Career Coach, Youth Careers Connections Program (Hybrid)

The Youth Career Connections (YCC), funded by Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation, allocates resources for three entities, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC), and Employ Prince George’s to collaborate to develop, implement and monitor a robust career counseling program. The Youth Career Coach, Youth Career Connections Program (YCC) will implement career counseling programming to assist students in achieving career exploration and determination goals in alignment with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation. The Youth Career Coach will collaborate with the school-based counseling team on developing a program delivery plan. The Youth Career Coach will work with middle and high school students and partner organizations to deliver individualized career counseling services that include career exploration, mapping their career paths, conducting orientations and information sessions, follow-up services, and connection to supportive services and resources as needed.

Position Details:

The Career Coach, YCC, reports to the Coordinator, Youth Career Connections, and works closely with PGCPS school-based staff, PGCC staff, and staff throughout EPG. This role is exempt without a supervisory function. The salary range is $58,221 - 61,250 annually. Benefits include health, life, and dental insurance, internet allowance, paid time off, and 401(k), profit sharing.

Essential Responsibilities:

Interaction with Program Participants

• Collaborate with the school-based counseling team and other agencies to align and not replicate services and programs offered to students in the school.
• Career Coaches will provide direct services to students, either individually or in groups
• Youth Career Coach will be responsible for program delivery and outcomes.
• Provide Career Services to students to explore, identify, and pursue career pathways that are in-demand in today’s diverse modern economy in accordance with the MOU and The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
• Include parents and guardians in targeted career exploration activities to increase their awareness and understanding of career development opportunities and career pathways in Prince George’s County.
• Conduct initial customer screenings and interest and aptitude assessments to determine career paths.
• Assist participants in choosing an appropriate post-CCR career pathway based on multiple factors such as self-discovery assessments and student interest.
• Link participants with appropriate resources, including self-service platforms, to accomplish career goals.
• Maintain regular contact with participants, based on needs and guidelines, and monitor their progress in achieving their career goals.
• Provide individual and group coaching and direction to keep participants on track.
• Conduct virtual and in-person sessions for students, families, and partner staff to provide an overview of available services, facilitate workshops, teach job readiness skills and other group presentations.

Partner Interaction

• Work with PGCPS staff to coordinate program implementation strategies: guest speakers, field trips to business sites, job showings, after-school events, etc.
• Partner with school staff to integrate career counseling into the existing schedule and curriculum, including business visits and guest speakers.
• Collaborate with other agencies, nonprofits, and community partners to implement programming that enhances the student experience, including job readiness activities
• Collaborate with external and internal partners to implement summer career exploration activities.

Case Management Regulatory Functions

• Record activities and interactions with participants in a record-tracking platform with case notes and accurate service codes in keeping with regulations and state legislation, and reporting.
• Complete reports as required to ensure the efficient and effective management of participant cases, and in alignment with requirements for auditing and reporting.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in Business Management, Human Resources, Human Services, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with youth in workforce development, education, human or social services, or a related field
• Must be detail-oriented, savvy in using the internet and social media in providing workforce services.
• Ability to coach and guide youth through assessments and interviews.
• Ability to develop and deliver presentations, plan and facilitate workshops, and engage participants in both in-person and virtual settings.
• Ability to develop and deliver presentations, plan and facilitate workshops, and engage participants in both in-person and virtual settings
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Office and Management Information Systems.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends in alignment with program schedules and special events
• Must possess a valid Driver’s License and have access to a vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual in Spanish or other languages.
• Experience working in K-12 school system
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle issues with tact and discretion.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively and effectively work with a broad range of individuals.

Expectations of EPG Career Coaches

• Provide exceptional internal and external customer service. Exercise “situational awareness,” keep current with client and market needs, and articulate how EPG can help address them.
• Identify problems (e.g., commonly experienced process issues, challenges) and opportunities, and recommend changes to supervisors to effectively resolve them.
• Respond, in a timely and accurate fashion, to supervisor and/or management team requests for information, e.g., collecting and assembling data, and participating in drafting reports.
• Handle multiple operational and/or administrative responsibilities simultaneously, independently, and with attention to detail, ensuring timely completion to established standards.
• Employ excellent professional judgment in independent decisions and actions as well as other activities, following SOPs and escalating issues appropriately.

Core Competencies

• Domain Knowledge—Broad understanding of the workforce development field, its associated regulations, etc., with thorough knowledge of assigned programs and customer needs
• Strategic Thinking—Ability to see the strategic aims of assigned programs, and recommend tactical changes to processes, procedures, etc. to support strategies.
• Problem-Solving—Ability to critically evaluate needs and/or problems, envision solutions, and identify, analyze, and choose from among alternative courses of action.
• Innovation and Risk Taking—Ability and willingness to think creatively within current programs and practices to improve them and advance EPG’s mission and to promote and defend new ideas.
• Project Management—Understanding of project tasks, schedules, and resources, and ability to track progress, identify and escalate issues and risks, etc.
• Relationship Building—Ability to develop and maintain positive and productive relationships that facilitate the advancement of assigned program goals.
• Collaboration—Willingness and ability to adopt a “one team” culture, working together with others within EPG to solve problems, pursue opportunities, etc.
• Communications—Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form to inform others of programs, challenges, etc., in ways appropriate for the audience(s).
• Customer Empathy—Understanding of clients’ circumstances, challenges, and needs, and ability to appropriately respond in assessing operations and serving customers.
• Independence—Willingness and ability to work with minimal direction and oversight, recognize and address problems, and employ good judgment on involving others or escalating concerns.
• Professional Judgment—Ability to weigh the benefits, implications, and risks of multiple options, and make decisions that reflect the best interests of EPG and its clients.

About Employ Prince George's Inc.

We are the bridge between job seekers looking to begin or change careers, and businesses looking for skilled workers to maintain competitiveness in a changing labor market. Our mission is to contribute to the economic vitality of Prince George’s County by providing a demand-driven system that delivers qualified workers to businesses and provides job seekers with opportunities for careers in high-demand/high-growth industries

We Value:

• Commitment to excellence
• Responsiveness to customer needs
• Integrity
• Mutual respect
• Innovation/Creativity

About EPG's Youth Services Department

The Youth Services Department provides career pathways, credential attainment, and supportive services to eligible youth and young adults who face significant barriers to employment. Youth Services establishes partnerships with local organizations to provide eligible youth and young adults with one-on-one career training, hands-on work experience, soft skills training, and various customized services that will prepare them for completing their academic and/or employment goals.

NOTE:This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. However, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the organization

Equal Opportunity Employer