CPS Career Specialist

Position Title:                           Career Specialist I

Department:                             Workforce Development

Reports to:                               Project Director – CPS Back to Our Future Program

Position Summary:

Under the supervision of the Project Director for CPS Back to Our Future Program Workforce Services, the Career Specialist develops and provides a range of employment related services primarily to clients in the with the goals of educational obtainment, job placement, job retention and increased household income for increased self-sufficiency for the Chicago Public Schools Back to Our Future Program.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Assist with establishing and maintaining relationships with employers creating a concurrent job order to distribute to potential candidates
• Utilize a wide variety of methods to generate candidates, including internal and external networking, job fairs and referral programs
• Targets client needs to increase employment outcomes, including consistent employment for those who are sporadically employed and employment skills for those with little or no work
• Develops and maintains relationships and communication with a wide range of Chicagoland businesses and employers that will partner with UCAN as resources for internships/work-based learning and job This includes the development of MOA(s) for subsidized and unsubsidized employers.
• Inventories client interest in various job opportunities based on market availability and refers clients to jobs in areas of
• Counsel clients around issues of job readiness, education, job and vocational training, job search and adjustments to new jobs and work-life.
• Provides guidance services to clients in various aspects of their functioning that affects their obtaining and/or maintaining
• Collects, organizes and analyzes information about clients through records, tests, interviews and professional sources to appraise their needs, interests, abilities and personality characteristics for vocational and educational counseling, job training and job
• Compiles and studies occupational, educational, economic and personal developmental information to aid clients in making and carrying out occupational and vocational objectives to meet their
• Establishes and maintains potential employer contacts to ensure placement opportunities for clients who have successfully completed training or are at the appropriate skill level.
• Solicits job openings and establishes job interviews with clients; supports clients during the interview process and job orientation and performs follow-up as
• Advises and consults with case management staff towards integration of employment activities with other program
• Keeps organized and accurate records on job training, placement and retention for all clients who participated in employment related
• Maintains current knowledge through participation in training sessions, seminars, conferences,
• Refer applicants to services such as literacy, language instruction, transportation assistance vocational training and
• Using a case management approach, as well as regular telephone and in-person consultations, supporting and motivating clients as they transition into an employment situation by helping them address workplace related
• Work with employers to ensure that the new employee is performing satisfactorily and is retained in the new
• Facilitate and analyze mentoring workshops and job training classes to clients to ensure successful employment
• Conduct trainings an information session on topics such as how to deal with workplace conflict how to overcome workplace stress, hot to allocate time, how to deal with difficult bosses, how to respond to employer criticism, how to ask for a raise, how to look for a new job while holding a current one, how to handle external pressures that hamper performance, These topics will also be address in the one-on-one sessions as well.
• Engage clients in career planning, addressing issues of career advancement, career change and exploring educational steps necessary to obtain jobs within career
• Work in conjunction with the client's case manager and Youth Development Coaches to address issues external to the workplace, impacting performance and job retention.
• Develop and implement a retention incentive
• Complete and maintain all funder’s program documentation requirements within identified databases, etc.
• Monitors subsidized worksites.
• Performs other related tasks as required or

Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of
• Acts in a professional manner always and maintains appropriate boundaries with
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job-related activities prepared and as
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and
• Accepts feedback and ideas from team and supervisor and is constructive when giving feedback and ideas to
• Discusses alternative problem solving and is open to innovative ideas and ways of doing
• Performs other related tasks as assigned or

Education/Job Experience/Certification:

Level I:

.

• BSW or BA/BS in a human service field.

OR

• High school diploma/GED with a minimum of 2 years of experience in human service or youth development/outreach required.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client
• Experience working with teenagers and young
• Experience or ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report
• Must possess vehicle and current, valid driver's license and

Work Environment:

This position requires work in the community

This position requires work in the evenings and weekends.