Employment Specialist​/Participant Coach - Youth Services

Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) exists to break the cycle of poverty and inequity through education, job training, and employment. Our vision is to strengthen the workforce by serving as a bridge to economic and educational opportunity for individuals in underserved communities. Through our skills-based training, educational services, and direct job placement efforts, we build upward economic mobility for out-of-school and unemployed youth and adults and provide the skills necessary to gain a competitive edge in the job market.

Finally, OBT maintains a commitment to fostering and maintaining a work environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven into our organizational DNA.

The Youth Employment Program is a career pathways program for youth and young adults ages 16-24 that provides work readiness support, occupational skills training, and employment services, along with supportive services such as High School Equivalency (HSE) classes, paid internships, comprehensive case management, and access to post-secondary education and sector-based credential training.

The Employment Specialist/Participant Coachwill complete contractually required enrollment steps, a comprehensive assessment and corresponding service planning. This work will be done in collaboration with each youth participant to elevate their experiences, their strengths, their interests, and their voice. While in the program, each participant will meet with this employee regularly to workon barriers to program persistence and success, including the provision and follow through with referrals to other service providers.

This employee will also complete all necessary data entry related to this work and support the larger team with other program activities, such as outreach and recruitment, workshops, post-exit placements, etc. Once the participant completes the program, theemployeewill complete the exit process in the funder- mandated system.

• Manage a caseload of approximately
  25 participants, providing individualized coaching and support to help participants achieve their academic, career, and employment goals.

• Conduct comprehensive intake and assessments to determine participant needs, strengths, career interests, and program eligibility.

• Develop individualized service and employment plans in collaboration with participants that outline academic milestones, career pathways, and employment objectives.

• Provide ongoing one-on-one coaching and case management, meeting regularly with participants to address barriers to academic persistence, training completion, and employment success.

• Support participants in achieving academic goals, including persistence in educational programs, credential attainment, and transition to employment or advanced training opportunities.

• Facilitate referrals to internal and external support services such as education programs, workforce training, mental health resources, housing services, and other community-based support.

• Monitor participant progress toward education, training, and employment outcomes, documenting milestones and adjusting service plans as needed.

• Assist participants with career readiness, including resume development, job search strategies, interview preparation, and workplace professionalism.

• Support participant job placement and post-placement retention, helping participants transition successfully into employment or further education.

• Completeprogramexit procedure sand ensure participants are connected to positive post-program outcomes such as employment, education, or advanced training.

• Provide
  90 daysof follow-up supportin accordance withthefunder’s mandate, andone year of follow-up supportin line withOBT standards.

• Main…