Career Coach

Position Summary: The Career Coach (CC) plays an integral role in supporting the long-term career development and economic stability of individuals who are participating in an 18-unit Moving to Work Program, in partnership with the New Haven Housing Authority. Working closely with the Housing Team and ARISE Center Staff, the CC works individually with heads of households to identify career goals, build job readiness skills, secure living-wage employment and progress toward long-term economic stability within two to three years

Major Duties and Responsibilities

PROGRAMMATIC MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

• Assist heads of households to identify potential career pathways/ladders for participants to obtain living wage jobs
• Assist in the development of the Family Action Plan for participants from CCA’s New HOPE program, in collaboration with the Family Coaches (FC’s) and ARISE Staff, based on the Person-Centered and Motivational Interviewing approach
• Assess job readiness, literacy, and numeracy of participating individuals
• Connect individuals to community resource partners and local and regional businesses for employment or additional educational services
• Recommend job-training and skills necessary to place participants in the job market
• Research local employment trends in the job market and growing technical fields
• In partnership with ARISE Employment Services Specialist (ESS), coordinate bi-monthly employment readiness workshops.

EMPLOYER/BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Develop and maintain relationships with local employers, training programs and workforce development partners.
• Match individuals with appropriate job and training opportunities
• Provide on-going support and coaching of participants in developing and implementing their career goals
• Identify opportunities for participants who are potentially hard-to-place, because of a criminal history, disability, or significant gap(s) in employment or education
• Connect individuals to conflict mediation services when conflicts arise that may threaten employment stability

STAFF COLLABORATION AND INTERDEPENDENCE

• Participate in Service Delivery Improvement Initiative (SDII) client-driven, goal planning meetings as an internal partner
• Participate in regular case conferencing with CCA Family Coaches to review participants’ progress, get feedback from team members, and integrate future service delivery
• Work collaboratively with CCA Family Coaches to be more effective in eliminating participant barriers and to exceed all stated outcomes including recruitment, training, job placement, advancement, attainment of support services and benefits, and retention milestones
• Attend all staff trainings and meetings as required

PROGRAM EVALUATION & STRATEGY

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation for all cases and services provided on the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
• Complete monthly written reports summarizing job and career development, placement activities, and income changes
• Seek on-going ways to increase knowledge and improve work performance
• Perform all other duties as assigned

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Increase in employability of heads of households in CCA housing programs
• Increase in heads of households’ successful connections to community resources
• Increase in heads of households achieving their career goals
• Increase in heads of households’ earned income
• Screen 100% of heads of households who enter CCA housing programs for job readiness by assessing literacy and numeracy skills
• Successfully connect heads of households to educational programs as determined by their career goals

KEY QUALIFICATIONS AND CAPABILITIES

• Bachelor’s degree in business, social work, human services, or a related field
• 5+ years of direct experience working in workforce development
• Knowledge of what is required for advancement within labor markets and an understanding of the local business climate
• Training as a professional employment or career coach (preferred)
• Strong business and entrepreneurial sense
• Experience working with particular target populations, including persons experiencing homelessness and individuals who were formerly incarcerated is strongly preferred
• Ability to coach individuals to develop skills
• Demonstrated success working with diverse populations in low-income neighborhoods
• Demonstrated success developing and managing strategic partnerships
• Ability to resolve conflict effectively and solve problems in immediate crisis or conflicts
• Ability to build client rapport while maintaining professional boundaries
• Ability to work cooperatively with a team
• Experience conducting trainings or facilitating groups
• Strong interpersonal and time management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with public speaking
• Proficient in computer programs - MS Office and Google Suite
• Training in Motivational Interviewing and Person-Centered Practice
• Willingness to comply with all CCA policies and procedures
• Ability to work non-traditional hours including some evenings
• Reliable transportation
• Bilingual in Spanish and English (beneficial)

English