Benjamin Christensen Email & Phone Number

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

At Commonwealth Corporation, a quasi-public workforce development agency, I manage a multi-million-dollar portfolio of about 60 two-year grants, which allow Massachusetts businesses the ability to train and upskill their incumbent workforce. I work with grant recipients through every stage of the grant lifecycle, from procurement to closeout, conducting site visits, and monitoring spending and reporting obligations. In this role, I collaborate with stakeholders ranging from our Board Chair, the MA Secretary of Labor, to three other program managers and business leaders in a range of industries, and work with the team to drive expansion into new industries.

Bremen, Germany

While living abroad, I have taken a position resolving customer and department inquiries such as ticket changes and reissues, refunds, and other reservation problems for up to 80 airline passenger cases per day. I document all call information, identify trends and issues in customer calls, and develop streamlined solutions. I also process standing work orders using proprietary coding and data protection processes.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

In this role, I oversaw all aspects of six workforce development grants, including developing and implementing new programs, establishing partnerships with schools and business, measuring progress, and renewing and extending funding. Coordinating a staff of 13, I provided oversight for about $12M in pass-through funding to the Boston Metro North Regional Career Center and to community partners in 16 cities and towns of the Metro North region.For programs including job search assistance, job training, and career development programs for unemployed and low-income workers, youth, and veterans, I performed assessments and reported to state and federal funding organizations, to confirm that the Career Center operator was satisfying program goals. I also maintaining strong relationships with community services, schools, and an advisory board of employers, to ensure that programming remained responsive to community needs.Highlights included: Coordinating the handoff from outgoing to incoming operator when the Employment Board brought in a new contractorExpanding a program on a Walmart Foundation grant, to help entry-level workers advance to managerial roles Building the case to bring youth services in-house; Hired and developed a youth services staff of fourWorked with statewide job boards to present a STEM week with programs, speakers, and pharmaceutical job site tours Maintained a network of 300 STEM stakeholders including employers in biotech and IT, and community college, high school, and Suffolk University tech teachers; Supported Girls Who Code and after-school programming

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

In this role, I developed and managed partnerships with over 75 employers and community partners such as Goodwill and Bunker Hill Community College, finding jobs for Iraqi, Bhutanese, Somali, and Ugandan refugees, many of whom were living at or below the Federal Poverty Level. I verified program outcomes including a 70% placement rate and 49 cash assistance terminations in FY 2014.In this position, I also established a multi-industry Employer Advisory Board made up of senior management from partner employers, and I centralized filing, data management, and reporting procedures in order to track program performance and ensure compliance.

Greater Boston Area

In this role, I delivered job retention and career planning services to 150 graduates from two training programs, in retail banking and facilities maintenance, as part of a privately-funded organization with six other initiatives. I collaborated with intake counselors, instructors, and training managers at job training nonprofits, and worked with graduates to develop individualized retention and career plans, and to help participants manage job changes as well as applications for job-related certifications or advanced degrees. I also prepared reports and documentation to demonstrate program effectiveness for funding renewal applications.

Concord, New Hampshire, United States

In this position, I built a portfolio of employer partners to serve refugee populations in central New Hampshire, and supported case managers in all areas of resettlement, ranging from meeting arrivals and setting up apartments to collecting donations and providing assistance with job applications, interviews, and skills development. I also served as a liaison between refugees and employers, and managed college interns in the program.

Master'S Degree, Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management

Bachelor'S Degree, American History (United States)