Career Advisor and Apprenticeship Navigator / Project Coordinator
The Business Employment Skills Team, Inc. is now accepting applications for a full time Career Advisor and a temporary part-time Apprenticeship Navigator / Project Coordinator.
Title: Career Advisor
Responsibilities: The Career Advisor would be responsible for identifying and recruiting individuals eligible for the Trade, Training and Youth Programs as governed by federal, state and local regulations and policies. The Business Employment Skills Team, Inc. is an 8-county area designed by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This Career Advisor position will be based in the NCI Works One Stop Center in Ottawa and reports to the Programs Manager. Duties include:
- Identify and recruit participants who are appropriate for services.
- Complete all eligibility requirements according to established procedures.
- Complete full assessment of applicants/participants.
- Maintain applicant/participant case files following federal, state and local standards.
- Develop an individual service strategy with each participant addressing barriers to employment/training and including referrals for other sources of assistance.
- Enroll participants according to objectives in area plan.
- Prepare appropriate forms for entry into the Illinois Workforce Development System (IWDS).
- Authorize payments for participant training and service costs.
- Coordinate with other agencies through problem-solving meetings and cooperative staffings.
- Conduct follow up activities as needed.
- Have an understanding of and ability to perform the functions of all other program office staff positions as needed.
- Provide universal services to individuals/groups
- Provide a basic orientation on all BEST, Inc. services and activities to adults, dislocated workers, youth and Trade.
- Complete and annually review support service need determination for participants
- Issue approval of Individual Training Accounts (ITA) and youth contract enrollments.
- Have thorough knowledge of additional/alternative funding sources for individuals
- Coordinate with Placement Unit in determining individuals who are ready or about ready to reenter the workplace through job referrals and placement.
- Will conduct orientation workshops with partner agencies on a regular basis as part of universal services offered to the general public.
- Actively participate in all grant writing activities.
- Attend all local functions, meetings and other events, including serving on boards and councils, etc., when this would provide opportunities for networking, enhancing job performance, or better serving customers.
Job Requirements:
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
® Knowledge of administrative procedures, functions and operations of the Local Workforce
Area (LWA) and community
® Thorough knowledge and understanding of the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act
(WIOA)/Trade Federal Regulations, State Regulations and Department of Labor directives
and the ability to apply these to the goals and objectives of the LWA preferred.
® Thorough knowledge of WIA eligibility and required partner eligibility preferred
® Working knowledge of partnering agencies rules, regulations and procedures.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred. Will accept high school diploma and 5 years of Human Service/Customer Service experience.
Experience: Minimum of two (2) years Human Service/Customer Service program experience required.
Functional Abilities:
- Excellent communication skills.
- Knowledge of WIOA rules and regulations
- Knowledge of community resources
- Creative thinking and problem solving skills
- Ability to work as a team member and leader
- Flexible and adaptable to change
- Good organizational and time management skills
- Attentive to details and accuracy
- Able to work with diverse populations
- Able to understand and comply with rules, regulations and policies.
- Able to present oral and written information about services to community agencies.
Mental and Physical Abilities:
- Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
- Ability to mediate problems/issues to find a workable win-win solution to the situation.
- Ability to work efficiently in a politically charged environment.
- Ability to read, analyze and interpret professional periodicals and journals, technical procedures and government regulations.
- Ability to speak effectively before public groups and respond to questions.
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to develop customized training programs.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people.
Other:
- Must be legally eligible for employment in the United States.
- Attendance at night meetings, local travel and out of LWA travel may be required.
- Must have access to reliable transportation.
Position Title: Apprenticeship Navigator/Project Coordinator
Reports To: Business Relations Manager
Brief Job Summary
Responsible for coordinating and overseeing activities and sub-contractors related to the development and expansion of apprenticeship programs in EDR 6. Will convene area businesses and conduct educational presentations on the apprenticeship model and its advantages to recruiting, training, and retaining local talent. Responsible for reporting efforts and outcomes on a monthly, quarterly, and end of year basis.
Essential Job Functions
- Attend US Chamber Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) training offered by the State of Illinois (or US Chamber)
- Train BEST Business Relations staff and sub-contractors on TPM process
- Utilize the Rapid Talent Pipeline process, along with TPM, for the development and reporting of apprenticeship development/expansion activities
- Develop opportunities for BEST staff and sub-contractors to conduct outreach to area businesses within EDR 6 (LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam, Ogle, Lee, Whiteside, Jo Davies, Carroll, Mercer, Rock Island, and Henry Counties)
- Establish a geographical “territory” for all sub-contractors and BEST staff so as to not duplicate efforts
- Will be responsible for maintaining contact with all parties to identify the specific businesses/schools or career centers/colleges to approach through outreach
- Ensure that outreach is conducted and that such outreach is touching all industry sectors
- Monitor time spent by sub-contractors contacting business and other stake holders
- Facilitate informational meetings with industry sectors via group summits/forums and one-on-one meetings
- Work with the Business Relations Manager to identify current and past incumbent worker projects that involved apprentices in an effort to target those businesses for expansion of current programs
- Work with the US Department of Labor Apprenticeship Office for training on the requirements or new apprenticeships
- Will ensure that technical assistance is provided to any business wishing to develop or expand an apprenticeship program and to ensure that sub-contractors are also offering such technical assistance
- Become knowledgeable of current training programs within EDR 6 along with other training providers that conduct training for apprenticeship programs
- Work with Region 5 DOL Apprenticeship Office to identify current intermediaries and sponsors
- Develop material (flyers, brochures, press releases, etc) along with radio media campaign that target those industries with occupations they are currently or expecting to hire
- Work with sub-contractors and BEST staff to conduct follow up visits with businesses that attend group summits/forums
- Ensure that all required reporting is completed in a timely manner for the grant recipient (BEST, Inc.) and the state
Education/Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in a staff development or related field. Experience with registered apprenticeship programs preferred. Supervisory experience preferred.
Functional Abilities
- Effective communication skills (both oral and written)
- Ability to work as a team member.
- Good organizational and time management skills.
- Attentiveness to details and accuracy.
- Ability to acquire, evaluate and process information and make appropriate judgements.
- Flexible and adaptable to change.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Able to understand and comply with rules, regulations and policies
- Willingness to travel across an 11 county region
- Ability to work closely with US Department of Labor Apprenticeship Office and training providers
- Willingness to attend state and regional meetings
Other
Travel required. Must have a valid Illinois driver’s license, proof of vehicle insurance and access to reliable transportation.
Must be legally eligible for employment in the United States.
EOE