Career Development Specialist

OUR ORGANIZATION:  

Kinexus, recognized as one of Nonprofit Times 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 Best Nonprofits to Work For, is a cutting-edge community development organization with growing initiatives to create an economically thriving Michigan. We are change agents who create solutions for business, workforce, and community challenges to promote economic vitality. 

The Michigan Works Team is made up of dedicated professionals whose role is to develop the local workforce and build a talent pipeline to meet current and future needs of employers in the area.  At the same time, we are helping jobseekers in our community find sustainable employment.  Customers come to the One Stop with many different skill levels and work with our specialists through coaching, scholarships for classroom training in high demand occupations, and on-the-job training opportunities.  We work closely with local businesses to connect jobseekers to multiple types of employment from entry level work to professional careers.    

OUR DESIRED OUTCOMES: 

Our long-term outcome is to attract individuals to support economic growth and vitality in Southwest Michigan. The Career Development Specialist will assess and evaluate One-Stop customers in alignment with high-demand industries, identify opportunities for skill upgrades or re-training, and enroll qualified job candidates into appropriate training opportunities. These opportunities will result in assisting job candidates to placement in high-demand sectors resulting in higher wage earnings.  

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU: 

The Career Development Specialist is a crucial player within Michigan Works! Team. They are working with a variety of populations seeking employment, including low-income individuals, youth, college students, adults switching careers, single-parents, offenders, long-term unemployed, and ALICE population connecting them to community resources. They ensure the job seeker has a good customer experience while they align key resource for assisting with barriers to employment. The expectation is the Career Development Specialist will strive to dual enroll the job seeker in multiple programs that will help them reach self-sufficiency.

• Develop a working knowledge of required competencies of workforce programs: WIOA (Workforce Innovation Opportunities Act), FAE&T (Food Assistance Employment & Training), PATH (Partnership Accountability Training and Hope), RESEA (Reemployment Eligibility Service Employment Assessment), TAA (Trade Adjustment Assistance), Wagner-Peyser, and other programs as they are awarded
• Identify and provide career coaching, including resume assistance, mock interviews, supportive services, training opportunities, and professional development services in line with job seeker needs and regional job growth-employer demand
• Work to resolve barriers with disadvantaged participants and help establish and connect the participants to training, employment, and scholarship opportunities