Description

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Career Coach will coordinate workforce development activities that introduce and engage public housing residents to a working-class culture. Incorporate innovative coaching and motivational strategies beyond conventional case management strategies, resulting in increased income and assets. The Career Coach will primarily offer guidance, linkage to supportive services, and financial literacy to help public housing residents obtain economic self-sufficiency. Reports to the JOBS-Plus Program Manager.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Recruit, enroll, and retain program participation.
Assess, monitor, and amend participants' employment needs and interests.
Work one-on-one with participants to promote participation informed coaching and set goals in the areas of employment, education and training, financial management, personal/family well-being and lease compliance:

- assist participants with job-readiness activities, including developing resumes and cover letters, guiding how to identify and prepare for employment opportunities, and assist with the job application and interview process
- assist participants with their education and training interests, including identifying suitable education and training opportunities and helping them to enroll in courses
- assist with goal setting in the areas of financial management and connecting participants to local resources to improve their personal finances
- ability to assess participants need for supportive services and refer them to local organizations for services

Establish and maintain contacts and relationships with community partners and facilitate service coordination with resources provided by private/public partners.
Engage and inform residents about earned income and disregard benefits.
Review service plans/employment goals and perform follow-up to determine the quality and quantity of services provided and positively impacting the clients' progress.
Monitor residents' attendance and participation in assigned/scheduled classes and/or activities.
Visit clients in their homes, office, and any other locations deemed appropriate.
Develop creative methods to encourage enrollment and ongoing participation in the program.
Provide coaching and supportive assistance to residents experiencing crises.
Develop updates and maintain a file on each participant and/or household, as required.

Perform case management: information and referrals, rent assistance, assessment of resident needs, plan of action development follow-up on referrals, appointments settings, and frequent home/telephone contact.
Oversee and directly assist with outreach/marketing strategies to inform and promote residents' participation in program activities.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date data and files on participant services and activities; create reports.
Engage elderly and disabled residents in volunteer opportunities that support the "Community Support for Work" concept.
Participate in assigned training, workshops, and/or meetings.
Attend occasional local and out-of-state travel.
Performs other duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of local workforce development agencies and local health, social service, financial, advocacy, educational, and other agencies to connect participants and their families to needed services and support.
Knowledge of and/or openness to learning about principles, procedures, techniques, trends, and literature of "strengths-based" and "participant-driven" workforce program models.
Knowledge of coaching and how to work with individuals to motivate and guide them through the stages of change leading to new behaviors and habits.
Ability to work collaboratively with participants and coach them to help them meet goals they set for themselves.
Ability to manage an active caseload of up to 150 participants effectively and efficiently.
Ability to initiate and coordinate service delivery and follow-up services.
Ability to communicate and work successfully with people from a broad range of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Ability to prepare, present, and communicate ideas clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to develop and implement effective administration and operational procedures.
Ability to work as a member of a team.
Ability to address the public and present information in a clear, concise, and convincing manner.
Ability to deal effectively with situations that require tact and diplomacy yet firmness.
Ability to establish and maintain effective and courteous working relationships with other employees, residents, and community agencies that provide services.

COMPLEXITY / SCOPE OF WORK

Work performed by the employee ranges from relatively routine to unusual.
The employee identifies work that needs to be done, prioritizes, coordinates efforts, and performs the tasks.
Occasionally, the employee must make decisions regarding unusual or sensitive situations and must develop new solutions.
The employee's work affects other employees and residents throughout the housing developments.
Performing work tasks effectively, efficiently and with compassion enhances relationships between residents and the Houston Housing Authority, provides long-term benefits in the management of the Houston Housing Authority housing and results in the self-sufficiency of participating residents.

GUIDELINES

The employee follows regulations and guidelines issued by HUD regarding the JOBS-Plus, community services, resident services, and resident initiatives, and applicable Houston Housing Authority policies and procedures.
The employee acts independently in making decisions about the best course of action. In situations with no guidelines, the employee may adapt existing approaches, develop new guidelines, decide based on the circumstances, or seek guidance from the JOBS-Plus Manager.
When new guidelines are required, the employee develops them in consultation with the Jobs-Plus Manager.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The employee has no supervisory responsibilities.
Generally, assignments and instructions come from the JOBS-Plus Program Manager and are broad, though there are intermittent occasions when the employee receives specific instructions.
The employee initiates and performs routine activities without supervisory direction.
Problems or situations that arise and are not covered by instructions are dealt with independently or in consultation with the JOBS-Plus Manager.
The employee's work is reviewed regularly for adherence to policies and the attainment of objectives.

PERSONAL CONTACTS

The employee's contacts are primarily with residents and other agencies that assist the JOBS-Plus program. The purpose of such contacts is to bring community services and tenant services to Houston Housing Authority residents, foster resident pride and participation, and provide various kinds of support and assistance for individual families.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee's work is performed indoors and outdoors and involves numerous visits to housing developments, residents' homes, the offices of other agencies, community centers, and meeting halls.
The employee may drive agency vehicles and be required to push, pull and/or lift objects weighing up to and more than 25 pounds, such as boxes of canned food, tables, or a resident who must be helped into and out of a vehicle.
The employee may be required to work unusual hours.
The employee may be exposed to weather extremes and the usual hazards associated with housing developments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree is required in social work, psychology, or related fields.
Three to five years of professional experience in case management services with low-income, special needs, and/or at-risk populations.
Additional experience in job development, career counseling, social welfare, financial management is highly preferred.
Experience using Motivational Interviewing or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is highly preferred.
Bondable.
Valid Texas driver's license.
Eligibility for Houston Housing Authority fleet auto insurance.

DISCLAIMER

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.