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Consultant RFP for Verification Process for Skilled Immigrants

Overview

The African Bridge Network (ABN) seeks to build a supportive community that values skilled immigrants’ foreign credentials and professional experiences by providing career development resources, professional networking opportunities, and job placement and career advancement opportunities through our employer partnerships.

Program Overview

ABN seeks a consultant to lead the development of a Verification Process, a candidate preparation process that addresses employer questions and concerns regarding hiring skilled immigrants into middle-skill positions. The program will have a series of components, including skills assessments, career counseling, soft skills and field-specific training, career-aligned language instruction, credential verification, and a reporting system that clearly translates skilled immigrants’ transferrable skills and competencies for the US employer. The process will include collaboration with a consortium of service/training providers who will deliver training, testing, and career support for skilled immigrants. The design and implementation of the verification process will be informed by findings from the 2024 ABN Feasibility Study conducted by the Donohue Institute and input from an advisory group of expert stakeholders.

Program Outcomes

This verification process will help skilled immigrants overcome barriers to employment by strengthening and demonstrating relevant skills and competencies and validating their international credentials and work experience in a manner that resonates with U.S. employers. This will increase employer confidence in hiring from this underutilized talent pool, ultimately contributing to better job placements, better performance, and higher retention rates among skilled immigrants.

Key Components 

Initial Assessment

  • Language Proficiency: Evaluate the candidate’s ability to communicate effectively in English at a professional level.
  • Digital Literacy and Adaptability: Assess the candidate’s competence in using and learning digital tools and platforms relevant to their industry.
  • Soft Skills & Transferable Skills: Identify strengths in communication, customer service, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability.

Career Counseling and Job Search Support

  • Individualized career counseling to align candidates with suitable job opportunities.
  • Job search support to navigate the U.S. job market effectively.

Training

  • ESOL Instruction: Training in career-aligned spoken and written English and communication skills.
  • Soft Skills & U.S. Workplace Cultural Norms: Training on essential soft skills and U.S. workplace culture.
  • Industry-Specific Training: Tailored occupational training that aligns with the candidate’s target industry.
  • Digital Tools & Adaptability: Training in the use of professional digital tools and fostering digital adaptability.

Verification

  • Work Authorization & Degree Verification: Ensure candidates possess valid work authorization and have had their educational credentials evaluated by an industry-recognized credential evaluation service.
  • Final Skills Verification: Using standard-based tools, conduct post-training assessments to verify the level of the candidate’s language proficiency, industry-specific knowledge, digital skills, and soft skills.

Reporting

  • A report or checklist that clearly translates the education, transferable skills, and industry-specific knowledge of candidates to potential employers.
  • A clear explanation of the proficiency levels in various skill areas achieved by candidates at the end of the process makes it easy for employers to understand candidate qualifications.

Program Implementation

The verification process will use a cohort model that moves groups of clients through the program while allowing for personalized pathways tailored to individual client needs. 

The ABN team leading the process will coordinate work with various training/service providers to equip candidates with the necessary language proficiency, digital literacy, soft skills, and industry-specific knowledge required for success in mid-skilled occupations. 

The launch of the verification process will begin with a six-month pilot effort in a specific industry sector. The pilot will include an evaluation of program outcomes and recommendations for changes to the ongoing process and the potential for expansion to other industry sectors. 

Role of the Consultant

ABN seeks a consultant with expertise in workforce development models and immigrant integration to lead the conceptualization, design, and development of the verification process. 

Working in close collaboration with the ABN team, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

  1. Process Development: Lead the conceptualization and development of the verification process, ensuring it addresses employer concerns and aligns with industry standards. Review existing verification models in MA and other states to capture their lessons for the current process.
  2. Advisory Group Engagement: Consult a stakeholder advisory group to incorporate their input during the development of the verification process.  
  3. Employer Engagement: Identify and engage employer partners in the process development to capture their interests and priorities and increase their confidence and readiness to accept the process once it is in operation. 
  4. Tool and Training Identification: Identify appropriate assessment tools, training modules, and resources for verifying candidates’ skills and qualifications.
  5. Service Provider Identification: Identify training and service providers that will collaborate to prepare candidates and deliver the various components of the process.
  6. Industry Pilot Planning: Recommend the first industry to pilot the verification process and ensure that the pilot design meets the unique needs of that sector.

Project Timeline

Process Development: 4 months

Pilot Project Supervision: 6 months

Project Budget

$35,000-$45,000

RFP Deadline

Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis till Monday, January 16, 2025.

Inquiries 

Interested consultants can direct their inquiries to Emmanuel Owusu at info@africanbn.org. Proposals can be submitted here.

About Us

We envision a day when the skills of immigrant professionals are highly valued and they can use their past experiences to build their careers, support their families, and make meaningful contributions to our society.

  • info@africanbn.org
  • (978) 310-1949

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