OA/CTS Counselor - Grand Junction, CO

GBX Consultants, Inc. is accepting resumes for a full-time Outreach, Admissions and Career Transition Counselor (OA/CTS Counselor). This is a hybrid position working remotely and requiring onsite support on Tuesday and Friday (presently) each week at the Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center located in Collbran, CO. The OA/CTS Counselor is responsible for applicant recruitment and arrival coordination and providing exiting students with transitional support and placement services leading to quality full-time jobs, military enlistment, or enrollment in higher education or Job Corps advanced training.

The OA/CTS Counselor will identify and develop Center-beneficial partnerships that lead to enrollment and/or student placement and will determine and document student eligibility for Job Corps enrollment. The OA/CTS Counselor will provide exiting students with comprehensive and individualized case management to identify and remediate students transition into the workforce. The OA/CTS Counselor will demonstrate an on-going commitment to preparing young people for the workforce by modeling, mentoring, and monitoring excellence in workplace relations and ethics; information management; communications; multicultural awareness; personal growth and development; career and personal planning; interpersonal skills and independent living.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works cooperatively with various individuals and organizations to attract and enroll eligible at-risk youth.
• Conducts comprehensive screening procedures to determine applicants eligibility for the Job Corps Program. Ensures compliance with requirements, such as income eligibility verification, background checks, parental consent for minors and any necessary medical or educational documentation. Denies applicant enrollment and refers applicants to other educational resources.
• Secures and evaluates applicants behavioral, medical and educational records.
• Conducts thorough assessment activities and career counseling during the admissions process.
• Serves as a Center Liaison to facilitate a seamless enrollment process and early student retention.
• Works closely with community agencies, employment services, high schools, trade and technical schools and other agencies to inform prospective applicants about the Job Corps program.
• Develops partnerships with community agencies and local businesses to develop and maintain referral linkages for prospective enrollments and post training placement opportunities.
• Conducts campus tours, pre-arrival visits and parent meetings.
• Provides additional assistance, as departmental needs become evident, in meeting overall department placement goals.
• Attends required staff training sessions.
• Conducts interviews with students preparing to exit the center. Provides re-orientation and further focus on job search techniques.
• Creates and maintains a caseload of active assignee files, establishing a tickler system for caseload management. Maintains bi-weekly or monthly contact through telephone and/or in person and documents all actions in case notes.
• Develop an Employer Database for the state that tracks employers, alternate training programs, higher education institutions and other placement opportunities across the state.
• Attends meetings that involve Outreach and Admissions or Career Transition student/process issues.
• Visits classrooms and trade shops to familiarize students with CTS processes, employability skills, career preparation, job search, job retention, etc. Familiarizes students with military, school and job opportunities and offers.
• Provides workshops to exiting students and assigned caseload. May assist center staff with the planning and execution of job fairs and career days.
• Collaborates with Center Directors to develop a Center Business Engagement Plan.
• Maintains linkages with military services, One-Stops and other external resources; maintains job banks; secures and posts job leads; sets up job interviews; arranges transportation assistance and other support services. Performs job development by screening leads from newspaper classifieds, telephone, personal contacts, referrals, internet, and other youth service organizations.
• Ensures that all necessary licenses, certificates, transcripts and/or any pertinent document that will aid in job search are completed prior to student’s exit.
• Ensures that accurate contact information is obtained from exiting students and that their files are continually updated.
• Identifies support services needed for independent living; makes referrals to support services agencies. Develops and maintains a resource center for support services.
• Participates in the students’ Career Assessment Panel.
• Ensures assignee checks are distributed in a timely manner and informs assignees of processes related to payments.
• Meets regularly with center staff that can assist with students Pending Placement to facilitate contact and placement information.
• Initiates contact with “former enrollee” assignees prior to their exiting the center, or soon afterwards.
• Upon learning of a lost placement, intensifies contact frequency and presents job offers to contacted students. Reminds students of importance of job search and job retention.
• Completes and submits data forms for processing for all identified placements.
• Complete appeals process and reverifies placements to reconcile any errors in 6/12- month surveys.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Counseling, Education, Social Science, Business, Communications, or closely related field.
• Associate’s degree Human Resources, Psychology, Counseling, Education, Social Science, Business, Communications, or closely related field and two years related experience. Experience may include successful Job Corps outreach and admissions experience or successful outreach and admissions experience with other youth development programs.
• Knowledge of Civilian Conservation Centers and Job Corps services is a plus.
• Must be client-focused and have experience interfacing and working directly with federal government officials.
• Sounds knowledge of case management, career counseling, employment counseling and job search, job preparation, and development techniques.
• Ability to inspire and motivate students.
• Demonstrated experience in resolution of complex issues and ability to adapt to changing requirements.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong computer skills required (Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule.
• Overnight business travel may be required.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled