Career and Workforce Counselor

WILTON RANCHERIA•Elk Grove, CA

41d•Onsite

About The Position

The Career and Workforce Counselor independently provides career counseling, workforce development, employment preparation, vocational guidance, and career pathway services to Wilton Rancheria Tribal Citizens and eligible participants. The position exercises professional judgment in assessing individual career and workforce needs, identifying employment barriers, developing individualized career action plans, and determining appropriate education, training, employment, and workforce resources and referrals. The Career and Workforce Counselor independently manages assigned participant services and caseload responsibilities, working directly with youth, adults, postsecondary students, career seekers, employers, educational institutions, workforce agencies, training providers, and community partners. The position also provides resource navigation related to entrepreneurship and small business development. The position operates within established Department policies and programs and provides the Executive Director of Education with regular updates, data, reports, and recommendations regarding participant needs, workforce barriers, employment trends, and opportunities for program improvement. The Career and Workforce Counselor has substantial independence in carrying out assigned professional responsibilities but does not have independent authority over Department policy, budgets, personnel decisions, contracts, or executive-level Department decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in career counseling, workforce development, education, counseling, human services, business, social work, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Experience in career counseling, workforce development, employment services, educational advising, vocational services, or a related field.
Experience working directly with individuals seeking education, training, employment, career advancement, or related workforce services.
Demonstrated ability to independently organize and manage multiple participant cases, assignments, priorities, and deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate and confidential participant records.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and establish professional working relationships with participants, employers, educational institutions, workforce agencies, community partners, and other stakeholders.
Ability and willingness to learn about and work respectfully within Wilton Rancheria's culture, history, community, and priorities.
Must successfully pass a pre-employment background check and drug screening and comply with applicable background check and drug screening requirements throughout employment.
Must be able to work evenings and weekends as needed.
Must be able and willing to travel as required for training, meetings, participant services, employer or educational site visits, program activities, and other official Tribal business.
Must possess a valid, unrestricted California driver's license and be insurable under Wilton Rancheria's auto insurance requirements.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in counseling, workforce development, education, business, human services, social work, or a related field.
Career counseling, workforce development, or related professional certification.
Experience working with Tribal workforce development, education, employment, or career programs.
Experience working for a Tribal government, Tribal organization, or Native American community.
Knowledge of regional workforce development systems, employers, training providers, apprenticeship programs, and employment resources.
Experience developing relationships with employers, workforce agencies, educational institutions, or training providers.
Experience providing participant case-management services.
Experience working with youth, adults, first-generation students, career seekers, or individuals experiencing employment or educational barriers.
Experience providing entrepreneurship or small business resource navigation.

Responsibilities

Provide individualized career counseling, workforce development, employment preparation, and vocational guidance to Tribal Citizens and eligible participants.
Assess participant career interests, strengths, skills, experience, employment needs, and professional goals.
Develop individualized career action plans in collaboration with participants.
Monitor participant progress and determine appropriate follow-up, support strategies, resources, and referrals.
Assist participants in identifying education, training, employment, and career pathways consistent with their goals and interests.
Provide information regarding vocational schools, trade programs, community colleges, universities, Tribal colleges, apprenticeships, certification programs, and other education and training providers.
Assist participants with applications and enrollment processes for education, vocational, certification, and training programs.
Provide information and referrals regarding scholarships, financial aid, workforce funding, training assistance, and other available resources.
Provide employment-readiness services, including assistance with resumes, cover letters, job applications, professional correspondence, and job-search strategies.
Provide interview preparation, mock interviews, and guidance regarding workplace expectations, professionalism, communication, and career advancement.
Identify employment, internship, apprenticeship, job-shadowing, and training opportunities for Tribal Citizens and eligible participants.
Assist high school students with career exploration and transition planning.
Assist postsecondary students with transitioning from education or training into employment.
Provide career advancement guidance to working Tribal Citizens and participants considering career changes, additional education, or training.
Independently manage assigned participant caseloads, including outreach, follow-up, service coordination, referrals, and case documentation.
Identify barriers to employment, education, training, or career advancement and determine appropriate resources and referrals.
Coordinate or assist with career fairs, hiring events, internships, job-shadowing opportunities, workshops, and other approved workforce activities.
Develop and maintain professional working relationships with employers, workforce agencies, training providers, apprenticeship programs, educational institutions, Tribal departments, and community partners.
Coordinate participant referrals and routine workforce activities with approved employers and community partners.
Provide resource navigation related to entrepreneurship and small business development.
Refer prospective entrepreneurs to appropriate business-development, training, mentoring, financial, and technical assistance resources.
Assist with approved small business workshops, informational sessions, and related activities.
Support implementation of approved workforce and career development programs.
Maintain accurate and confidential participant case-management records, including counseling contacts, services, referrals, action plans, and outcomes.
Collect and maintain participation, placement, referral, training, employment, and other assigned program outcome data.
Identify recurring participant needs, workforce barriers, employment trends, and service gaps and provide recommendations to the Executive Director of Education.
Prepare reports and summaries regarding assigned participant services, workforce activities, and outcomes.
Provide regular updates to the Executive Director of Education regarding participant services, workforce trends, significant needs, and matters requiring Department-level consideration.
Maintain confidentiality and appropriately safeguard participant and Department information.
Incorporate culturally responsive practices into career counseling and workforce services.
Promote education, training, employment, entrepreneurship, and career opportunities that support individual success and Tribal community development.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director of Education.