Case Manager

Position Description The Case Manager provides intensive, relationship-based case management to an assigned caseload of young adults participating in Lumity's workforce development programs. The Case Manager serves as a consistent point of support and accountability throughout the participant journey - from recruitment, screening, eligibility and enrollment through training, career planning, employment or postsecondary placement, and retention. This is a highly relational, hands-on role. The Case Manager is expected to know the participants on their caseload, understand their strengths, goals and barriers, maintain timely and accurate documentation, exercise sound professional judgment, and proactively intervene when challenges may affect program completion or long-term career success. The Case Manager is assigned to a primary Lumity site location and program portfolio and works in close partnership with the site's Program Manager. The Case Manager owns the individual participant journey; the Program Manager owns the program and learning experience. The Case Manager reports directly to the Program Director. Primary Responsibilities Intensive Case Management & Participant Success Maintain an assigned caseload and serve as the primary case management contact for participants throughout their Lumity experience. Conduct consistent one-on-one meetings to assess progress, strengths, goals, emerging barriers and support needs. Complete comprehensive assessments and develop individualized success and career plans with participants. Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, accountability and goal-setting support. Monitor attendance, engagement and program progress and intervene proactively when concerns arise. Exercise sound professional judgment when participants experience crisis, instability or significant barriers and coordinate appropriate next steps. Facilitate restorative, accountability and problem-solving conversations when appropriate. Help participants build self-advocacy, problem-solving and resource-navigation skills while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries Recruitment, Screening & Enrollment Support recruitment and community outreach efforts. Conduct participant screenings to determine program eligibility, readiness and suitability. Review participant goals, interests, barriers and expectations before enrollment. Complete required intake, assessment and enrollment documentation and coordinate appropriate program placement. Establish the case management relationship during intake so participants understand who will support them throughout their journey. Wraparound Services & Barrier Reduction Assess needs related to housing, food security, transportation, childcare, healthcare, mental health, legal assistance, clothing, financial stability and other barriers affecting participation or employment. Develop individualized plans for addressing identified barriers and provide warm referrals to trusted community partners. Follow up on referrals to determine whether participants successfully accessed services and identify additional support when needed. Assist participants in navigating community systems and completing applications when appropriate. Respond with appropriate urgency when participants experience homelessness, food insecurity, safety concerns or other significant barriers. Community Resource Development Build and maintain an active network of community organizations capable of providing wraparound services to Lumity participants. Establish direct relationships with providers throughout Chicago and the western suburbs and identify primary contacts whenever possible. Meet with, call and visit community organizations to understand programs, eligibility requirements and referral processes. Maintain Lumity's Community Resource Map and ensure information remains current and actionable. Develop formal and informal referral relationships and support partnership or MOU development when appropriate. Represent Lumity professionally at community meetings, resource fairs, networking events and partner convenings. Career Development, Placement & Retention Begin career exploration and planning during intake and continue career development throughout enrollment. Conduct or coordinate career assessments and help participants identify realistic employment, apprenticeship, training and postsecondary pathways. Support resume development, interviewing, networking, professional communication, job-search strategies and workplace-readiness skills. Assist participants with applications for employment, apprenticeships, certifications, trade programs, college and other postsecondary opportunities. Build and maintain relationships with employers, apprenticeship programs, training providers, colleges and other pathway partners. Coordinate warm connections to employment and training opportunities and support participants through interviewing, onboarding and transition. Conduct proactive post-placement follow-up to support retention, address emerging barriers and promote long-term career advancement. Document employment, education, credential and retention outcomes according to program and funder requirements. Documentation, Data Compliance & Team Collaboration Maintain complete, accurate and timely participant records. Complete case notes by the end of each workday for substantive participant interactions occurring that day. Document assessments, referrals, interventions, participant progress, barriers, follow-up activities and outcomes. Maintain individualized service and career plans and update them as participant circumstances change. Enter and maintain required data in Lumity systems, grant/funder portals and workforce data systems. Treat case documentation as an essential component of participant care, continuity of services, program compliance and organizational accountability. Work closely with the assigned Program Manager to coordinate participant support and program engagement while maintaining clear role ownership. Participate in participant-support huddles, case reviews, program meetings and cross-site collaboration. Communicate relevant participant concerns to appropriate team members while maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries. Support recruitment events, orientations, graduations, employer events and other program activities. Identify participant trends, service gaps and opportunities to strengthen Lumity's workforce development model. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, counseling, workforce development, education or a related field required; master's degree preferred. Advanced level proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and remote platforms such as Teams and Zoom; Minimum 3 years of direct case management experience working with adolescents, young adults or individuals experiencing significant barriers to employment or education. Demonstrated experience providing trauma-informed, strengths-based, and participant-centered case management to individuals facing complex personal, social, emotional, educational, or employment barriers. Demonstrated experience independently managing an assigned caseload. Experience conducting needs assessments, developing individualized service plans and coordinating community-based services. Experience supporting individuals experiencing housing instability, transportation barriers, food insecurity, mental-health needs, childcare challenges or other significant barriers strongly preferred. Experience in workforce development, youth development, employment services or postsecondary transition strongly preferred. Experience supporting participants through crisis intervention, de-escalation, motivational interviewing, restorative conversations, and solution-focused coaching preferred. Experience managing participant data in systems such as Illinois workNet, case management platforms, grant-reporting systems, applicant-tracking systems or other CRM/database platforms preferred. Core Competencies Professional Judgment & Initiative: Independently assess situations, recognize urgency, prioritize effectively and take appropriate action without continual direction. Relationship-Based Case Management: Develop authentic professional relationships with young adults while balancing empathy, accountability and appropriate boundaries. Crisis Response & De-escalation: Remain calm, engage participants experiencing distress, assess needs and determine appropriate next steps within the scope of the role. Documentation & Data Management: Maintain timely, accurate case notes, service plans, referral records and program data across required systems. Career Navigation: Help participants translate interests and strengths into realistic career, employment, apprenticeship, training or postsecondary pathways. Communication & Collaboration: Communicate effectively with participants, colleagues, employers and community partners while operating independently within a multidisciplinary team. Cultural Responsiveness: Work respectfully and effectively with young adults representing diverse identities, experiences and communities. Work Schedule & Location Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities based on program needs. Case Managers will have a primary site assignment at either Lumity's Chicago/Wabash location or Maywood location but will travel between both Lumity sites and to community partner, employer and participant-support locations throughout Chicagoland. The majority of work for this position is in-person with periodic remote work days. #J-18808-Ljbffr Lumity