Employment and Career Pathways Coordinator

General Description

The Community Development Division is looking to hire an Employment and Career Pathways Coordinator

This position has a strong employment and career development focus centered on supporting programming and services for youth, young adults, and adults across the City of Madison. The employee will support, coordinate, and monitor community-based employment and career development programs designed to help residents build skills, access meaningful employment opportunities, increase economic stability, and achieve long-term career growth. This includes programming related to workforce readiness, career exploration, job training, financial empowerment, mentoring, internships, and employment supports for individuals facing barriers to employment. This role also works closely with community partners and other interested parties to support a coordinated continuum of employment and career development services across the city. Responsibilities include building and maintaining collaborative relationships with funded agencies, monitoring contract performance and program outcomes, supporting innovative and responsive workforce strategies, and helping ensure programs remain community-centered, accessible, and aligned with resident and employer needs. The position values approaches that promote economic mobility, self-sufficiency, community connection, and equitable access to opportunity for residents across the lifespan.

This series is structured to provide advancement from a Community Development Specialist (CDS) 1 to a CDS 2, as a function of the employee's career development, but generally within 2 years of starting employment as a CDS 1. Progression to a CDS 3 or CDS 4 is dependent upon the employee taking on more complex assignments, additional duties and responsibilities including having attained an advanced level of expertise and the needs of the department. CDS 3 and CDS 4 positions will occur through competition or a position study process.

IMPORTANT: THERE ARE 2 SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY QUESTIONS ON THE JOB POSTING.

YOU MUST ATTACH YOUR ANSWERS IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION.

(To view the questions, click on the supplemental question tab OR view the bottom section of the job bulletin)

**APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT ATTACHED ESSAY RESPONSES WILL IMMEDIATELY BE ELIMINATED FROM CONSIDERATION.**

Minimum Qualifications

• One (1) year of experience (volunteer, internship, paid or combination) involving:
• Planning, implementing, coordinating, monitoring or evaluating community development activities, workforce development initiatives, employment and career development programs, or grant-funded services serving targeted populations or program areas;
• Working with community-based organizations, public agencies, workforce partners, employers, educational institutions, or other parties of interest to support community-based programming, employment initiatives, or economic mobility efforts.; and
• Working with BIPOC communities and organizations and demonstrating a commitment to racial equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practice.
• Degree in Human Services, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Ethnic/Gender Studies, Community Development, Public Administration, Urban and Regional Planning, Communications, Business Administration, Education, Workforce Development or a related field.

OR

• Two (2) years of experience in applying the following:
• Workforce development principles and practices, including employment and career development programming, workforce readiness strategies, career pathway models, financial empowerment approaches, job training initiatives, and emerging best practices in supporting youth, young adults, adults, and older adults seeking employment and economic stability.
• Community development concepts and principles, including workforce development, adult employment and job training models, economic mobility strategies, community building approaches, and individual, family, and household stabilization.
• Workforce systems and the ability to collaborate with employers, training providers, educational institutions, and community-based organizations to support equitable employment opportunities and career pathways.
• Racial equity, social justice, and culturally responsive practices as applied to community development, workforce development systems, and community-based service delivery.
• Factors influencing community well-being, such as housing stability, educational attainment, economic mobility, child care access, and equitable resource distribution.
• Public grant/loan administration, including budgeting, financial tracking, contract compliance, and program performance measurement.
• Local, state, and federal funding processes and related regulatory frameworks.
• Program development and evaluation methods, including identifying program needs, analyzing service gaps, applying quality-improvement approaches, and measuring outcomes in employment, career development, and community-based programs.
• Computer software applicable to the duties of the position, including databases, spreadsheets, word processing, financial management tools, and reporting systems.

Department

Community Development Division

Opening Date

06/01/2026

Closing Date

6/10/2026 11:59 PM Central