WIOA Career Navigator

SUMMARY: The WIOA Career Navigator works directly with SERCO customers enrolled in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs, guiding them toward self-sufficiency through employment, education, and training opportunities. This role involves conducting outreach, intake, eligibility determination, intensive case management, career counseling, and follow-up services. The Career Navigator provides individualized support and connects participants to supportive services that address barriers to employment.

This position requires a strong sense of empathy, integrity, and ethical behavior, with the ability to be sensitive, helpful, and understanding toward diverse customer needs. The Career Navigator plays a critical role in empowering participants to achieve their career and educational goals, while ensuring program compliance and positive outcomes.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Adheres to the mission of SERCO.
• Responsible for reaching monthly enrollment goals.
• Provide comprehensive case management and information services to individuals seeking support through WIOA programs, including eligibility determination, service planning, and follow-up.
• Evaluate applicants’ employment background, skills, and training needs through structured interviews, assessments, and testing to guide them toward appropriate services.
• Receives and reviews applications and documents for accuracy and completeness.
• Interpret and explain information such as eligibility requirements, application details, and applicants' legal rights
• Tracks enrollment goals and update trackers daily to include file transfers and enrollment status.
• Will travel through the Laredo, Hebbronville and Zapata areas to complete outreach and presentations as necessary.
• May conduct electronic outreach activities.
• Visit local community agencies to present and recruit for the WIOA program.
• Interviews customers or their authorized representatives to gather information to assess service needs.
• Responsible for the intake process of center customers to determine eligibility for services.
• Coordinate and provide direct case management services to include assisting the job seeker to: develop long- and short-term employment goals;
• Interpret and explain information such as eligibility requirements, application details, and applicants’ legal rights.
• Conduct in-depth interviewing, testing, and skills assessment of eligible participant for entry into career center activities.
• Develop and manage Individual Employment Plans (IEPs) tailored to job seekers’ short- and long-term career goals, and update plans as necessary to track progress and outcomes.
• Interview participants at specified intervals to certify their eligibility for continuing benefits
• Completes applicant documents and forms accurately and expeditiously.
• Provide career guidance to assist job seekers in making and carrying out career decisions for success in the labor market; identify suitability for and/or barriers to employment/training
• Compile, record, and evaluate personal and financial data to verify completeness and accuracy, and to determine eligibility status
• Follow standard procedures to administer and evaluate interest, aptitude, and achievement tests and work samples. Provide assessment results to assist participants, etc., in setting appropriate goals and identifying appropriate education and training options.
• Assists in developing materials and conducts workshops, job clubs and other customer group meetings, for all programs.
• Assists customers to access basic self-help services through effective use of the resource center.
• Assist in resolving problems that may impede participation and/or performance in selected programs; provide follow-up activities according to program guidelines
• Keeps abreast of revisions and changes impacting the eligibility of applicants, and reporting requirements.
• Refers applicants who are ineligible or have other training interests to other agencies, training centers or community organizations, as appropriate.
• Oversee job seeker's program participation providing career counseling, job coaching and career mentoring that ensures sustained employment
• Maintains detailed participant records in compliance with agency’s policies and procedures and prepares required reports
• Document all participant contacts and activities in WIT system of record to include case notes and post-placement follow up contacts (daily)
• Track target goals to include enrollments, trainings, and entered employment, and provide weekly progress reports
• Meet or exceed monthly and quarterly performance goals, including enrollment targets and successful employment outcomes.
• Compiles and distributes accurate intake and assessment reports.
• Performs other work-related duties as needed and/or as assigned.

Education And Experience

• Preferred, Bachelor’s Degree with coursework in Psychology, Sociology, or related field; or
• Two (2) year of related experience performing intake and certification work, or a combination of experience and education.

Desired Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Working knowledge of programs administered by TWC, TANF, etc.
• Ability to properly interview and screen clients for services.
• Experience providing excellent service to job seekers and employers
• Experience working with unemployed, underemployed, displaced workers, noncustodial parents, ex-offenders, veterans, individuals with barriers or other economically-disadvantaged populations
• Ability to prioritize tasks and document all aspects of services provided
• Ability to read and interpret eligibility requirements.
• Ability to properly administer and score assessment instruments.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to accurately calculate income levels.
• Ability to analyze participants’ documents to determine eligibility.
• Skills in establishing rapport with participants.
• Knowledge of assessment tools used in workforce center applications.
• Knowledge of basic mathematics to include addition and subtraction.
• Knowledge of and ability to use personal computer.
• Highly preferred: Knowledge of human behavior an performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral an affective disorders
• Excellent communication skills. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Excellent organization and typing skills
• Ability to multi-task and work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Professional; manners and appearance
• Must treat customers with dignity and respect.
• Must be able to travel within state.
• Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Special Requirements

• Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License and provide automobile liability insurance as required by the State of Texas.
• Must have access to reliable transportation in order to make required home visits and travel within service area.
• Must obtain National Association of Workforce Development Professionals certificate.

Physical Demands And Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics describe here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing duties of the job, employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; for long periods of time. Employee must be able to drive for extended periods of time. Employees must occasionally lift and /or move up to 25 pounds, must be able to set up display area.
• WORK ENVIRONMENT: Fast paced, demanding physically and mentally, will be in constant communications.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

General sign off: The employee is expected to adhere to all company policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to policies.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.