Career Readiness Specialist

The Opportunity
As a Career Readiness Specialist, you will play a vital role in preparing individuals for success in the workforce by providing comprehensive career readiness services. Your primary responsibility will be to equip program participants with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to successfully navigate today's competitive job market. You will conduct assessments, develop individualized career plans, and provide ongoing support to ensure participants are prepared for their desired career paths. Additionally, you will collaborate with team members, community partners, employers, and other stakeholders to facilitate job placements and opportunities for program graduates. The ideal candidate will be passionate about empowering individuals to achieve their career goals and committed to making a positive impact in their lives. This role's dedication to student success and a desire to inspire and guide will empower our students to realize and achieve their goals.

The Details
Key Deliverables:

• Provide mentorship and coaching to students to guide and ultimately allow students a safe space to open up about goals for the future as well as barriers that are keeping them from successful completion.
• Monitor student program enrollment, drops, and withdrawals to identify and formulate action plans for success.
• Support the development of a structured in-person career readiness and life skills workshop, including presenting and facilitating via online or an in-person setting.
• Lead efforts toward increasing college and career readiness for all students.
• Organize meaningful work-based learning opportunities through business/industry and community resources.
• Respond in an appropriate and timely manner to all student inquiries.  
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive, confidential, and up-to-date notes/records within the enrollment management database.
• Process documentation and student information appropriately according to departmental standards.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

LOCATION:  Boston, MA, or within a 40-mile radius. This hybrid position requires in-person interaction with students, training partners, and community partners as needed.
 

Experience and Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in social work, higher education, or a related field of study, or four years of related experience.
• Two years of experience advising or admissions within adult student services.
•  Knowledge of workforce development, career pathways, and hiring trends.
• Proficiency: Working with spreadsheets (Excel), databases, and CRM platforms like Salesforce and Hubspot (Or similar) is preferred.  
• Understanding of career advising and education best practices. 
• Experience in adult education training, customer service, and personal service. 
• Must possess excellent skills in active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, social perceptiveness, critical thinking, writing, judgment and decision making, active learning, complex problem solving, and service orientation. 
• Highly skilled in deductive reasoning, problem sensitivity, inductive reasoning, and information ordering. 
• Knowledge of social work case management is required. 
• Being bilingual is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of Federal and State funding programs like SNAP and WIOA is preferred.

Organization Overview:
Skilled US is a free workforce development program that supports adults as they strive to learn more and earn more. We believe that every student is unique, and our approach begins with understanding each student’s motivations. Join us at Skilled US and become part of a community that celebrates your success every step of the way. We are more than a training provider; we are a family committed to your growth and success. 

Compensation and benefits: A base salary competitively aligned to the market. 

PLA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  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 characteristics as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. 

Please read carefully.

Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) is an equal opportunity employer. PLA does not discriminate in employment on account of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service.

By completing this application you understand that neither the completion of this application nor any other part of my consideration for employment establishes any obligation for PLA to hire me. If hired, I understand that either PLA or I can terminate my employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause and without prior notice. I understand that no representative of PLA has the authority to make any assurance to the contrary.

You attest by applying to this position that you have given PLA true and complete information on this application. No requested information has been concealed. I authorize PLA to contact references provided for employment reference checks. If any information I have provided is untrue, or if I have concealed material information, I understand that this will constitute cause for the denial of employment or immediate dismissal.