Community Employment Navigator

State of Washington•Tumwater, WA

42d•Remote

About The Position

Are you looking to build a meaningful career in public service? Do you thrive on helping others succeed and creating real, lasting impact? If so, the Washington State Department of Corrections Correctional Industries (CI) team may have your next opportunity! We're seeking a passionate and results-driven Community Employment Navigator (Corrections Specialist 3) to support incarcerate individuals as they transition back into their communities, while building and maintaining professional relationships with employers and community organizations. In this role, you'll serve as a vital bridge between training, reentry, and long-term success. You'll collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners to support incarcerated workers through job readiness preparation, guidance, and post-release employment services. Your work will empower individuals with CI experience to navigate career pathways and build futures they are proud of. The ideal candidate is a relationship-builder at heart, someone who can foster and maintain strong connections with Washington employers and community partners, with a goal of creating a pathway of continuous employment for former CI workers from prison into the community. . You'll help open doors by promoting the value of hiring formerly incarcerated individuals, demonstrating how employment contributes to safer, healthier communities statewide. Correctional Industries (CI) is committed to maintaining and expanding incarcerated work training programs which develop marketable job skills, instill and promote positive work ethics and reduce the tax burden of corrections. CI is a unit with the Reentry Division and provides incarcerated individuals with work training opportunities, an established/documented work history, cognitive behavioral soft skills training, employment-based certifications, and work readiness training and support pre/post release. If you're excited about joining a mission-driven team dedicated to transforming lives and contributing to safer communities, we encourage you to explore this opportunity and apply!

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED equivalent
Minimum of two (2) years of proven work experience providing career/job readiness support services, occupational training, or workplace readiness assistance.
Minimum of two (2) years of proven community and/or employer outreach and engagement experience in cultivating and sustaining relationships leading to impactful
Demonstrates knowledge of key industries within Washington state, (i.e. manufacturing, hospitality, etc.) through professional experience and understanding employer/workforce needs.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Nice To Haves

Bachelors degree from a recognized accredited college and/or university whose accreditations are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
Three (3) or more years of proven community and/or employer outreach and engagement experience in cultivating and sustaining relationships leading to impactful partnerships
Minimum of two (2) years of proven community and/or employer outreach and engagement experience in cultivating and sustaining relationships leading to impactful partnerships
One (1) or more year supervising incarcerated individuals
Familiarity with community resources and support services

Responsibilities

Developing and maintaining employer and community partner relationships with the goal of promoting/educating on hiring of formerly incarcerated individuals to include:
Engaging with Washington employers statewide through various means including scheduled meetings, business-related networking events, cold-calls, job fairs, and reentry networking events for second chance hiring
Educating employers on the benefits of employing former CI workers, including their technical and soft skills training, and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Washington Bonding Program
Participating and assisting in the coordination of mock interview events
Providing career/employment navigation services to incarcerated individuals pre and post-release
Assisting individuals with development and/or refinement of work readiness documentation
Working with individuals to establish employment release goals/plan and develop job retention plan
Coordinating, supporting, and connecting individuals with employers and/or other support services within their community of release
Support CI's Workforce Development program
Other duties as assigned