Career Pathway Coordinator (CPC)

There are two (2) vacancies for this position. 

Location:

Region 1: New Orleans, Louisiana

                  Region 4: Lafayette, Louisiana (Must live in a 50-mile radius)

Position Summary

SUBR’s Department of Rehabilitation, Disability Studies, and Counseling is partnering with the Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) to create new pathways for individuals with disabilities from marginalized groups, particularly those from underrepresented racial groups, to pursue high-demand careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine through the funding of a federal grant award, Project STEMM-Up.

We are seeking to fill two (2) Career Pathway Coordinator position vacancies to serve in New Orleans and Lafayette. You will join the project team and contribute to a Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)/U. S. Department of Education funded project. The position will be renewed annually and is subject to renewal through September 30, 2026, contingent upon the availability of funds.

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) are essential elements, vital to the culture our team endeavors to cultivate. This includes providing opportunities and access for all people which incorporates differences of race, age, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, migratory status, disability/abilities, political affiliation, veteran status and socioeconomic background.

Purpose:

To work with the project team at Southern University to meet the objectives of LRS in implementing a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) grant-funded project in promoting and recruiting for the reentry of prior VR consumers who successfully closed, or for new VR clients, or transition-aged youth who are interested in advancing or entering into a STEMM field.   

Job Responsibilities:

Create a presence for STEMM-Up in the assigned region by promoting the project and related activities; recruiting and retaining, as applicable, clients/consumers; employers, and community partners, including local education agencies.  Work closely with Career Pathway team at LRS State Office and its contracted service provider, Southern University, Baton Rouge, in carrying out project activities and building a participant base. Develop pathways to jobs for consumers recruited and work closely with the LRS VR counselors and Rehabilitation Employment Development Specialists (REDS) to align pathways to jobs, coordinate internal communication and services, caption and maintain statistical data, including progression to career advancement. 

Will work to seek out employment recruiting events for new consumers pursuing career progression and reentry consumers seeking to advance in career but not with the current employer or current field. The coordinator reports to the Principle Investigator or designee as appointed by the Principal Investigator. In addition, the Career Pathway Coordinator will:

• Gather pertinent educational, social, medical, psychological, and vocational data relative to the consumer with disabilities;
• Assess consumers’ needs and develop their rehabilitation plan, including recommendations for rehabilitation services and guidance to and through such services;
• Serve as liaison in connecting consumer with appropriate services to ensure career progression, including but not limited to, (1) identify potential internship placement that matches the consumer’s career interests and goals, (2) coordinate community services to help the consumer reach the objectives in the rehabilitation plan, (3) provide job development services for placement-ready consumers: job-seeking, developing job leads, etc.
• Coordinate efforts to build a database of experts to create and improve career pathways.
• Align career pathways activities with grant objectives.
• Collaborate with training and evaluation team members to create and improve Career Pathway components and assist them with the preparation of applications for Career Pathway exit interviews and post-employment services necessary to maintain suitable employment for consumers;
• Collaborate with the Michigan/Louisiana consortium to develop and/or redesign Career Pathway maps.
• Monitor progress, facilitate improvement processes, and report Career Pathway data while maintaining records that are compliant with the established policies and procedures;
• Collaborate with local education agencies, employers and credentialing entities.
• Develop strategies to monitor and support Career Pathway pre-college summer immersions and follow students’ pre-college to post-secondary enrollment.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to communicate Career Pathway offerings, including attending regularly scheduled and other meetings to keep up to date on the overall flow of the project.  
• Work with VR Counselor to accurately collect participant information, compile and report and/or analyze statistical data for completing quarterly and annual reports.
• Assess and resolve barriers for clients/consumers leading to successful completion (i.e. transportation, childcare, etc.) of project activities in guidance of career pathway.
• Refer Career Pathway clients/consumers to appropriate services staff.
• Oversee Career Pathway project for the assigned region: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, or Monroe.
• Be an advocate for Project STEMM-Up and Career Pathways in general, and specifically in the community served.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Master’s Degree (preferred) in Counseling, Rehabilitation, Social Work or related field;
• Two (2) to three (3) years of professional experience providing services for individuals with disabilities;
• Attention to detail and strong organizational and management skills;
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills;
• Knowledge of and ability to apply counseling theory, apply career development theory, apply motivational theory and strategies, and work with culturally diverse population.
• Knowledge of community organization and support systems.
• Knowledge of educational systems and resources.
• Proven effective use of human relations, communications, decision making, and problem solving skills.
• Working knowledge of PC software in a windows environment (i.e., Microsoft Office Suite) as well as virtual platforms (i.e., Zoom, Microsoft Teams);
• Other qualifications include strong and effective leadership in an educational and/or vocational rehabilitation setting; proven effective use of human relations, communications, decision making, and problem solving skills; demonstration of effective performance as a member of a work team.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with internal and external team members;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships;
• Ability to manage multiple project tasks and competing priorities while maintaining flexibility;
• Willing to travel across the state and be flexible with working hours.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working with individuals with disabilities from marginalized populations (e.g., racial/ethnic minorities; rural areas, etc.);
• Experience in providing counseling in vocational and/or educational settings;
• Experience in providing rehabilitation services coordination.
• Fluent, bilingual (French, Spanish) individual is beneficial.

Required Application Materials:

In addition to completing the Southern University Employment Application (Click Here), interested candidates should send: (1) a letter of application briefly describing qualifications and reason for interest in the position; (2) current resume or curriculum vitae; (3) official college/university transcript(s); and (4) the names and contact information for three (3) professional references and/or three (3) letters of reference to:

Dr. Derek Ruiz via email to derek.ruiz@sus.edu with a copy to STEMM-Up@subr.edu.

**APPLICATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED ON A ROLLING BASIS UNTIL THE TWO (2) POSITION VACANCIES ARE FILLED**   

The Southern University System (System) is an equal employment opportunity employer and serves as a model employer for individuals with disabilities.  The System does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, disability, age, or pregnancy, and prohibits harassment of any type. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the SUS. Please inform HR@subr.edu if you need assistance completing this application or to otherwise participate in this application process.