Career Navigator (Placement Specialist)

Organization Summary:

The Center for Sustainable Careers (CSC) is a program of the non-profit Civic Works. CSC expands access to family-sustaining careers for Baltimore residents from historically marginalized communities. We support Baltimore residents in building the skills needed to secure quality employment, and employers around investing in their workers. CSC does this through a three-part model of hands-on learning, on-the-job training and job quality advancement. We have sector-based career tracks in solar installation and utility infrastructure. Each solar student completes paid on-the-job training (OJT) through CSC’s social enterprise. The job quality initiative then expands employment access and quality among partner employers by promoting the adoption of fair hiring practices, competitive wages, supportive workplace policies, and clear pathways for career advancement. This program model has proven powerfully successful. Since 2003, more than 1,000 people have graduated from CSC. The program maintains an average job placement rate of 85%-90% and starting wages begin at $17-$18 per hour.

The Center for Sustainable Careers's innovative work has been highlighted by the White House, the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post, and the US Conference of Mayors. Join us in creating a stronger, more sustainable economy. For more information, please visit http://sustainablecareers.civicworks.com/.

Position Summary:

The Career Navigator plays a pivotal role in facilitating professional development for participants, guiding them towards a family-sustaining career. Responsibilities include overseeing a caseload of trainees, conducting workshops, assisting with resume development, and evaluating participants' readiness for placement. Additionally, the Navigator supports participants throughout their job search, from application to negotiation, and handles administrative tasks such as maintaining case notes and data entry. This role involves collaboration with key team members to achieve program goals.
 

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Support participants in building their professional development skills
   1. Support participants in creating job application documents (e.g., resumes, cover letters).
   2. Provide strength-based coaching for professional growth in areas such as employer interactions, interviewing, and career planning.
   3. Develop and conduct professional development workshops.
2. Coordinate participants' progress toward job placement
   1. Assess and coach participants to support their professional growth.
   2. Collaborate with the Job Readiness Manager to assess participant readiness, and facilitate their transition to employment.
   3. Match all participants with suitable jobs, and support them through each stage of the application processes.
   4. Collect placement-related data from graduates
3. Maintain and oversee post-graduation retention
   1. Track and support graduate retention and career advancement
   2. Assist unemployed program graduates with their job search.

Secondary Responsibilities

1. Participate in staff and training team meetings.
2. Assist training staff with random drug screens as needed.

Experience:

• Experience providing coaching and mentorship to motivate job seekers to achieve their goals
• Experience utilizing strategies such as motivational interviewing to guide participants to develop their job-readiness skills.
• Experience in workforce development is preferred.
• Experience with conflict resolution is a plus.

Skills and Abilities:

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to make professionalism topics accessible and easy to understand.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including coaching, mentorship, relationship-building and listening skills.
• Effective classroom management and ability to engage with program participants.
• Proficiency in Google Drive and Calendar, Microsoft Word and Powerpoint applications.
• Dedication to worker development in a high-quality, respectful environment.
• Ability to work independently and within tight deadlines.