Career and Education Coach

Summary: The Career and Education Coach provides individualized, person-centered career coaching and case management to youth and young adults participating in Foster Forward's Works Wonders® program. Through strengths-based coaching, the Coach partners with participants to develop personalized Career & Education Plans, connect them to education, employment, and work-based learning opportunities, and support their progress toward long-term career and financial stability.

Working collaboratively with employers, educators, community partners, and Foster Forward staff, the Career and Education Coach helps participants overcome barriers to success by coordinating wraparound supports and facilitating meaningful career development experiences. This position requires the ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to participants' changing needs, and maintain a flexible schedule. Regular travel throughout Rhode Island is required to provide services in homes, schools, workplaces, and other community settings.

• Develops person-centered Career & Education Plans that reflect each participant's career interests, educational goals, strengths, and support needs.
• Provides individualized career coaching, case management, and ongoing support to assist participants in achieving employment, education, and financial stability goals.
• Identifies barriers to employment and education and coordinate individualized strategies, referrals, and wraparound services to address participant needs.
• Facilitates career exploration, experiential learning, paid work-based learning, internships, job shadowing, and employment opportunities that align with participants' career goals.
• Builds and maintains relationships with employers, training providers, educational institutions, and community organizations to expand opportunities for participants.
• Conducts outreach to employers to identify internships, employment opportunities, and work-based learning experiences.
• Facilitates the Works Wonders® E²:
  Employment & Empowerment Training curriculum, ensuring high-quality participant engagement and classroom management.
• Provides support for Youth Leaders in the co-facilitation of E2 Training.
• Prepares curriculum materials, technology, and learning environments necessary for effective program delivery.
• Supports participants in developing workplace readiness, financial capability, self-advocacy, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
• Assists participants in identifying and strengthening natural support networks that contribute to long-term success.
• Meets regularly with participants in homes, schools, workplaces, or community settings, using a flexible, participant-centered approach to service delivery.
• Monitors participant progress through regular coaching sessions, employer communication, and ongoing assessment of education and employment goals.
• Completes timely and accurate documentation, case notes, assessments, service plans, data entry, and outcome reporting in accordance with organizational, contractual, and funding requirements.
• Collaborates with internal staff and community partners to ensure participants have access to Foster Forward's 360° services and other community-based resources.
• Maintains knowledge of workforce development trends, community resources, educational opportunities, and labor market information to inform participant coaching.
• Participates in program evaluation, continuous quality improvement initiatives, staff meetings, and professional development activities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and/or

Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in social services/education/employment services or related field; 2 years of experience training/teaching in group setting; proven experience working with adolescents preferably youth in or who have aged out of the foster care system; established knowledge of employment and training programs to include interviewing techniques, vocational and employment related assessments and counseling and use of labor market information to connect participants to jobs;

organized and able to accurately plan work and tasks; has a positive and constructive sense of humor; adaptable. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to the inclusion of all individuals in the work place and the ability to support individuals in their efforts to become valued and productive employees. Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and/or weekends to accommodate participant schedules.

The position requires travel, must have access to reliable transportation. BCI and fingerprint check is required.

Knowledge of vocational or professional training techniques, classroom facilitation, familiarity with the RI Child Welfare System, youth development activities/programming, experienced with relational databases.