Career Coach (Reentry)

JOB TITLE : Career Coach

DIVISION : Adult Services

DEPARTMENT : Reentry Program

LOCATIONS : Samaritan Center (5555 Conner, Detroit, MI 48213), Highland Park American Job Center (144 E. Manchester St., Highland Park, MI 48203)

REPORTS TO : Program Services Coordinator

FLSA STATUS : Non-Exempt / Hourly

CLASSIFICATION : Full-Time, Regular

APPROVED DATE : 11 / 20 / 2025

JOB SUMMARY : Assesses reentry program eligibility for currently incarcerated and released Wayne County residents. Provides job readiness training, barrier resolution referrals, vocational training referrals, and placement assistance into subsidized and unsubsidized employment. In addition to its SER's Reentry Career Center at Samaritan, this role also serves participants from SEMCA, Highland Park AJC, and those currently housed inside of MDOC facilities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Interviews currently and formerly incarcerated jobseekers to assess service needs and conduct Orientation and intake (enrollment paperwork completion)
• Jointly with the jobseeker, develops an Individual Employment Plan (IEP) that identifies jobseeker interests, goals, needs, and placement strategy.
• Jointly with the jobseeker, develops a Discharge Plan that identifies next steps post-release.
• Assesses jobseeker's career and job readiness and recommends strategies to enhance their marketability including referrals to training and / or workshops.
• Identifies problem areas and service gaps and assures implementation of Career Plan; identifies and prepares reports to supervisor on areas identified as barriers to services for jobseekers and prepares a plan of action. Refers jobseekers who are not job ready back partners for additional barrier removal services and / or academic reinforcement.
• Ensures jobseekers are referred to available job placement services, including recruitment events; Refers jobseekers to the Reentry Employment Specialist / Navigator job match, placement, and retention support.
• Actively screens caseload to refer candidates to Temporary Work Experiences (TWE), a form of subsidized employment designed to bridge those with little to no work experience with increased skill development in a work setting.
• Actively participates in all job search and placement events (fairs) and activities as assigned promoting teamwork, professionalism, courtesy, and jobseeker satisfaction.
• Cross-trains with the Reentry Career Services team in order to support program outcomes.
• Performs visits to other locations, jobseekers' places of residence, training providers' and employers' sites, as necessary.
• Participates in ongoing professional development and maintains current knowledge of best practices in workforce development.
• Manages a comprehensive caseload of no more than fifty (50) intensive jobseekers and (20) basic jobseekers, ensures accurate documentation of case records in all appropriate databases (Wayne County database, LaunchPad, OSMIS).
• Provides follow-up services after job placement at intervals of once a month through the end of the program year for each assigned participant to support retention follow-up.
• Works closely with referral partners (for barrier removal) and Employment / Talent Sourcing Specialist (for job retention) and other staff to ensure successful outcomes for jobseekers.
• Maintains case notes and service reporting in the Launchpad (CRM) systems as well as jobseeker's files. Documents efforts and outcomes in participant LP profile and hard file.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by SER leadership.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES : None

JOB QUALIFICATIONS :

Special Requirements :

Should be able to pass a LEIN security clearance, Wayne County Sheriff's clearance, and FBI fingerprinting, granting access to MDOC and / or Wayne County correctional facilities and data management systems. Candidate must be able to work in-person in the office for the entire work week, with up to 20% remote work available after the training period, per supervisor's discretion.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS : The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time, and have sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a phone, computer keyboard, and other office equipment. Must be able to lift a minimum of 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT : The environmental characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This job operates in a normal workforce career center / office environment with a noise level, which is at times, moderately loud in the public spaces of the building. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties and responsibilities that may be performed by a person so classified. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.