuing Education Offices, and Non- Profit Organizations. Summary: NJ has had a long history of developing industries based on manufacturing technology in multiple sectors. Manufacturing s contribution to New Jersey s gross state product was larger in 2008 than it was in 1997. On a national level, manufacturing is one of the sectors leading to economic recovery with job growth. The ability to invent new technologies coupled with the ability to manufacture those new technologies can drive economic and job growth through revitalization of existing industries and the creation of new emerging industries. Job growth occurs when new lines of business translate into new opportunities for incumbent and displaced workers as well as K- 12 and college graduates just entering the workforce. The NJIT- led Advanced Manufacturing Talent Network, (ManufactureNJ, M- NJ) is an industry demand- side driven strategy to respond to current and future employment and education needs within this rapidly changing industry. The network will be an important change agent to empower an ever growing number of NJ companies and their workforces to effectively integrate advanced manufacturing technologies into daily operations and to do so across a large number of NJ companies not normally thought of as manufacturers such as in biomedical devices, pharmaceuticals, engineering technologies, computer and electronics, chemical, transportation equipment, machinery, electrical equipment, and petroleum, to name a few. Activities & Objectives: Put workforce needs of advanced manufacturing sector FIRST among existing entities; Link with all M- NJ- related partners: industry, education, non- profit organizations, workforce- related entities, job seekers and across existing Talent Networks; and Build capacity of M- NJ Talent Network and each of its non- exclusive members through information and assistance such as: o Design and populate M- NJ website, issue enewsletters and press releases; o Deploy social media and social networking tools and M- NJ strategy lead s networks to become conduits through which information spreads including virally; and o Host numerous events, each customized, but all designed to link employers with future employees. Operations Contact Meredith Aronson, Ph.D. Director, ManufactureNJ Talent Network aronsonnj@gmail.com 609.709.5500 (cell) WD- 69.1 (10/11)
Financial Services Talent Network Newark Alliance Partners: New Jersey Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Workforce Investment Boards and One- Stop Career Centers throughout the state, The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, the StuFund, Student Funding Group, LLC, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Summary: The Financial Services Talent Network is a statewide partnership- driven strategy for identifying and connecting key stakeholders required to address and resolve Financial Services industry staffing and training issues. Of considerable importance will be the strong working relationships that the Financial Services Talent Network will have with employers, Workforce Investment Boards, One- Stop Career Centers and LWD leadership to introduce best practices that will ultimately help to put New Jersey residents back to work in Financial Services jobs. Activities & Objectives: Recognizing that the Financial Services employer is our most important stakeholder, which means that we will be willing and able to customize the design and delivery of the services and products we will provide to support the employers. All available incentives will be aligned with the way in which employers operate. Expending the effort required to fully understand the current talent management challenges and opportunities faced by Financial Services employers so they will view LWD as a key partner in their ongoing efforts to grow their business as the New Jersey economy recovers. We will take the time to learn employers needs so that we can become effective and creditable partners. Working closely with educational institutions across the state to ensure that we know what relevant Financial Services training already exists as well as the training that can be developed so that New Jersey residents have the required skills to immediately enter and/or advance their careers in the Financial Services sector. We will not spend time and money reinventing educational solutions that already exist; but, rather will ensure that the training that we develop in partnership with educational institutions can be put to good and immediate use. Partnering closely with the One- Stop Career Center and WIB staff to ensure that they understand how best to source and assess talent for Financial Services employers and partner with LWD. Doing so will ensure that the One- Stop Career Center staff has the tools, training and technology it needs to provide talented Financial Services candidates. This will establish and sustain our credibility with Financial Services employers. Establishing credibility with job seekers so that they will proactively choose to use the Financial Services Talent Network in their effort to find a job or advance in their careers. In other words, we plan to establish a brand for the Financial Services Talent Network that is defined by successful job placements in all types and levels of jobs across the Financial Services sector. Operations Contact Robert Crawford, Director, Financial Services Talent Network rcrawford@newark- alliance.org 973-596- 6400, Ext 112 WD- 69.2 (10/11)
