Senior Youth Career Specialist

Job Overview: Under the supervision of the Youth Program Coordinator, the Senior Youth Career Specialist is responsible for RISE Youth service provision and outcomes, including outreach, client processing and enrollment, curriculum development, providing assessments, creating ISEPs, case management including coaching clients towards program goals follow up services, and financial requests. This role will also be responsible to coordinate academic tutoring, mentorship, paid work experience (WEX) internships, and employment/educational opportunities for youth.

The Senior Youth Career Specialist will develop relationships with local high school completion programs, training providers, employers, industry partners, and local SWAJCCs. In addition, the position will successfully place clients into secondary or post-secondary educational programs, training and certification programs, and employment positions, providing ongoing retention services and support to all stakeholders while maintaining relevant internal tracking systems. The Senior Youth Career Specialist will also train volunteers on related skills and processes. All activities will advance skill acquisition to support employment and transition to a promising career pathway for clients. This role will oversee the development and implementation of RISE Academy, a workshop series aimed at career planning and employment preparation. In addition, the Senior Youth Career Specialist will be responsible for developing and completing individual plans that will be unique per client as well as achieving student and program success through maintaining casefiles, case notes across ETO and CalJobs, and internal tracking systems.

Major Responsibilities:

Client Outreach & External Partnership Development

· Identify and engage local agencies for participant referrals, conduct regular outreach, and provide program orientations for recruitment into the RISE Youth program.

· Act as a liaison between the IRC, employers, clients, and community partners.

· Research job development opportunities, such as job fairs community events, and job site tours.

· Conduct training provider and employer outreach to seek opportunities and build new relationships.

· Develop, cultivate, and maintain positive relationships with area schools and employers in order to identify appropriate workforce experience, certification and employment opportunities for clients.

· Craft, pair, and implement internship placements for youth.

Case Management

· Conduct intakes, assessments, and enrollments then provide intensive one-on-one case management and navigation services to youth, prepare individual youth development plans that detail steps needed to achieve education and employments goals, and conduct follow up to ensure participants are on-track.

· Compile documentation on services provided and client outcomes in casefiles and two case management databases.

· Assess, evaluate, and track students’ Individual development plan progress.

· Customize clients’ resumes and supporting documentation to fit identified opportunities.

· Ensure all clients comply with the policies of the program and report client progress.

· Motivate clients to complete key items on their development plans, enter and complete training programs, and enter employment.

· Assist clients and employers with any post placement issues and continuing employment needs.

· Monitor client experience, job performance, wage level, and partner expectations for each client for a year after each client exits the program.

Facilitation & Teaching

· Develop, oversee, and refine Youth and Career Development curriculum.

· Plan and implement engaging workshops and development activities to ensure youth clients are active in the program and motivated towards completing shared goals.

· Initiate specific, appropriate educational and job opportunities and assist clients in accessing these opportunities by guiding them through the scholarship, application, and/or hiring process.

· Teach RISE Academy which consists of 45 hours of core strengths training including leadership, communication, job readiness, civic engagement, digital literacy, financial literacy, site visits, and more.

· Train and place volunteers to support tutoring and job placement activities.

Program reporting and administration

· Complete internal direct assistance financial request according to program guidelines and client need.

· Review, request, and reconcile supportive services.

· Plan, request, and track WEX payments to staffing agencies based on client work experience placement(s).

· Ensure timely and accurate compliance to all reporting requirements including database management, case noting, and file maintenance; and data reports as requested.

· Collect, aggregate, and analyze performance data for initial program reports.

· Conduct quality assurance checks on casefiles and in ETO and CalJobs.

· Create new program forms and create manuals to capture best practices for program services.

· Participate in all meetings, staff development activities, and fully engage as a member of the team.

· Align with all policies, procedures and protocols of the agency.

· Other related duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Youth Program Coordinator

Job Requirements:

· Undergraduate degree in related field or relevant experience

· Two+ years of related professional work experience (in addition to the above).

· WIOA program, CalJobs, and/or youth-related teaching or workforce experience is a plus.

· Demonstrated experience with the US job search process and effectively coach clients through the nuanced process of securing employment or placement in post-secondary education.

· Excellent communication skills, with fluency in written and spoken English.

· Proven success achieving goals and working effectively with all levels of staff in a multicultural environment.

· Proficient in working with databases and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).

· Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle with current insurance, and the ability to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area.

· Proficiency in Arabic, Farsi/Dari, or Pashto is a plus.

Working Environment*:*

· Standard office work environment with regular travel throughout the service delivery area.

· Regular travel to off-site locations is required.

· Offices hours are scheduled as Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5pm.

· Stable Wi-Fi and the ability to work remotely

IRC- leading the way from harm to home.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.