Career Advisor

About WSM

WorkSource Montgomery, Inc. (WSM) is a nonprofit organization and fiduciary agent for Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act funding in Montgomery County. The non-profit organization operates the American Job Centers in Wheaton and Germantown and provides employment services to county residents who are unemployed or underemployed. Additionally, WSM engages employers in various industries throughout the county to ensure that their workforce needs are being met.

Position Overview:

This role focuses on case management for justice-involved individuals housed at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF). The Program Specialist will work directly with individuals to assess needs, provide program information, connect them to reentry resources, and develop individualized service plans addressing immediate and long-term employment, training, and career goals.

Case management activities will include intake, assessment, goal setting, referrals to appropriate services, and tracking participant progress. In addition to scheduled one-on-one meetings, this position will conduct regular pod visits to engage with potential clients in their housing units, provide outreach, and identify individuals who may benefit from reentry programming. Early engagement through pod visits will help build trust, encourage participation, and ensure individuals are aware of available services prior to release.

The Program Specialist will collaborate with the Program Manager of the Dual Track Team to coordinate service delivery, inform job readiness and workforce development activities, and connect participants with community-based support upon release.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive case management to MCCF participants, including intake, assessment, goal setting, service planning, and follow-up.
• Conduct routine pod visits within MCCF to provide program outreach, engage potential clients, and distribute workforce, reentry, and supportive service resources directly in housing units.
• Maintain regular contact with assigned participants to monitor progress toward goals and address any barriers to reentry success.
• Identify and document potential participants during pod visits, ensuring timely follow-up for enrollment and services.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to coordinate wrap-around services, training, and employment opportunities.
• Produce monthly performance reports related to participant engagement and outcomes.
• Facilitate in-person workshops inside MCCF on topics such as job readiness, career exploration, life skills, and financial literacy. Collaborates with participants to draft strong resumes for employment opportunities.
• Analyze current marketing strategies and use various methodologies such as focus group sessions, customer surveys, data mining, etc., to make ongoing recommendations to achieve and exceed marketing objectives.
• Negotiates and coordinates completion of training contracts and other workplace agreements.
• Spanish speaking a plus.
• Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the agency's mission and services to be able to communicate with all WSM service lines in a sales capacity.
• Comfortable using CRM platforms to enter customer contact, needs data, and follow-up efforts.
• Documentation and research skills, including either prior working knowledge or the ability to be trained in the use of the Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE) database, data entry, and crafting case notes.
• Ability to effectively represent WSM via speaking engagements and presentations.
• Knowledge of workplace assessment instruments and their application.
• Understanding of career pathways, sector strategies, work experiences, or apprenticeships.
• Ability to prioritize assigned tasks and handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to perform as a member of a team and to work independently.
• Ability to recognize business workforce-related problems and facilitate resolution.
• Must be computer literate and familiar with the functionality of database applications (i.e., Microsoft Office Suite).
• Attend periodic after-hours networking and community engagement events.
• Interest in social justice, Fair Chance Hiring, legal advocacy, and re-entry counseling support.

EducationExperience:

• Preferred bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or four years of related experience.
• Preferred two years' experience effectively serving high-risk individuals involved with the criminal justice system.
• Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of WSM/Montgomery County Correctional Facility background screenings.
• Correctional facilities are highly structured environments where safety, security, and order are paramount. Staff must be prepared to work in close proximity to inmates, respond to emergencies, and enforce rules consistently. The environment can be physically and emotionally demanding, requiring strong communication, situational awareness, and conflict resolution skills.

Status: Full Time, Non-exempt

Location: The role is located at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, in-person, 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week. Applicants should be local to the DC Metro region.

WorkSource Montgomery is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, customer focus, and innovation. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. WSM makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

WSM completes the Form I-9 to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. EOE, Including Disability/Vets.