CAREER DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST_ABILITY01

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Provides a full range of workforce development services to assist associates in   achieving professional and personal goals.  Provide professional coaching, mentoring, resource navigation, and outreach to help develop individualized plans for each associate.  Act as an Associate Relations Liaison; connecting associates with both internal and external resources including HR, Department Leadership, and Training. Provide case management support to associates with significant disabilities on our AbilityOne program.  Provide oversight, monitoring, and coordination of activities for all associates engaged in services.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Workforce Development Services

1. Actively engage with associates to promote professional and personal development.  Providing support and direction to associates, to facilitate communication and growth.  Proactively identifying needs and barriers, to provide timely support.  

2. Provides support through coaching and educating, in critical employability areas, in collaboration with HR and Department Leadership/Management team.  

3. Collaboratively develop an individualized service plan which identifies goals, resources, support, and elements needed to achieve success while enrolled in the program.

4. Provides support and aids associates in addressing life barriers; assists them in finding and utilizing resources to aid in overcoming identified barriers.

5. Research and establish relationships with community resources to assist associates in connecting as needed to remove barriers.  

6. Partners with HR, Department Leadership/Management, and Opportunity Center staff members to coordinate development efforts, maximize employment and training resources, to achieve organizational goals of obtaining community-based employment.

7. Partner with local high schools and rehabilitation organizations to promote the recruitment of individuals into the AbilityOne program.

8. Act as a liaison between associates, Department Leadership/Management, and HR to ensure adequate support is provided to all parties, in accordance with agency policies and procedures.  

9. Responsible for all associate records, maintaining all employee records involving case records, accommodations, case notes/recordings, development, insuring compliance with all laws and Goodwill policies and procedures.  

AbilityOne Program Associates

The AbilityOne program is designed to provide a comprehensive training environment for individuals with significant disabilities.  Through employment and individualized development plans, associates are supported to reach their personal and professional goals, resulting in community-based employment.  

1. Develop, implement, and monitor individualized employment evaluation (IEE) by establishing appropriate goals and objectives for associates.

2. Assess associates for job readiness, education and training needs, and support needed to obtain community-based employment.

3. Partner with Training Specialist to develop and implement an array of courses designed to teach and reinforce hard and soft employability skills.

4.  Accurately complete and submit on time evaluations, based on associate development goals.

5. Coordinate and ensure access for associates to appropriate support services. 

6. Provide follow-up to assure participation and analyze progress toward goal achievement for assigned program associates. 

7. Maintain accurate progress reports and documentation of incidents that occur, focusing on excellence in organizational safety.  

8. Provide guidance and support in the areas of career exploration, awareness of community resources, that lead to outplacement activities.  

9. Partner with program leadership to review challenges, opportunities, and develop action steps holistically and regularly for growth and development, for all associates.

10. Provide critical employability skills and techniques to associates to reinforce positive work behaviors.  

11. Responsible for the maintenance of case records, appropriate case recording and the confidentiality of information in accordance with HIPAA and organization policies.

12. Responsible for compliance with AbilityOne contracting requirements, verification of documentation of qualifying disability status, IEE s, and other tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL SKILLS REQUIRED

* Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Psychology, Human Resources, Organizational Development, or closely related field; plus 1-3 years of demonstrated effectiveness in workforce development, case manager, coaching/mentoring, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

* Must possess a valid driver's license, own insurance, and independent transportation. This position requires travel between locations, off-site meetings and events as needed 

* Excellent verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal and presentation skills.

* Knowledge of disabilities, accommodations, and their impact on work and training.  

* Due to working with vulnerable populations, the successful candidate will be subject to an initial criminal history background check with fingerprinting and will be subject to criminal history checks every 2 years thereafter. Continued employment is contingent upon successfully completing the criminal history background check.

* Ability to work efficiently with people in a facilitating manner with an open mind and ability to react as such in situations and interactions with customers and other stakeholders.

* Ability to work as part of a team and relate effectively with other Goodwill staff members, community, partners, and persons served and their families, and representatives of other community service providers.

* Discretion, patience, tact, and courtesy in working with others.

* Flexibility and the willingness to learn new procedures and policies to meet the changing needs and goals of the department, organization, and most importantly the individuals served.

* Must be able to adhere to all confidentiality policies, procedures, and practices including HIPAA regulations.

* Ability to accomplish organizational mission by completion of all assigned job duties as assigned.