Work-Based Learning Coordinator

Work-Based Learning Coordinator

The Work-Based Learning (WBL) Coordinator serves as the primary architect and liaison for Calumet New Tech High School's career pathways. This role is responsible for the end-to-end development of the WBL program and the management of a robust Industry Advisory Council to ensure students achieve Employment and Enrollment Readiness Seals.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Education, Business, or a related field.
• Certification: Licensure as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructor or completion of IDOE-approved WBL training is preferred.
• Experience: Proven experience in school-to-career programming, industry recruitment, or career counseling.

Reports to: Building Principal.

Major Responsibilities & Duties:

Partnership & Community Engagement Business Liaison:

• Act as the direct point of contact for local businesses and workforce agencies to create career-aligned opportunities.
• Regularly attend community and industry meetings to advocate for WBL and expand the network of available placements.
• Establish and maintain an Advisory Committee to ensure program offerings reflect current market-driven workforce needs.

Instructional Leadership & Curriculum Delivery:

• Direct Instruction: Teach WBL-related courses and seminars focused on the development of core employability skills.
• Lesson Development: Design and deliver interactive lessons on workplace professional standards, including communication, conflict resolution, and career planning.
• Skill Assessment: Facilitate workshops that prepare students for industry-recognized certifications and pre-employment testing.
• Career Coaching: Provide 1-on-1 and group guidance to students to align their WBL experiences with their long-term career goals.

Program Development & Strategic Growth:

• Readiness Seals: Design and scale WBL pathways that meet the specific criteria for the new Readiness Seals: Enrollment Honors Plus: Coordinate at least 75 hours of WBL. Employment Honors: Coordinate at least 150 hours of WBL. Employment Honors Plus: Oversee advanced WBL (totaling 650 hours).
• Standard Operating Procedures: Develop a comprehensive WBL handbook for students, parents, and employers detailing safety protocols, legal compliance, and learning objectives.
• Quality Assurance: Implement a vetting process for worksites to ensure they provide "sustained interaction with industry professionals" as defined by the IDOE.
• Experience Quality: Develop, oversee, and support a spectrum of activities defined by the Indiana Department of Education as "sustained interaction between participants and industry professionals" in real or simulated settings, including teachers implementing such activities in various courses.
• Leadership of the WBL Advisory Council: Identify and recruit key stakeholders from local industry, labor organizations, and higher education to serve on the WBL Advisory Council. Schedule and lead quarterly Advisory Council meetings to review labor market data, evaluate program efficacy, and align school curriculum with industry needs. Leverage council expertise to secure equipment donations, guest speakers, and new internship sites.

Partnership & Community Engagement Business Liaison:

• Act as the primary point of contact for regional employers and the Chamber of Commerce to create career-aligned opportunities.
• Strategic Networking: Advocate for Calumet New Tech students at regional workforce development boards and industry roundtables.

Student Support & Supervision:

• Training Plans: Develop and file written Training Plans and Partnership Agreements for every student, ensuring tasks align with industry-recognized competencies.
• Monitoring: Conduct regular on-site visits and provide feedback based on evaluations from worksite mentors.
• Employability Skills: Evaluate and document student development in core competencies: Communication, Collaboration, and Work Ethic.
• Data & Compliance Record Keeping: Maintain accurate records of student hours and skill gains for state reporting (e.g., InTERS and graduation pathway verification).
• Compliance: Ensure all sites comply with federal and state labor laws and safety standards.
• Inclusive: Implement inclusive practices to ensure all students have access to high-value WBL opportunities.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Successful placement of students into career-aligned internships or apprenticeships. Attainment of Employment or Enrollment Honors Seals by graduating seniors. Growth in the number of active industry partners and signed Training Agreements.