Career Coach

Center for Employment Opportunities • Tulsa, OK

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Career Coach supports program participants returning from incarceration from reentry through their first year of job retention. The role helps participants stay focused and motivated at transitional job sites, provides intensive coaching on interview and employment readiness, and builds trusting relationships that support access to and retention of long-term employment. Depending on program or site needs, the Career Coach may also help participants prepare for occupational training, pre-apprenticeship, and registered apprenticeship opportunities.

This is an in-person position based at a Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) site, as most participant interactions take place in person. CEO provides employment services to people recently released from incarceration. The Career Coach works with colleagues, site supervisors, community organizations, and other partners to support participant progress, maintain accurate program records, and meet program goals and reporting requirements.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of related experience working directly with individuals from marginalized backgrounds.
• Experience providing feedback and guidance to encourage growth and development.
• Demonstrated commitment to CEO’s mission, social justice, and reentry, and interest in a fast-growing, results-oriented nonprofit environment.
• Passion for helping individuals achieve career goals through a balance of accountability and empathy.
• Comfort providing feedback and support to develop participants’ knowledge and skills.
• Strong customer service skills and a human-centered approach to communication.
• Ability to anticipate and evaluate problems and determine and implement solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, including the ability to adapt to different personalities and interaction styles.
• Data-driven approach, growth mindset, and ability to take detailed notes.
• Strong organization and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities or seek help with prioritization.
• Comfort learning new technologies adopted or implemented by an organization.
• Ability to maintain composure and work efficiently in stressful circumstances.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with people involved in the criminal legal system, experiencing housing instability, or with mental health needs.
• For roles that support Career Pathway and Apprenticeship duties, familiarity with workforce training, pre-apprenticeship, or Registered Apprenticeship systems is preferred.
• Lived experience of incarceration or involvement in the justice system is encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Engage participants in ongoing discussions about employment goals and use motivational interviewing to guide them toward goal achievement.
• Conduct regular one-on-one coaching sessions to assess progress, identify barriers, and develop actionable plans from onboarding through 365 days of employment.
• Develop and produce professional resumes for participants.
• Facilitate mock interviews and provide targeted feedback based on employer expectations.
• Conduct job-readiness assessments before placement and job-retention assessments after placement.
• Facilitate group sessions and workshops to build employment-readiness skills.
• Collaborate with colleagues to match participants with job leads aligned with their interests, qualifications, and readiness.
• Maintain consistent contact with participants after job placement to provide ongoing engagement and support.
• Distribute retention incentives to eligible participants in accordance with program guidelines.
• Advocate for participant needs with parole officers and other constituencies to support successful reintegration.
• Provide continued life-skills education, share relevant community resources, and connect participants to supportive services or specialized staff as needed.
• Discuss participant job-start readiness with colleagues and problem-solve as needed; collaborate on job searches and educational activities.
• Review work-crew attendance and performance information from site supervisors, maintain contact with supervisors, and respond to concerns.
• Maintain accurate client records in Salesforce, update progress notes after meetings, organize documents, and maintain electronic and physical case files.
• Track participant outcomes against program goals and reporting requirements.
• Build relationships with community organizations serving justice-involved individuals and attend local reentry events and meetings.
• Participate in team meetings, trainings, and case conferences to support best practices and continuous improvement.
• Support the Program Manager with administrative and operational duties and perform other assigned tasks.
• When applicable, assess participants’ interest and readiness for occupational training, pre-apprenticeship, and registered apprenticeship opportunities; develop and monitor individualized pathway goals.
• When applicable, help participants navigate program eligibility, applications, enrollment, required documentation, and prerequisites.
• When applicable, coach participants for entrance assessments, interviews, and other selection requirements; facilitate career exploration, skill-building, and apprenticeship-readiness workshops.
• When applicable, collaborate with training and apprenticeship providers, sponsors, navigator organizations, and other partners, and track enrollments, progress, and placements for grant reporting.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Professional development opportunities and training, including regular Motivational Interviewing training
• Paid parental leave
• Participation in a retirement plan
• Sick leave
• Vacation leave
• Paid holidays
• Lunch-and-learns, team outings, holiday gatherings, and other staff activities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed