Academic & Career Counselor - Reentry & Healing Hub

YMCA
Hourly
$24.04
$26.44
How to Apply
Apply Online
Help justice-involved adults achieve educational goals, develop career skills, and build pathways to meaningful employment and stability.
Job Description

The YMCA of Yonkers is seeking an Academic & Career Counselor to provide individualized educational guidance, career development, workforce readiness, and employment support services through the newly established Reentry & Healing Hub, funded by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

Serving justice-involved adults ages 18 and older throughout Yonkers and Westchester County, this position helps participants overcome barriers to education and employment, develop marketable skills, and establish pathways toward long-term economic stability and successful community reintegration.

Reporting to the Program Manager of the Reentry & Healing Hub, the Academic & Career Counselor will support individualized service planning, academic advancement, workforce readiness, career counseling, vocational training, employment placement, and community partnerships.

As a founding member of the Reentry & Healing Hub team, the Counselor will work collaboratively with the Reentry & Behavioral Support Social Worker, Program Coordinator, employers, educational institutions, and community partners to establish effective services and provide coordinated, participant-centered support.

The position advances the YMCA's commitment to reducing recidivism, expanding economic opportunity, strengthening community safety, and creating opportunities for achievement, relationships, and belonging.

Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, human services, social work, psychology, workforce development, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.
- Minimum two years of relevant professional experience in academic advising, career counseling, workforce development, employment services, case management, or related community-based services preferred.
- Experience working with justice-involved adults, individuals facing employment barriers, or populations experiencing significant educational and economic challenges strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of adult education, high school equivalency programs, vocational training, workforce readiness practices, and employment development resources.
- Experience providing individualized career guidance, facilitating workforce readiness workshops, and supporting educational or employment goal achievement preferred.
- Familiarity with criminal justice systems, community supervision, reentry programs, or alternatives-to-incarceration initiatives strongly preferred.
- Ability to establish relationships with employers, educational institutions, workforce development agencies, and community partners.
- Strong interpersonal communication, organizational, problem-solving, and documentation skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality, establish professional boundaries, and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and electronic case management or reporting systems.
- Ability to complete required program training and maintain current knowledge of educational and workforce development resources.

Essential Functions

Academic Assessment & Educational Advancement

- Conduct individualized educational assessments to identify participants' academic backgrounds, learning needs, educational interests, strengths, and advancement goals.
- Collaborate with participants and program staff to establish educational goals within Individualized Service Plans (ISPs), consistent with the approved DCJS work plan.
- Assist participants in accessing adult basic education, high school equivalency (HSE/GED) programs, literacy services, vocational education, certification programs, and postsecondary education opportunities.
- Provide guidance with educational applications, enrollment requirements, financial aid resources, and related processes.
- Connect participants with tutoring, academic support services, digital literacy resources, and educational institutions.
- Monitor educational enrollment, participation, progress, and completion of academic milestones.
- Help participants identify and overcome barriers to educational participation and achievement.

Career Counseling & Workforce Readiness

- Conduct individualized career assessments to identify employment histories, transferable skills, occupational interests, career goals, and workforce development needs.
- Develop individualized career advancement plans with realistic short-term and long-term employment objectives.
- Provide workforce readiness services, including résumé development, job search strategies, interview preparation, workplace communication, professional conduct, and employment retention skills.
- Facilitate individual and group workshops addressing job readiness, career exploration, financial independence, and workplace expectations.
- Assist participants in accessing occupational training, industry-recognized credentials, apprenticeships, internships, and employment opportunities.
- Provide guidance with employment applications, online job platforms, and technology for career development.
- Help participants address employment barriers related to justice-system involvement, limited work experience, educational gaps, and other challenges.
- Assist with job placement and provide follow-up support to promote employment retention and career advancement.

Individualized Participant Support & Case Coordination

- Maintain an assigned caseload of participants receiving academic, career development, and workforce readiness services.
- Establish supportive professional relationships using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based approaches.
- Collaborate with participants to establish measurable educational and employment goals within their Individualized Service Plans.
- Conduct regular participant meetings to review progress, identify emerging needs, and adjust academic and career development strategies.
- Coordinate with the Reentry & Behavioral Support Social Worker when behavioral, emotional, or other reentry-related challenges interfere with educational or employment progress.
- Work with the Program Coordinator to support participant engagement, scheduling, follow-up, referrals, and continuity of services.
- Participate in case conferences, multidisciplinary team meetings, and participant progress reviews.
- Promote participant self-determination, accountability, and sustained engagement.
- Document verified educational and workforce milestones that may support participant incentive eligibility under the YMCA's approved gift card and stipend policy.

Employer Engagement & Community Partnerships

- Establish and maintain relationships with local employers, workforce development agencies, educational institutions, vocational training providers, and community-based organizations.
- Identify employment opportunities and career pathways appropriate to participants' interests, qualifications, and readiness.
- Coordinate referrals to workforce training programs, educational services, employment assistance organizations, and community resources.
- Collaborate with partners to facilitate job readiness workshops, career exploration activities, employer presentations, and recruitment opportunities.
- Support partnerships that expand educational and employment opportunities for justice-involved individuals.
- Maintain communication with employers and training providers, with appropriate participant consent, to support placement, participation, and retention.
- Identify gaps in educational and workforce development resources and recommend improvements.

Program Development, Documentation & DCJS Compliance

- Assist the Program Manager in establishing academic and career counseling procedures, workforce readiness activities, referral pathways, and participant progress-tracking practices.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential participant records, including assessments, individualized goals, service contacts, referrals, attendance, employment placements, and progress documentation.
- Document services and outcomes in accordance with YMCA policies, DCJS reporting requirements, and program procedures.
- Track progress toward educational enrollment, training participation, credential attainment, employment placement, and other workforce development milestones.
- Support approved performance measures related to academic advancement, career development, workforce readiness, participant engagement, and individualized service-plan outcomes.
- Participate in continuous quality improvement activities, case reviews, program evaluations, and required training.
- Complete DCJS training modules and maintain current knowledge of reentry services, workforce development practices, and educational resources.

Organizational Responsibilities

- Follow YMCA policies, professional boundaries, confidentiality requirements, ethical standards, and applicable DCJS contractual obligations.
- Participate in required staff meetings, training, quality improvement activities, and YMCA initiatives.
- Perform other related duties as assigned, consistent with the position's responsibilities.

Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies

Mission Advancement: Demonstrates the YMCA's core values and commitment to strengthening communities by helping participants achieve educational advancement, meaningful employment, and economic stability.

Collaboration: Builds positive relationships with participants, employers, educational institutions, community partners, and YMCA staff. Communicates effectively and coordinates services to support participant success.

Operational Effectiveness: Maintains accurate documentation, manages assigned caseloads, monitors educational and employment outcomes, and ensures compliance with YMCA policies and DCJS requirements.

Personal Growth: Demonstrates professionalism, cultural responsiveness, adaptability, sound judgment, and a commitment to continued learning and development.

Required Certifications

No specific professional license or certification is required by the original job description.

Must complete required DCJS and YMCA program training.

Must maintain current knowledge of educational resources, workforce development practices, and applicable program requirements.