Career Coach

Sylvania; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 32,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Student loan forgiveness

Wellness incentives

Job summary

Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) invites applications for a part-time Career Coach position with Career Connect Downtown in Kalamazoo, MI. You will provide individualized career pathway planning, align services with core values, and collaborate with Michigan Works!

Southwest and community partners to support youth. The role requires strong coordination, documentation, and ability to engage diverse youth, with responsibilities including internships, job shadows, and

Qualifications

• Related professional experience in workforce development programs, preferred.
• Related academic experience, a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Align services with KRESA Core Values and engage all students.
• Provide individualized career pathway planning for youth participants.
• Collaborate with Michigan Works! Southwest and community partners to coordinate services.
• Maintain accurate documentation and follow up with participants.

Skills

Workforce development

Community engagement

Youth programming

Education

Related academic experience

Job description

The Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA)is a critical part of Michigan’s education system serving the Greater Kalamazoo region and provides specialized services to schools and communities and optimizes resources by centralizing innovative programs and services. We partner with school districts and the broader community to offer essential programs including early childhood education, special education, career learning, and educator development, ensuring that learners of all ages receive the support they need.

We are currently seeking a Career Coach at Career Connect Downtown in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The essential responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to:

• Align services with KRESA Core Values (Collaboration, Innovation, Compassion, Respect, and Integrity) and Culture & Belonging principles to engage and serve all students
• Provide individualized career pathway planning services to a case load of youth participants, including career interest and skill exploration, goal setting and action planning, supporting transitions into employment, education or training, and support with navigating internal and external barriers to employment (e.g., lack of relevant work experience, inconsistent living environments, childcare needs, etc.)
• Deliver services to all youth participants with an equity mindset
• Work in collaboration with Michigan Works! Southwest service providers, along with other community partners, to ensure coordination of services for participants
• Collaborate across KRESA Career Connect to ensure participants have access to opportunities across the continuum of available programming available programming
• Assess participant readiness for experiential learning opportunities including internships, job shadows, workplace tours, and other work-based learning; coordinate with internal and external teams to engage participants as appropriate
• Attend community meetings and serve as a public representative of Kalamazoo RESA/Career Connect
• Display an understanding of skills essential to employment and the ability to coach young adults on those skills in individual and group settings
• Participate in professional development activities to keep abreast of current program policies, youth employment laws, workforce information, and recent trends in career development
• Have an awareness of local employment, academic and other resource institutions in the communities we serve in order to support participant objectives
• Become familiar with federal, state and local policies that govern the administration of our programming
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of services provided to participants, including frequent case notes and documentation for compliant participant files
• Provide follow up services and support to participants who have achieved the goals outlined during their participation in the program
• Complete necessary reports and submit within required timeframes
• Ensure services are conducted in adherence to KRESA’s core values and anti-bias, and anti-racism principles
• Other duties as assigned

Qualified candidates will have:

• Related professional experience in workforce development programs, community engagement, youth programming, preferred
• Related academic experience, a bonus

Other skills and abilities include:

• Embraces and supports KRESA philosophies related to our core values (Collaboration, Innovation, Compassion, Respect, and Integrity), Culture & Belonging, and Continuous Improvement
• Embraces and supports KRESA’s vision of a transformative,equitableand innovative education for all in the Greater Kalamazoo region
• Ability to interact effectively with individuals from a wide range of identities and lived experiences
• Ability to discuss differences with colleagues and clients in a manner that supports building positive working relationships
• Organized and able toplan
• Adapts to frequent changes in the workenvironment
• Flexible within job site assignments (filling in for other job coaches when needed)
• Practices safe work habits
• Ability to communicate effectively includinglistening
• Uses equipment and materialproperly
• Displays reliable attendance andpromptness
• Ability to resolveproblems
• Presents ideas and information in a manner that getsstudent'sattention,and which encourages theirengagement
• Maintainsconfidentiality
• Embraces a teamworkattitude

This is a part-time position, up to 24 hours per week, following the 12-month calendar in job grade 15 with an hourly rate of pay between $25.67 and $31.03.

KRESA employees enjoy a comprehensive benefit offering that includes health insurance, paid time off, retirement benefits through Michigan’s Office of Retirement Services, tuition reimbursement, student loan forgiveness and wellness incentives – all within a supportive and caring culture centered around our values of collaboration, innovation, compassion, integrity, and respect.

A Great Place to Live and Work

Kalamazoo was recently recognized as a great place to live in the 2024 50 Best Places to Live roundup by Money.com. Kalamazoo was noted for its abundant family-friendly activities and appreciation for artisan-crafted goods, as well as the Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship for each Kalamazoo Public School resident graduate that provides up to 100% tuition for post-secondary education.

Notice of Non-discrimination: It is the policy of Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency that no discriminating practices based on race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or sexual identity), disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category be allowed during any program, activity, service or in employment. The following position at Kalamazoo RESA has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy: Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. Contact information: 269-250-9200, 1819 E. Milham Ave, Portage, MI 49002.