Career Navigator

Join Our Mission to Change Lives:

At Maryland New Directions (MND), we’re not just helping people find jobs, but helping them transform their futures. For over 50 years, our award-winning nonprofit has provided no-cost employment coaching and career training to Baltimore residents aged 18 and older who are motivated to work but face employment obstacles.

We serve more than 300 individuals each year, equipping them with the tools, confidence, and support they need to build sustainable careers. Whether you're working directly with clients or behind the scenes to keep programs running smoothly, every role at MND contributes to lasting impact in our community. If you are interested in human services, passionate about making an impact on individuals, and willing and able to learn, you are encouraged to apply; MND will provide training.

Job Summary

The Career Navigator is responsible for guiding clients through the entire workforce ecosystem. This role serves as a strategic advisor, helping job seekers understand their assessment results, identify and navigate MND’s industry-specific training tracks, and ensure a seamless transition into the workforce. This position will serve as a mentor, a strategist, and an advocate, ensuring that every client has a clear, actionable roadmap to economic mobility. This position works directly with fellow job coaches, trainers, and employment specialists to empower MND clients and reduce any barriers impacting employment opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Individualized Roadmap Development: Work 1:1 with clients to translate their strengths, skills and interests into specific career pathways within MND’s training programs.
• Enrollment Management: Guide clients through the selection and enrollment process for specialized certifications and technical training modules.
• Barrier Mitigation: Coordinate with Case Managers to ensure that any emerging life barriers (transportation, mental health needs, etc.) do not derail the client’s career progress.
• Career Coaching: Assist clients in tailoring resumes and cover letters to specific industries and conducting "high-stakes" mock interviews when needed.
• Partner with the Employment Specialists to proactively advocate "job-ready" clients with employer partners, ensuring a high quality of referral and a strong fit for both parties.
• Relentless Outreach: Maintain active engagement with a caseload of clients, using "persistent touchpoints" to keep them motivated during training and job searches.

· Credential Tracking: Ensure clients complete all necessary prerequisites for their chosen tracks, including computer literacy and various industry-related certifications.

Data, Reporting & Collaboration

• Maintain meticulous, real-time documentation of client interactions, milestones, and progress outcomes in the database.
• Collaborate with Employment Specialists to stay informed on employer needs and provide feedback on the "readiness" of the current client pipeline.

Key Results Areas (Performance Metrics)

• Client Journey Oversight: Manage the start-to-end client experience, facilitating four intensive 1:1 Career Counseling Sessions (CCS) per client to develop and execute a robust Individual Career Plan (ICP). There should be one CCS at least once quarterly.
• Organizational Synergy: Serve as the primary "connector" between Case Managers (barrier removal) and Employment Specialists (job placement) to ensure a frictionless transition into career-tracked employment.
• Goal Attainment: Maintain high participation rates and ensure 90% of assigned clients successfully complete their ICP, achieving both mid-term milestones and short-term career goals.
• Intentional Strategic Support: Proactively identify service gaps and provide continuous direction to the services team to ensure every client has the resources necessary for a successful vocational outcome.
• Data Integrity & Compliance: Ensure 100% accuracy in data entry; all client interactions, milestones, and outcomes must be documented in the tracking system within one week of occurrence.
• Career Plan Completion Rate: 85% or greater of participants with completed individual Career Plans (ICPs).
• Timely Assessments: Completion of career assessments, skills inventories, and intake requirements within established timelines.
• Case Documentation Compliance: Accuracy, completeness, and timelines of participants records and case notes.
• Training Enrollment Rate: 85% or greater of participants successfully enrolled in training or educational programs.
• Training Completion Rate: 85% or greater of participants who complete approved training programs.
• Credential Attainment Rate: 85% or greater of participants earning certifications, licenses, or other industry recognized credentials
• Career readiness Completion: 85% or greater of participants completing resume development, interviewing, and job readiness activities.
• Referral Success Rate: Percentage of referrals resulting in successful service connections.
• Employer and Training Partner Engagement: Number of active partnerships maintained.
• Resource Referral Effectiveness: Percentage of referrals resulting in participant access to services
• Participant Satisfaction Score: Survey results regarding the Career Navigator’s support and responsiveness.
• Response Time: Average time to contact new participants or respond to participant inquiries.
• Goal Achievement Rate: Percentage of participants achieving milestones identified in their Career Plans.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field. A minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in workforce development or social services is required, with a proven track record of professional stability and commitment.
• Exceptional Communication: Demonstrated ability to engage, motivate, and build trust with clients facing significant and diverse barriers to employment.
• Strategic Goal Setting: Strong analytical skills with the ability to recognize unique client needs and co-create actionable roadmaps that lead to sustainable employment.
• Adaptability & Poise: A flexible, solutions-driven professional who remains composed and effective in a dynamic, fast-paced nonprofit environment.
• Administrative Precision: High attention to detail regarding client records and the ability to produce timely, accurate reports on progress and outcomes.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite and hands-on experience navigating case management databases.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

Equal Opportunity

Maryland New Directions is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in our workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, or responsibilities. The company reserves the right to modify job duties or descriptions at any time, with or without notice.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Can you work an in-office schedule of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm?
• Are you familiar with career assessments and career planning process?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• human services: 3 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $55,000 - $65,000