Career Success Manager

Youthconservationcorps; Waukegan (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Youth Conservation Corps in Illinois seeks a Career Success Manager to bridge classroom preparation and community employment for youth ages 16–24. Under the supervision of the Program Director, the CSM develops and delivers workforce readiness instruction while actively building local employer partnerships for meaningful placements.

In a trauma-informed, culturally responsive setting, you will coach participants, match them to job or training opportunities, and monitor progress.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years working with opportunity youth (16-24) using trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.
• Minimum of two years in job development, business relations, employer recruitment, or workforce training in classroom settings.
• Successful completion of all mandatory criminal background checks including fingerprinting and NSOPW.
• Bachelor's degree in business, workforce development, or related field preferred.
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office; able to learn external databases.
• Fluent in English; strong reading and writing skills; able to lift 20 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver workforce readiness classes aligned with employer expectations.
• Develop and maintain employer partnerships to secure job placements.
• Provide individualized career coaching and placement matching for youth.
• Maintain attendance records, performance notes, and placement data for reporting.
• Participate in weekly case management and program meetings.
• Support recruitment, orientation, and trauma-informed program phases.

Skills

Communication

Presentation

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Attention to detail

English proficiency

Trauma-informed approach

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, workforce development, youth development or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Full-Time | Exempt - 40 hours per week
Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

Position

Under the supervision of the Program Director, the Career Success Manager (CSM - commonly referred to within YouthBuild as a Job Developer) serves as the critical bridge between classroom preparation and successful community employment. This dual-focus role is responsible for both developing and delivering high-quality, youth-centered instruction and actively building local employer partnerships to secure meaningful placement opportunities in collaboration with the YCC Development Team.

Adopting a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach, the CSM prepares youth (ages 16-24) for workplace success, assesses their skills and career goals, matches them with appropriate job or training opportunities, and monitors their ongoing progress. This position requires an adaptable, collaborative team player who can inspire diverse young learners while confidently cultivating external business partnerships to drive successful program outcomes.

• Curriculum Design & Delivery: Design, update, and facilitate engaging workforce readiness classes that align classroom instruction with current market trends and employer expectations. Deliver the established curriculum, while integrating alignment with current market trends and employer expectations.
• Skill Development: Teach essential soft skills and workplace etiquette, including punctuality, professional appearance, workplace communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
• Mentorship & Modeling: Model professional behavior and actively mentor youth on navigating professional environments and handling workplace challenges.
• Individualized Career Coaching & Placement Matching
  • Career Planning: Guide members through career exploration and goal setting, helping them identify individual strengths and professional interests to build a comprehensive career plan.
  • Hands-on Coaching: Provide direct coaching on resume and cover letter writing, job application completion, and mock interviews.
  • Strategic Placement Matching: Assess participant readiness, skills, and goals to match them with appropriate job shadowing, internship, union, or employment placements.
  • Evaluation & Feedback: Provide key information for mid-term and end-of-term evaluations. Participate in youth conferences to ensure members are aware of their performance and progress.
• Employer Partnership & Job Development
  • Relationship Management: Develop and maintain strong, professional relationships with local employers, unions, and community organizations to secure job placements.
  • Employer Advisory Board: Establish and maintain an active Employer Advisory Board, in collaboration with the YCC Development team, to secure industry input and cultivate localized work-experience opportunities.
  • Community Engagement: Coordinate and facilitate employer site visits, hiring events, and informational interviews.
  • Partner Support: Support employer partners in understanding the YouthBuild/AmeriCorps model and provide regular communication to ensure positive outcomes for both youth and employers.
• Data Management, Documentation & Compliance
  • Data Tracking: Maintain detailed attendance records, performance notes, instructional materials, and placement data to meet strict grant and program reporting requirements.
  • Database Management: Keep the program placement database updated with accurate employer profiles, job listings, member contact records, and active placements.
  • Document Collection: Work collaboratively with members to secure necessary employment and programmatic documentation during active programming and the subsequent follow-up year.
• Case Management & Strategy: Participate in weekly case management, Career Success, and program meetings to communicate member needs, progress, and placement challenges.
• Program Lifecycle Support: Actively support recruitment, orientation, and "Mental Toughness" phases to help assess applicant workplace readiness and motivation.
• Follow-Up Services: Partner with the program team to develop and execute a responsive, supportive, and active follow-up year program for program graduates.
• Perform special projects and other related duties as assigned.

Essential Functions

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; strong group presentation, teaching, and classroom management abilities.

Proven ability to build authentic rapport and trust with opportunity youth, alongside the professional presence needed to pitch to external employers.

Strong interpersonal skills to resolve placement challenges and constructively mediate between youth participants and employer partners.

Close attention to detail with the administrative capability to organize, prioritize, and meet strict documentation timelines under pressure.

A self-motivated, positive team player who adapts quickly to programmatic changes and works effectively within a multi-program, multi-grant funded environment.

Qualifications and Required Skills

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with opportunity youth (ages 16-24) using trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in job development, business relations, employer recruitment, or classroom-based workforce training.
• Successful completion of all mandatory criminal background checks, including fingerprinting, Illinois State Police background check, and the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW).
• A minimum of bachelor's degree in business , workforce development , youth development or other relevant area of study , preferred .

High level of comfort with technology, including extensive experience in Microsoft Excel (required), proficiency across Microsoft Office, and the ability to quickly learn and navigate external database and case management platforms.

Deep sensitivity to the diverse cultural, economic, and socio-economic backgrounds of the program participants.

Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.

Ability to lift and/or move at least 20 pounds using proper body mechanics

Visual acuity to read a computer screen and other documents

Ability to utilize a telephone and respond to callers