Career Counselor - KEYA - Workforce Opportunities

Jericho Project; New York (NY); On-site; USD 53,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Jericho Project in Manhattan seeks a Career Counselor to support young adults through employment and education planning. You will conduct assessments and develop job readiness portfolios, coordinating with Employment Specialists to connect participants with opportunities.

This full-time, non-exempt role requires travel across NYC and offers a salary of $53,000 to $55,000, reflecting a commitment to housing stability and youth empowerment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience in workforce development serving low-income young adults preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and advanced computer literacy.
• Ability to conduct high level outreach services.
• Experience providing supported employment services for individuals with disabilities preferred.
• Knowledge of AWARDS is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of Motivational Interviewing and person-centered planning preferred.
• Ability to collaborate in a team environment to achieve employment outcomes for about 70 job seekers.

Responsibilities

• Provide career counseling to about 70 young adults to help them obtain employment.
• Complete employment and educational assessments and update service plans.
• Collaborate with participants to set education, training, and employment goals.
• Develop job readiness portfolios, including resumes and interview tools.
• Work with Employment Specialists to respond to job leads and refer participants.
• Assist in outreach and recruitment to meet annual enrollment targets.
• Provide job retention and follow-up services and maintain progress notes.
• Attend monthly meetings and maintain participant data in the system.

Skills

Communication skills

Computer literacy

Outreach capabilities

Team collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

AWARDS

Motivational Interviewing

Person-centered planning

Job description

Career Counselor - KEYA - Workforce Opportunities

Jericho Project is a nationally recognized nonprofit that has been working to end homelessness at its roots since 1983. What began as a Manhattan soup kitchen has grown into a citywide organization serving nearly 3,000 New Yorkers each year—including over 700 veterans, as well as young adults and families, many of whom identify as LGBTQ+.

Jericho provides more than 600 units of supportive housing through seven permanent residences in the Bronx and Harlem, along with scattered-site apartments throughout New York City. Our housing-first model is paired with wraparound services delivered by skilled case managers, licensed mental health clinicians, and workforce development specialists. Together, these services support our four pillars of stability: housing, employment, wellness, and family.

In 2024, Jericho facilitated over 570 housing placements, helped secure nearly 275 job placements, and delivered over 750 therapy sessions through our in-house Jericho Therapy Program. As we move toward expanding our reach by an additional 2,000 units of housing, we remain committed to helping individuals and families build lasting independence and well-being—one person, one home, and one community at a time.

About Jericho Project

Jericho Project is a nationally recognized nonprofit that has been working to end homelessness at its roots since 1983. What began as a Manhattan soup kitchen has grown into a citywide organization serving nearly 3,000 New Yorkers each year—including over 700 veterans, as well as young adults and families, many of whom identify as LGBTQ+.

Jericho provides more than 600 units of supportive housing through seven permanent residences in the Bronx and Harlem, along with scattered-site apartments throughout New York City. Our housing-first model is paired with wraparound services delivered by skilled case managers, licensed mental health clinicians, and workforce development specialists. Together, these services support our four pillars of stability: housing, employment, wellness, and family.

In 2024, Jericho facilitated over 570 housing placements, helped secure nearly 275 job placements, and delivered over 750 therapy sessions through our in-house Jericho Therapy Program. As we move toward expanding our reach by an additional 2,000 units of housing, we remain committed to helping individuals and families build lasting independence and well-being—one person, one home, and one community at a time.

About the Position

Position: Career Counselor

Location: Manhattan

Reports To: Coordinator of Young Adult Employment Services

Status: Non-Exempt

Compensation: $53,000.00 to $55,000.00 annualized

Responsibilities

Career Counseling Duties

• Provide career counseling services to about 70 young adults to help them prepare for, and secure employment.
• Complete employment and educational assessments on all participants; ensure that assessments and service plans are updated regularly as required.
• Collaborate with young adults in the service planning process and setting their education, training, and employment goals.
• Assist participants in developing a job readiness portfolio, including their resume, assessment of interviewing skills, and letters of inquiries.
• Work closely with Employment Specialists; respond to job leads within required timeframe; identify and refer young adults for matching positions.
• Assist young adults in conducting independent job search; identify new job leads as needed and make direct referrals to employers.

Outreach Duties

• Assist in developing in the outreach and recruitment process to achieve annual enrollment targets through current agency listing
• Manage communication with the network of partnering organizations in the referral, enrollment, and service delivery process.
• Develop creative and innovates enrollment and client engagement strategies resulting in high level of participation in program activities.
• Identify low- and no-cost resources and refer participants to skills training programs, HSE, ESOL and other literacy programs, college, and other higher education programs, as indicated in their individual service plans.
• Other responsibilities as assigned and required by the emerging needs of programs and participants.

Retention Duties

• Provide job retention and follow up services to employed participants.
• Access community resources to aide young adults in their job search, job retention and/or re-placement efforts.
• Conduct, at minimum, biweekly follow up on all participants and maintain related progress notes.
• Participate in case conferencing sessions, as required.
• Regularly attend monthly WfO meetings.
• Maintain and update participant information in the required data management system(s).
• Provide information related to participant engagement, employment and educational achievements, and other performance indicators as requested.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Knowledge and experience in workforce development, as well as service delivery to low-income families, in particular, Young Adults strongly preferred.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and advanced computer literacy.
• Ability to conduct high level outreach services.
• Experience providing supported employment services to individuals with disabilities is preferred.
• Working knowledge of AWARDS is highly desirable.
• Knowledge and experience in the application of Motivational Interviewing and Person-centered planning preferred.
• Must be able to work and produce desired performance outcomes in a team environment, requiring high levels of collaboration, cooperation, and teamwork.
• Ability to assist about 70 job seekers realizes desired employment and job retention outcomes.
• Ability to travel throughout the five boroughs a must.

ADA Specifications

This position requires the ability to lift up to 50 lbs. Ability to travel to various sites. One must possess the ability to speak, hear, see, and write as well as the ability to use a computer and related software programs. Local and/or national travel required and may require some longer weekday/weekend commitments to accomplish related business projects or meet deliverables.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel welcome and valued. We believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to our success.

DISCLAIMER

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and its essential functions. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be assigned to the staff member. The specific duties and responsibilities of the position may change from time to time, as determined by the needs of the organization. The staff member must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.