New York City software company Diligent is looking to open a hub in Baltimore, with plans to hire around 100 people and launch a free training program for local residents.
The company has not yet decided on a specific location in Baltimore, but is currently looking for a space downtown, said MarKeith Allen, senior vice president and general manager of mission driven organizations. He hopes to establish a permanent physical presence in Baltimore by next summer.
Diligent specializes in governance, risk and compliance software, helping companies such as Mastercard and 7-Eleven abide by government regulations and prevent cybercrime.
The company chose Baltimore in part because of the proximity to existing offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Allen said Diligent was also attracted to the diversity of the city, pointing to how Baltimore is historically underinvested by tech companies. The company considered 10 other cities for the hub.
Besides Washington and New York, Diligent also has international offices in London, Galway, Ireland; Budapest, Munich and Sydney.
To kickstart the new location, Diligent is partnering with SV Academy to provide a free training program to Baltimore residents. The two companies are focusing on underrepresented job seekers, such as people of color, women and people without a four-year degree.
"Over 50% of high school graduates in Baltimore receive little to no post-secondary support, either during the job search or further skilling," said Rahim Fazal, CEO of SV Academy, which provides job training courses. "Which provides an incredible community of learners for us to tap into for these programs."
Up to 100 Baltimore-area residents will be provided with technical and professional skills through a four to eight week course with SV Academy. After graduating from the program, participants are given up to six months of job search support and up to a year of on-the-job coaching. The deadline for applications is July 22. The training will focus on customer-facing, revenue-generating positions, Fazal said.
"In a world of increased automation, human-centered skills become disproportionately valuable," Fazal said.
Out of the initial applicants, around 30 will be offered entry level jobs in tech sales and customer success at Diligent. Allen said candidates will begin working at Diligent in September. The Baltimoreans will go through a 13-week program at Diligent, building off the skills taught at the SV Academy.
Before the permanent space is established next year, the company may use a shared coworking space for meetings and other activities, Allen said. The company originally planned to open earlier but had to delay due to supply chain difficulties related to IT equipment. The ability to create interpersonal relationships through in-person events and meetings, especially for people new to the field through the SV Academy, is a key reason why Diligent is pursuing a physical office space, Allen said.
"There's a lot of talent and a lot of insight from folks who don't have a four-year college degree, or don't come from a tech background and may view things differently," Allen said.
