WIOA Career Coach

About Youth Job Center (YJC) 

Youth Job Center was established as a not-for-profit agency in 1983 in response to the growing community need for programs which provide job readiness and job placement services for individuals who require employment support. Youth Job Center’s main office is in Evanston, Illinois with satellite offices located in the Englewood and Pilsen neighborhoods.

Youth Job Center is a workforce development and job placement agency that prepares young people, ages 14-25, for success in the workplace and in life. We do this by providing our clients with Workforce Readiness Training, personalized career advising, job placement, and barrier reduction services.

The mission of the Organization is to equip young people with a plan, a path, and a placement towards economic independence. Our vision is success for young people in the workplace and in life.

Position Overview 

The WIOA Career Coach helps job seeker clients register for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services and provides support to help them determine a career pathway. Career Coaching includes providing assistance with completing documentation, registration, and help navigating the job training, job search, and job placement processes. The WIOA Career Coach will interact with participants who register for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services helping clients access training, paid work experiences, and supportive services for up to 12 months. This position requires regular data entry and client follow up to track client progress and to ensure appropriate support is provided to help clients on their path toward long-term career success and economic independence. The WIOA Career Coach will engage and work with clients, employers, training program providers, community colleges, and other partners to recruit, train and support eligible young adult participants.

*This is a hybrid role that requires 2-3 days of work from the Evanston office and additional, local travel throughout Evanston and the Chicagoland area for events and meetings (internal and external). A reliable method of transportation is needed.

Primary Responsibilities

WIOA Program Management & Compliance

• Facilitate the full WIOA enrollment process, providing high-touch support to clients in navigating eligibility documentation and barrier reduction support
• Help clients register for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services, including support with completion of eligibility paperwork
• Connect clients with YJC’s Workforce Readiness Coordinator and Financial Coach to support them holistically on their career pathway, including development of job readiness skills and financial management skills
• Support clients directly providing resume review and support, interview preparation, supportive services benefits, connections to paid work experiences, and connections to employers with direct job placement opportunities
• Monitor caseloads regularly to ensure all documentation including attendance, credentials, and employer signatures are captured in real-time in alignment with WIOA compliance requirements

Data and Recordkeeping

• Maintain precise, audit-ready data and narrative case notes in Career Connect and the YJC’s Salesforce based Client Management System (CLiVE database) to ensure meaningful progress is made toward outlined performance goals
• Ensure continuous management of data in YJC’s Salesforce based Client Management System, entering data related to client services, goals, and outcomes on a bi-weekly basis   
• Consistently track and report all areas related to eligibility criteria, outcomes, activities, documentation, and other WIOA and Career Pathways requirements, including Career Connect
• Record, track, and document all physical and electronic files according to WIOA requirements
• Assist with monthly and quarterly reports to ensure program outcomes are aligned with annual goals
• Review and verify the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of data using the CliVE check in dashboard
• Attend bi-weekly individual data/dashboard review sessions with the Director of Data Management

Program Recruitment & Intake

• Recruit a caseload of young people (out of school, aged 16-24) for Career Pathways programs through partnerships with schools, agencies, and community partners
• Regularly attend recruitment and outreach events to connect with potential program participants
• Ensure proper completion of the YJC client enrollment process and maintain ongoing communication with YJC partners to determine young adult eligibility for specific Career Pathways programs

Program Delivery & Support

• Manage a caseload of young people through training and career pathways programs, employment, and more by providing personalized career advising, coaching, placement, and retention support
• Share labor market trends and growth areas, guiding young adults toward goal setting in alignment with their skills/interests
• Partner with Employment & Training team to deliver services such as career exploration and goal setting and direct clients toward Workforce Readiness Trainings (WRTs) and financial health support
• Match program participants with employer partners for Paid Work Experiences (PWEs) and ensure appropriate tracking/follow up and support to ensure client success along with adhering to grant requirements
• Follow YJC’s client timecard approval process to ensure accurate, timely payroll processing for all PWEs
• Provide ongoing case management for Career Pathways clients for up to one year after job placement, ensuring successful client exit and compliance with grant requirements

Partnership Management

• Work alongside YJC staff and higher education partners or training providers to refer clients to specific sector-based training programs best suited to their needs
• Work with the Employment Relations Manager to provide connections to education, certification and training programs, apprenticeships, internships, and job placement opportunities
• In partnership with Employment Relations Manager, collaborate with employer partners on program placement and retention strategies
• Provide referrals/connections throughout Evanston and the Chicagoland area

Climate and Culture 

• Reinforce a positive culture of teamwork, continuous learning, accountability, solution orientation and data-driven decision making
• Serve as ambassador, participating in community and organization events
• Support a high-performing culture, committed to delivering short and long-term results prioritizing continuous learning, goal orientation, accountability, and data-driven decision-making
• Ensure consistent administration of program policies and procedures
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education/Work Experience 

• B.A./B.S. degree in related field, or equivalent experience  
• Experience with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programming (WIOA) preferred
• Experience working with young adults
• Understanding of employment and certification training, and/or workforce development-based programs
• Project Management experience required

Core Competencies & Job-Related Skills

• Strong relationship building and interpersonal skills for engaging with clients, employers, vendors, stakeholders, and staff.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral
• Well-organized, efficient, and detail-oriented
• Strong time management, documentation and data entry skills
• Solid decision making/good judgement, problem solving, and creative resourcefulness
• Flexibility to adapt to changing needs of the organization and clients
• Solution oriented and self-directed
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities and work in a fast-paced environment
• Fluency in Spanish and English (written and verbal) highly preferred

Additional Notes

Work Environment 

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. 

This is a hybrid position that requires 2-3 days working from the Evanston YJC office and additional, local travel throughout Evanston and the Chicagoland area for events and meetings (internal and external). A reliable method of transportation is necessary.

Physical Demands 

This is primarily an in-office role, providing both virtual and in-person services; some physical action is required, moving between spaces, minimal lifting, transporting items, bending, and standing as necessary.