PC II-Career Navigator Lead

Our Mission: Partnering to Promote Safety and Responsibility through Best Practices. Our Vision: Transforming Lives for the Safety of All. Our Beliefs: Our employees are our most influential resource. Everyone has worth and will be treated with dignity and respect through our words and actions. Everyone deserves compassion, empathy, and support. Everyone has the potential for future success through effective development and support. Transformative change is accomplished through teamwork and collaboration. Trust, honesty and transparency are essential to our success. Inclusive practices, acceptance and diversity are the foundation of our mission. Join Us Today and Make a Lasting Difference! Work Authorization & Employment Eligibility The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) does not sponsor employment visas for any positions and does not participate in the STEM-OPT extension program. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment without the need for current or future visa sponsorship. Verification of identity and employment eligibility to work in the United States is required by federal law. For a list of acceptable documents, please refer to the federal Form I-9. E-Verify Participation KDOC participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with the information from your Form I-9 to confirm authorization to work in the United States. For more information about E-Verify, please visit E-Verify.gov. For information about your rights under the Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER), please visit justice.gov/crt/immigrant-and-employee-rights-section. KDOC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees., The Department’s mission is by using evidence-based practices, to increase conditions of supervision and the ability of residents to reintegrate, which will result in safely reducing revocations among Kansas parolees and probationers through risk reduction philosophy and a three-phased plan: Intake and incarceration, Pre-Release Planning and Reentry Post-Release Supervisor.

This position serves as the Career Navigator located at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility and is a member of the Pre-Release Planning and Reentry Post-Release Supervision teams that may include, but not be limited to, agency staff at all levels and with a broad range of system-and community-based external stakeholder organizations. Career Navigators have facility based and regional responsibilities with a focus on providing individualized career development, reentry employment support and individualized reentry navigation to access programs and services to those in transition. Embedded within correctional facilities and parole offices, Career Navigators play a key role in helping individuals prepare for and successfully transition into the workforce, supporting efforts to reduce recidivism through sustainable employment., The Career Navigator is responsible for individualized employment support at Ellsworth Correctional Facility. *

• The position provides oversite of career centers/resources rooms, ensuring consistent access to employment resources, workshops, and individualized services. Through group facilitation and one-on-one meetings, the Career Navigator assists residents in developing employment plans, preparing employment portfolio’s, preparing for job search activities, and securing essential documentation that supports a successful transition to the community and workforces.

• Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Facilitating career readiness curriculum, including workshops on mock interviews, resume writing, job search strategies, and interview skills. Provide oversite of the daily operation of facility career centers/resource rooms, ensuring residents have access to up-to-date employment materials, community resources, and technology. Conduct individual and group meetings with residents to develop employment plans, complete assessments, conduct pre-release interviews, and support job application process. Establish and maintain partnerships with Workforce One Centers, vocational programs, trade training providers, and community organizations to expand employment opportunities. Provide assistance with facility Identification clinics (ID) to ensure residents have the appropriate proofs of identification to secure employment. Support employer engagement efforts by coordinating resident participation in job fairs, employer visits, and pre-release and post-release hiring opportunities. Connect residents facing employment barriers with Community Business Liaisons and other supportive services upon their release.

• Resource Room/Transition/Community Contacts: Staff facility’s Resource Room(s) to serve as the central hug for employment services within facility. This role includes educating unit teams, service providers, volunteers, mentors, mentoring coordinators, and other relevant stakeholders about the presence, role , and available services of the Resource room.

• Development of Job Opportunities: In coordination with local workforce centers and community business liaison, contact employers to develop job opportunities for residents. This includes setting up pre-release mock interviews that include real employers as interviewers; setting up job fairs inside; contacting employers in the community to determine their receptiveness to hiring residents; coordinating between employers and designated parole offices to address barriers to employers hiring residents; and other strategies that increase opportunities for residents to achieve sustained employment. This position will identify gaps in employment plans and make recommendations to administration and leadership at assigned facilities to address those gaps. Work closely with assigned unit team/facility staff and the reentry/programs staff to ensure that issues are addressed to ensure residents are assigned to private industry jobs can participate fully in employment, while also having their case plan and risk reduction needs met.

• Data: Collect, document, and maintain accurate records of participants, job placement, employment status, wages, and retention data for participants pre-and post-release. Maintain business partner list containing information about employer contracts, individuals hired and salary range in assigned regions. Document in multiple systems to include SharePoint and Athena. Chrono all contacts and task updates towards goals.

• Other duties as assigned

One year of experience in planning, implementing and monitoring activities relevant to the agency’s programs. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the agency., Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in criminal justice, social sciences, behavioral sciences, business management or related field and one year experience planning, implementing and monitoring activities relevant to offenders in corrections. Agency approved substitution for bachelor’s degree: 60 semester hours of college credit, with 12 hours in corrections or related field, and 3 years experience working with offenders. 2 years experience providing job services, especially to a high risk/need group with substantial employment barriers. 1 year experience working with an employer to address workforce needs. Demonstrated understanding of evidence based and core correctional practices. Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills.

Post-Offer, Pre-employment Requirements:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and the ability to travel throughout the state as needed.
• Must successfully pass a criminal history records check.
• Must successfully pass a pre-employment urinalysis (UA) drug screening.

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