Career and Workforce Counselor

WILTON RANCHERIA•Elk Grove, CA

11d•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 counselor assesses individual needs and employment barriers, develops career action plans, and identifies appropriate education, training, employment, and workforce resources and referrals. The role independently manages assigned participant services and caseloads while working with participants, employers, educational institutions, workforce agencies, training providers, and community partners. It also provides resource navigation related to entrepreneurship and small business development. The position operates within established Department policies and programs, and provides regular updates, data, reports, and recommendations to the Executive Director of Education. It has substantial independence in assigned professional responsibilities, but no independent authority over Department policy, budgets, personnel decisions, contracts, or executive-level decisions. The role is full-time and exempt, based in Elk Grove, California. A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience is required. A master's degree and relevant certifications or specialized experience are desirable but not required.

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 effective communication and ability to 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 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, 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.
Knowledge of career counseling, workforce development, employment preparation, career planning, education and vocational pathways, apprenticeships, internships, and employment resources.
Knowledge of job-search strategies, resume development, interviewing, workplace expectations, and career advancement practices; general knowledge of financial aid, scholarships, workforce funding, training assistance, entrepreneurship, and small business resources.
Knowledge of participant support and case-management practices.
Strong counseling, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; strong organizational, planning, and time-management skills.
Ability to assess career and workforce needs and determine appropriate education, training, employment, support strategies, and referrals.
Ability to administer and appropriately interpret career-interest or career-planning assessments used by the Department.
Ability to manage a participant caseload independently, identify barriers, maintain confidential records, collect and summarize program data, and work effectively within established policies and procedures.
Ability to work respectfully with Tribal Citizens, youth, adults, employers, and community partners and demonstrate cultural awareness and respect for Wilton Rancheria values, history, traditions, and community priorities.

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.
Assess participants’ career interests, strengths, skills, experience, employment needs, and professional goals; develop career action plans and monitor progress.
Help participants identify and pursue education, training, employment, and career pathways, including applications and enrollment.
Provide information and referrals regarding scholarships, financial aid, workforce funding, training assistance, and other resources.
Assist with resumes, cover letters, job applications, professional correspondence, job-search strategies, interview preparation, and workplace expectations.
Identify employment, internship, apprenticeship, job-shadowing, and training opportunities.
Support high school students’ career exploration and transition planning, postsecondary students’ transitions into employment, and career advancement for working participants.
Manage assigned participant caseloads, including outreach, follow-up, service coordination, referrals, and case documentation.
Identify barriers to employment, education, training, or career advancement and connect participants with appropriate resources.
Coordinate or assist with career fairs, hiring events, internships, job-shadowing, workshops, and other approved workforce activities.
Build and maintain working relationships with employers, workforce agencies, training providers, apprenticeship programs, educational institutions, Tribal departments, and community partners.
Provide entrepreneurship and small business resource navigation, referrals, and assistance with approved workshops and related activities.
Support implementation of approved workforce and career development programs.
Maintain accurate and confidential participant case-management records and collect program participation, placement, referral, training, employment, and outcome data.
Identify recurring participant needs, workforce barriers, employment trends, and service gaps; prepare reports and recommendations for the Executive Director of Education.
Provide regular updates to the Executive Director of Education regarding participant services, workforce trends, significant needs, and matters requiring Department-level consideration.
Safeguard participant and Department information and incorporate culturally responsive practices into 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.