Individual Development Specialist

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Individual Development Specialist

Chicago, IL

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INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

About Cara Collective

Cara Collective seeks to fuel a courageous national movement to eradicate relational and financial poverty. Through our three entities - Cara, Cleanslate, and Cara Plus - we engage job seekers, employers, and other organizations across the country to break the cycle of poverty through the power and purpose of employment.

We believe there is an incredible untapped talent pool in our country, one comprised of people often experiencing homelessness and poverty. Our job is to unlock the strengths they already have and open new opportunities to gainful employment. We do this by taking the insights learned over the past 30+ years to prepare job seekers and equip other organizations and employers with practices to build a more inclusive economy.

To ensure that we are centering our work around the individuals and communities we serve, Cara Collective commits to taking an inclusive and equitably approach in all we do: in our program design, diverse representation in our staff, partnerships we choose to enter, and our external and internal communications and policies. We leverage our individuality and differences as a way of deepening community and expanding opportunity in and around our organization.

Discover the impact we are making and explore the impressive numbers behind our success at www.caracollective.org.

About the Cara Collective Coaching Team

Cara Collective's team of coaches, known as Individual Development Specialists (IDS), work closely with participants as they develop socio-emotional skills and workplace competencies through experiential learning and classroom curricula. This training is then applied in real-world work environments, helping participants succeed in their professional journeys.

As part of a new initiative and strategic direction, Cara is committed to enhancing the participant experience by expanding our services and program model to reach and support more individuals. The IDS team plays a key role in this effort by providing direct coaching services to individuals facing the most significant barriers to employment.

The IDS team is responsible for supporting Cara Collective's goal of achieving 70% one-year job retention for permanent placements. This is accomplished through comprehensive assessments, personalized coaching relationships, and consistent communication-combining support and accountability to drive participant success.

Outcomes for this role are measured by Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) established by the Chief Program Officer and the Senior Manager of Coaching & Retention.

About the Role

An Individual Development Specialist provides one-on-one, face-to-face coaching to assess and address needs at home, on the job, and within oneself. By building meaningful, individualized relationships, the IDS team is present through a Cara Collective participant's first year of employment-- supporting, advising, and reinforcing key training lessons to build solutions to any bump in the road. An IDS works with their team, as well as with the overall organization in achieving the goal of not just employment but employment retention.

Qualifications

We are excited to offer this opportunity for a passionate individual to join our team and our Community. This role is ideal for a proactive, relationship-focused professional eager to contribute to workforce development and help individuals secure meaningful, permanent employment.

The ideal candidate will be inspired by Cara Collectives mission and committed to working in an environment dedicated to racial equity and breaking the cycle of poverty. They should be a self-starter, energized by fostering strong partnerships, highly organized with exceptional attention to detail, and committed to continuous learning. They should possess excellent interpersonal skills, a strong desire to collaborate as a team player, and approach challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset. They should excel in interacting with participants and employer partners, demonstrating problem-solving skills to support successful employment placements.

While prior experience in a social justice organization or with workforce development is not required, it is considered a plus.

Requirements:

• At least one year of professional experience with individuals effected by addiction and recovery, homelessness, domestic violence, mental health and/or Illinois' criminal justice system a plus
• Coaching/mentoring skills and ability, ideally with experience supporting individuals in both professional and personal goals
• Proven record of outstanding client service including relationship-building, crisis de-escalation, and active listening
• Demonstrated work history of providing direct services to population of interest.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to Cara Collective's transformative work while growing your career in workforce development. If you are ready to make an impact, we encourage you to apply!

The Responsibilities of the Individual Development Specialist

Pre-Employment Coaching (80%)

• Establish authentic, supportive relationships with participants.
• Coach individuals to employability (job-readiness + personal stability) by developing collaborative goals with the participant to accomplish.
• Work closely with Cara Collective's Training team, identify red-flags in any participants' behavior or performance and work with individual on action steps to improved professionalism, communication, conflict management, etc.
• Organize and prioritize workload to ensure participants' needs are met in a timely manner and are successful in the program.

Employment Retention Coaching (10%)

• Accountable for the job retention of participants for at least 1 year
• Maintain relationship/communication with employed participants, including regular face-to-face meetings
• Encourage and motivate employed participants to reach their personal and professional goals
• Collaborate with Cara Collective's corporate employment partners to ensure top-rate retention and continued partnership with hiring companies.
• Travel to various Cara Collective locations in the city and to participants' work locations, as needed

Organizational Tasks (10%)

• Prepare individual outcomes reports, upholding a high standard of data integrity in Salesforce
• Maintain internal Salesforce database to document needs, progress, and communications on all participants
• Play an active part in onboarding and mentoring new team members, especially within area of expertise.
• Establish presence across program entities, representing coaching as a shared service across the enterprise.
• Take a lead role in key IDS moments/meetings (Student Management Meeting, Review Panels, Needs Assessments, Great Wall, etc)
• Partner closely with the Manager of Coaching and Retention to strategically implement department vision.
• Operate as a primary contact between Coaching Services and Supportive Services.

Reports To

Senior Manager of Coaching & Retention

Direct Report (s)

N/A

Workplace Type & Team Culture

Cara Collective has a strong team culture that values collaboration, communication, and camaraderie. We believe in the power of working together in person, which is why we expect our employees to be onsite at one of our Chicago-based locations multiple days each week.  The exact number of onsite days per week may vary by role, employee tenure, and other factors. This commitment to in-person collaboration fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork among our employees, creating a supportive and dynamic work environment.

We consistently measure staff satisfaction through employee surveys and have found that year over year, the vast majority of staff agree that Cara Collective is a great place to work and grow. This high level of employee satisfaction reflects our dedication to creating a positive and fulfilling workplace for all members of our team.

Starting Pay Range

We take budget and starting salary very seriously. We market our roles and use a salary analysis tool called Payscale and offer competitive, market-based compensation to all employees.

This position's expected starting pay range is $50,000- 55,000 annually.

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefit package include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Plans
• Basic Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• Personal Technology Reimbursement
• Starting with 17 Vacation Days, 8 Sick Days,
• 14 Paid Holidays

Employee Paid Benefits

• Pre-Tax Medical Flexible Spending Account
• Pre-Tax Dependent Care Account
• Pre-Tax Transit & Parking Options
• Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (employer match up to 4% upon hire & immediately vested)

As of this posting, we annually review our benefit offerings to meet our employees needs and be competitive in the market. All listed benefits offerings a at the discretion of the employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cara Collective is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. This commitment applies to all employment practices, including those supported by technology or artificial intelligence tools used in the hiring process.

We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete this application or participate in the interview process, please email us at kboelkens@carachicago.org.

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