IYIP Career Specialist

Description
Position Title : IYIP Career Specialist
Department: Workforce Development - CYEP DHS
Reports to: Senior Project Manager WIOA Workforce Services
Position Objective and Summary:
Under the supervision of the Senior Project Manager WIOA Workforce Services, the Career Specialist develops and provides a range of employment related services primarily to clients in the with the goals of job placement, job retention and increased household income for increased self-sufficiency for the DCEO Youth Career Pathway Program.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities :
Service Delivery

• Develops and maintains relationships and communication with a wide range of Chicagoland businesses and employers that will partner with UCAN as resources for internships and job placement.
• Inventories client interest in various job opportunities based on market availability and refers clients to jobs in areas of interest.
• Counsel clients around issues of job readiness, job and vocational training, job search and adjustments to new jobs and work-life.
• Provides guidance services to clients in various aspects of their functioning that affects their obtaining and/or maintaining employment.
• Collects, organizes and analyzes information about clients through records, tests, interviews and professional sources to appraise their needs, interests, abilities and personality characteristics for vocational and educational counseling, job training and job placement.
• Compiles and studies occupational, educational, economic and personal developmental information to aid clients in making and carrying out occupational and vocational objectives to meet their needs.
• Refer applicants to service such as literacy, language instruction, transportation assistance vocational training and childcare.
• Using a case management approach, as well as regular telephone and in-person consultations, supporting and motivate clients as they transition into an employment situation by helping them address workplace related barriers.
• Work with employers to ensure that the new employee is performing satisfactorily and is retained in the new position.
• Coordinate hiring event and jobs fairs for clients that will result in job placements.
• Facilitate and analyze mentoring workshops and job training classes to clients to ensure successful employment placement.
• Conduct trainings an information sessions on topics such as how to deal with workplace conflict how to overcome workplace stress, hot to allocate time, how to deal with difficult bosses, how to respond to employer criticism, how to ask for a raise, how to look for a new job while holding a current one, how to handle external pressures that hamper performance, etc. These topics will also be address in the one-on-one sessions as well.
• Develop and implement a retention incentive program.

Outreach and Client Engagement

• Established and maintain relationships with employers creating a concurrent job order to distribute to potential candidates
• Utilize a wide variety of methods to generate candidates, including internal and external networking, job fairs and referral program.
• Targets client needs in order to increase employment outcomes, including: consistent employment for those who are sporadically employed and employment skills for those with little or no work history.
• Establishes and maintains potential employer contacts to ensure placement opportunities for clients who have successfully completed training or are at the appropriate skill level.
• Solicits job openings and establishes job interviews with clients; supports clients during the interview process and job orientation and performs follow-up as necessary.

Quality and Accountability

• Advises and consults with case management staff towards integration of employment activities with other program services.
• Keeps organized and accurate records on job training, placement and retention for all clients who participated in employment related services.
• Maintains current knowledge through participation in training sessions, seminars, conferences, etc.
• Monitor and report the employment status and salary of all FamilyWorks clients on a monthly basis highlighting their 30, 60, 90, and 180 day milestones.
• Engage clients in career planning, addressing issues of career advancement, career change and exploring education steps necessary to obtain jobs within career ladders.
• Work in conjunction with the client's case manager to address issues external to the workplace, impacting performance and job retention.

Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN.
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients.
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job related activities prepared and as scheduled
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and coworkers
• Understands and supports UCAN's standard of cultural proficiency and strives to meet it
• Responds to clients and their families, UCAN staff, DCFS, service providers and other stakeholders in a timely manner and ensures follow up to adequately address their need.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Education/Job Experience/Certification :
Level I:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Human Services, Education, Human Resources or Business required.
• Minimum of two years of experience working in workforce development, human services, education, job training, vocational services or sales.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Has an understanding of trauma-informed practice
• Has an understanding of Positive Youth Development.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience working with teenagers and young adults.
• Ability to work both independently and a part of a high functioning team.
• Experience and ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report writing
• Car and valid Illinois driver's license and insurance require

Work Environment: This position requires work in the community. This position requires work in the evenings and weekends.