Health Care Talent Network Partners: Center for Women and Work, School of Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey The State Employment and Training Commission s (SETC) Health Care Workforce Council (HCWC); The Central New Jersey Health Care Talent Network (CNJHTN); The Greater Newark Workforce Funders Collaborative (GNWFC). Summary: The mission of the New Jersey Health Care Talent Network (NJHTN) is to bring together the key stakeholders affecting New Jersey s health care workforce to create a sustainable Talent Network that will serve as a one- stop resource for employers, individuals, and education and workforce development providers to meet their talent needs by matching the supply of skills available with the changing skill demands of this key sector of NJ s economy and society. Close partnership with the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD), the SETC and the five other Talent Networks to create a strong sector focus as New Jersey seeks to reinvent and integrate its economic and workforce development systems will position the Garden State as a leader in this national movement. Activities & Objectives: Pilot health care workforce initiatives with the Middlesex and Raritan Valley County Colleges, and the Union County Workforce Investment Board that will be shared with peers throughout the state s county colleges and WIBs; Develop articulation agreements to smooth educational pathways for key occupations; Implement a gradual continuum of capacity development strategies: Strategy #1: Understand employer demand and job seeker supply Strategy #2: Use Labor Market Information and industry intelligence to align education and workforce services Strategy #3: Inform job seekers of industry needs and available training resources Strategy #4 Training and/or placing job seekers; Through the NJ Hospital Association and the HCWC, the NJHTN will work closely with the Human Resource leaders of the main health care employers in New Jersey to better meet their talent needs; Hold an annual roundtable event with employers, LWD and SETC staff, and NJHTN workforce and education members to share information on activities and progress; Host three regional job seeker peer networking groups that meet bimonthly, and are hosted jointly by area NJHTN workforce and education members, and include Q&A opportunities with employers; Hold five career awareness and networking events at One- Stop Career Centers, employers, and higher education institutions throughout the state to focus on health care jobs, including several hosted by pilot partners; and Develop NJHTN Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter Pages, including a special LinkedIn page for health care job seekers to interact and share connections. Operations Contact Sandy Lopacki, Health Care Talent Network Coordinator Sandy.Lopacki@rutgers.edum 732-932- 4100 x6319 WD- 69.3 (10/11)
Technology & Entrepreneurship Talent Network New Jersey Technology Council (NJTC) Partners: New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Rutgers University, state community colleges, other recognized training organizations, and New Jersey technology employers and entrepreneurs. Summary: The main objectives of the Technology and Entrepreneurism Talent Network are to create an infrastructure and support network that will provide training for individuals seeking a career in the following technology sectors: IT/Software, Communications, Life Sciences, Electronics/Advanced Manufacturing, Energy/Environment, and to create a similar infrastructure and support network for individuals seeking to start and/or grow an early stage business. Activities & Objectives: Workshops: Six day- long workshops targeted to individuals entering the technology workforce. The workshops will offer hands- on instruction and be coordinated with NJIT, Rutgers University, state community colleges, and other recognized training organizations. Workshops will be held in four areas of the state: North (Newark area), South (Camden area), Central (Princeton/Somerset area) and East (Monmouth area). Conferences: Two day- long conferences will be held during the year one in the northern part of the state and one in the southern region. Each conference will target individuals seeking to enter the technology industry, either as an employee or an entrepreneur. The conferences will offer attendees an opportunity to hear and network with industry leaders from each sector of the technology industry about current needs and trends, and view exhibits from technology companies. Each attendee will receive a conference book with bios and contact information for all speakers and exhibitors. Career Website: The NJTC will create a career website with a database of open positions at technology companies, an employer directory and career articles. Employers will post jobs on the website; prospective employees will post their resumes on the website and learn more about careers in technology and entrepreneurism. Internships and Externships: The NJTC will dedicate a portion of its job board website to intern and extern opportunities. Additionally, the Council will work with the placement offices of the colleges and universities (2- and 4- year) in the state to provide intern and extern opportunities for students interested in working in the technology sectors. Operations Contact Johanna Zitto CPT, Coordinator, Technology and Entrepreneurship Talent Network jzcat@comcast.net 856-787- 9700 x236 WD- 69.5 (10/11)