Career Pathways and Student Transitions Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

The Workforce Development Team’s Career Pathways and Student Transitions Manager (CPSTM) provides integrated leadership for World Relief Chicagoland’s career pathways and workforce development programming. The role coordinates Career Pathways Specialists (CPS), Student Success Coaches, and collaborates with Adult Education and Employment Services to ensure learners progress from English acquisition and foundational employment toward long‑term economic mobility through integrated workforce development pathways and services.

• Supervise CPS staff and provide dotted‑line support to Student Success Coaches.
• Monitor daily work activities, track and approve timesheets and time off, and document performance.
• Lead staff development in workforce development practices and academic transition advising.
• Coordinate team meetings, case reviews, and cross‑functional planning sessions.
• Maintain cohesive team culture across Workforce Development and Adult Education.

• Promote integration within Workforce Development with Employment Services for coordinated recruitment and referrals.
• Collaborate with Adult Education instructors to align curriculum and bridge programming with employer‑informed skills requirements.
• Coordinate with Children & Youth to provide early career exploration and job readiness support for older youth.
• Ensure Career Pathways Specialists maintain aligned practices for job upgrades, credential pathways, wage/benefits tracking, and advancement milestones.

• Support shared recruitment pipelines across Adult Education, Employment, and Children & Youth programs.
• Translate Adult Education priorities into Career Pathways/Workforce Development practices.
• Maintain alignment with the Director of Community Enterprise & Workforce Innovation.
• Participate in cross‑department client tracking activities to support Employment and Case Management.

• Maintain relationships with community colleges, training providers, and employer partners for placement and retention.
• Represent WRC in external meetings, work groups, and partnership development activities.
• Coordinate youth‑relevant partnerships with high schools and youth workforce programs.

• Ensure staff documentation meets the standards of Adult Education, Workforce Development, and grant‑funded programs.
• Monitor progress toward outcomes such as training completion, credential attainment, employment placement, and retention.
• Support continuous improvement processes and contribute to strategic planning.
• Document job upgrades, credential attainment, training completions, and wage changes consistently for reporting.

• Maintain the managerial anchor role even if staffing is reduced due to funding changes.
• Take on a small caseload if needed to ensure service continuity.
• Sustain program presence with a core team of 2–3 CPS/SSC and the CPSTM.
• Support cross‑training of remaining staff.

• Prepare the CP/SSC structure to scale efficiently with new funding.
• Strengthen the shared oversight model for long‑term financial resilience.
• Maintain consistent processes, SOPs, and team identity.
• Enable smooth collaboration with Adult Education, Employment, and Children & Youth.

• Mature and personal Christian faith.
• Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief.
• Desire to serve and empower the Church in impacting vulnerable communities.
• Ability to affirm World Relief’s Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity, and the National Association of Evangelicals' For the Health of the Nation document.
• Strong supervisory and coaching skills across diverse functional roles.
• Understanding of career pathways and workforce development systems (e.g., WIOA, employer partnerships).
• Ability to manage a regional, multi‑site team and maintain cohesion.
• Strong communication, problem‑solving, and cross‑cultural skills.
• Experience in collaborative program delivery across departments or organizations.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule,…