Career Pathways Specialist

Alliance for Community Empowerment • Canoga Park, CA

1d

About The Position

ACE is seeking a Career Pathways Specialist to build and manage a comprehensive career pathways system connecting youth and young adults with quality training, credentials, and employment in high-demand industries. The role develops relationships with training providers—including community colleges, CTE programs, and industry certification providers—and employer partners across priority sectors, initially focusing on energy infrastructure and construction trades. The Specialist works with program staff, job development colleagues, and business services partners to ensure participants can access defined pathways leading to meaningful employment and long-term wage progression.

The position researches labor-market needs, designs and maintains sector-specific pathways, evaluates and formalizes training partnerships, and develops employer relationships and work-based learning opportunities. It also connects participants to suitable pathways, training, and employment; tracks partnership and hiring outcomes; coordinates across internal teams; and supports Peer Support Specialist certification training and professional development for ACE staff. The role includes community outreach and participant recruitment, and requires availability to work outside standard business hours with advance notice.

Candidates must have a high school diploma and at least two years of relevant experience. An associate's or bachelor's degree in education, workforce development, or a related field is preferred. Spanish language skills are preferred. A current California driver's license, clean DMV record, adequate insurance, and a reliable vehicle available for work purposes are required. Candidates must undergo a Department of Justice criminal background check and obtain initial TB employment clearance. Physical requirements include prolonged standing, walking, sitting, and computer use; lifting up to 15 pounds; and bending, lifting, stretching, climbing, and crawling.

The anticipated California pay range is $28.85 to $30.45 per hour. The offer depends on factors that may include relevant experience and education. ACE provides health, vision, and dental insurance at no cost, with coverage beginning after 60–90 days as specified; an employer-contribution retirement plan; $100,000 life insurance; short- and long-term disability insurance; accrued vacation, up to six sick days annually, and 15 paid holidays. ACE is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment across employment terms and conditions.

Requirements

• High school diploma required.
• At least two years of experience in workforce development, career counseling, case management, or a related field.
• Current California driver's license, clean DMV record, adequate auto insurance, and a reliable vehicle available for work purposes.
• Must submit to a Department of Justice criminal background check.
• Initial TB employment clearance required.
• Knowledge of workforce development, career pathways, employer engagement, and programs related to human services and economic opportunity.
• Ability to educate, motivate, and inspire participants to pursue and sustain career goals.
• Demonstrated experience building partnerships with employers, training providers, or community organizations.
• Experience working with opportunity youth, justice-involved individuals, or other populations facing employment barriers.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple partnerships and track outcomes across a caseload.
• Ability to work reliably and flexibly as a team player with minimal supervision, demonstrating initiative, creativity, accountability, and adaptability; receptive to feedback and learning.
• General proficiency with technology, including databases, spreadsheets, and communication platforms.
• Strong interpersonal skills and effective oral and written communication; ability to foster a safe, inclusive work environment.
• Cultural competence and humility in community relations and service delivery.
• Sensitivity to participants' community, culture, and personal dignity; ability to engage, assess, and plan services for the target population.
• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with participants and families and adhere to professional standards and practices.
• Understanding of accurate record-keeping procedures, including timely data entry and confidentiality practices.
• Ability to meet physical requirements, including prolonged standing, walking, sitting, and computer work; lifting up to 15 pounds; and bending, lifting, stretching, climbing, and crawling.

Nice To Haves

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in education, workforce development, or a related field.
• Spanish language skills, verbal and written.

Responsibilities

• Research in-demand occupations and emerging industries to identify and prioritize sectors for pathway development, initially focusing on energy infrastructure.
• Design and document sector-specific career pathways, including entry points, stackable credentials, wage progression, and advancement opportunities aligned with employer skill and hiring requirements.
• Maintain and update pathways with program staff to address gaps and changing labor-market conditions.
• Identify and evaluate training providers, assessing program quality, credential value, cost, and alignment with participant and employer needs.
• Establish and formalize training-provider relationships through MOUs, referral or co-enrollment agreements, and reserved cohort slots.
• Maintain knowledge of training programs, certifications, and credentials in target sectors and use it to inform pathway design and referrals.
• Monitor training-provider performance and maintain communication to ensure partnership commitments are met.
• Identify and prospect employers, building a pipeline of companies interested in hiring, training, or offering work-based learning to participants.
• Cultivate employer relationships through outreach, site visits, and ongoing communication about hiring needs and workforce priorities.
• Negotiate and formalize employment agreements, internships, on-the-job training, and other work-based learning opportunities, defining roles and expectations in commitment letters and formal agreements.
• Collaborate with case managers and navigators to match participants with pathways, training, and employment opportunities.
• Present pathway options to participants, including training programs, certification requirements, and employment opportunities.
• Track and maintain records of employer partnerships, training-provider agreements, pathway development, and hiring outcomes for reporting and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with job development and business services staff to align strategies, identify service gaps, and avoid duplication of effort.
• Coordinate Peer Support Specialist certification training and professional development opportunities for ACE program staff.
• Conduct outreach and marketing to recruit participants and inform the community about ACE opportunities.
• Build referral pipelines through community partners, schools, and other organizations serving the target population.
• Maintain availability to work outside standard business hours, with advance notice, to support participant programming and program initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health insurance at no cost to the employee, with coverage beginning after 60–90 days as specified in the posting.
• Vision insurance at no cost to the employee, with coverage beginning after 60–90 days as specified in the posting.
• Dental insurance at no cost to the employee, with coverage beginning after 60–90 days as specified in the posting.
• Retirement plan with employer contributions equal to 2% of annual salary.
• $100,000 life insurance at no cost to the employee.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance at no cost to the employee.
• Accrued vacation: approximately 10 days annually during the first two years, approximately 15 days annually after two to four years, and approximately 20 days annually after five or more years.
• Up to six sick days per year, eligible for use after 60 days.
• 15 paid holidays selected by ACE.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED