YMCA International Services is a unique branch of the Y of Greater Houston and seeks to meet the needs of Houston’s significant refugee and immigrant communities. We provide comprehensive programs that focus on building human assets and fostering self-sufficiency. As our full-time Carrier Readiness Specialist you will, under limited direction, provide job readiness support and soft skills development to refugees enrolled in Employment Services to improve their employability and enhance their career development prospects. Our ultimate Goal is to assist clients to reach self-sufficiency utilizing program guidelines, and increase client participation in job readiness curriculum and activities which results in increased job placement and retention in career-enabling fields.

Duties /Responsibilities:

The Career Readiness Specialist's primary responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Develop and impart a robust Career Readiness curriculum
• Encourage clients and help them develop self-confidence.
• Work with Employment Case Managers to prepare job-seeking refugees for employment, including resume preparation, interviewing skills, and workplace etiquette.
• Develop career readiness educational resources, guides, handouts, presentations, etc.
• Review cover letters, personal statements, and other application written material for formatting and content improvement.
• Conduct in-person, over-the-phone or remote mock interviews; provide feedback.
• Conduct employment readiness workshops.
• Provide one-on-one and/or group coaching meetings/training sessions (at least 1 hour on-site or at the work site). A typical weekly schedule will include 28-32 direct service hours with 8/12 hours reserved for documentation, preparation, and paperwork.
• Conduct real-time data entry, inputting necessary information into data management system, maintain electronic and hard copy confidential files, document participant progress, prepare progress reports and case notes.
• Organize and lead a one-time job shadow or career exploration trip per quarter.
• Travel to multiple sites and locations as needed.
• Collaborate with the Prog. Dir. and Coord. During reporting periods.
• Collaborate with Volunteer Coord. to recruit and work with volunteers to support group sessions and other related events.
• Perform other duties as assigned including airport pickup of new arrivals.
• Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
• Follow mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements.
• Meet timelines and deadlines related to supporting systems and employee compliance. Example includes but are not limited to Kronos Workforce Ready for review and approval of time sheets.

Annual Outcomes and Indicators:

Depending on yearly performance goals, the Career Readiness Specialist is responsible for:

• Provide monthly job readiness workshops
• Conduct 28-32 hours on average of direct assistance weekly.
• Successfully organize and complete at least one career trip each quarter.
• Create and submit quarterly reports.
• Conduct and document pre and post-service surveys to evaluate clients’ progress and perception of service.

Requirements:

• BA/BS and 1-3 years of work experience in education; job coaching experience preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Detail-oriented
• Ability to efficiently manage time and meet competing demands
• Experience with and passion for working with diverse populations
• Ability to think outside the box.
• Interpret policies, procedures, techniques, and rules governing employment and job placement as a whole and in the Greater Houston Area in particular.
• Team player, highly self-motivated, flexible, responsive, and a good troubleshooter.
• Fluency in a refugee language is preferred, but not required.
• Valid Texas driver's License, clean driving record, own transportation, and applicable auto insurance.

The YMCA of Greater Houston has outstanding benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, long-term disability, life insurance, paid time off and 12% retirement paid by our Association upon meeting eligibility requirements.

• No phone calls, please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.
• Note: Positions are filled in response to current refugee arrivals and their language needs. As language needs change, this necessitates flexibility in our staffing.

The YMCA of Greater Houston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.