Senior Career Development Specialist

JOB CODE: 2312

PAY GRADE: 1160

SALARY RANGE: $32,215 - $54,842

LOCATION OF WORK
Mayor-President's Office

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Under the direction of an employee of a higher classification, performs highly responsible work in the operation of employment and training programs designed to increase the employability of currently unemployed individuals. Work involves supervising the activities of a moderate sized professional and clerical staff engaged in screening applicants and processing necessary forms; counseling and assessing participants concerning employability improvement plans; negotiating on-the-job training contracts with employers; monitoring activities of sub-grantees under contract; or preparing statistical compilations and funding requests for submission to funding sources. Work also involves designing and implementing training programs for participants (youth and/or adults) and planning the overall administration of the employment and training assignments. Although the incumbent may often participate in the daily work of the assigned section, the primary responsibility is for the efficient utilization of all personnel supervised. Supervision is exercised over Career Development Specialists, clerical staff, or other employees of lower classifications. Performs other work as requested.

ESSENTIAL WORK TASKS
Assigns and reviews work of intake interviewers; instructs interviewers in proper interviewing techniques and federal eligibility guidelines; periodically reviews all applicant files to ensure that proper records are being kept; makes eligibility, termination, or other decisions on difficult cases referred by subordinates. Develops, selects, and plans use of employability assessment instruments and activities; develops methods and procedures for implementing programs (youth and/or adults); instructs subordinates in proper assessment methodology and techniques; assigns caseloads to subordinates, reviews completed work, and assists with difficult cases; analyzes assessment operations and recommends needed changes to superior. Oversees development of job training contracts with training institutions and employers of program participants; trains and consults subordinates in proper negotiating procedures and program guidelines; assigns areas of responsibility to subordinates and reviews completed work. Supervises work of subordinates engaged in monitoring the activities of sub-recipients under contract with the program of assignment (youth and/or adults); instructs subordinates in guidelines to be enforced and monitoring procedures to be followed; accompanies subordinates on difficult assignments. Compiles data and performs necessary statistical analyses for preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to funding sources; writes narratives outlining program goals and procedures to be used; prepares budgets and funding requests for submission to funding sources; attends workshops and conferences on federal guidelines or technical procedures pertaining to work of assigned section; makes television appearances and public speaking engagements to explain program projects (youth and adults). Maintains communication with staff in other community agencies where collaboration and/or common programming may be appropriate.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of federal guidelines for employment and training programs. Knowledge of principles and methods of employability assessment. Knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques used in employment training programs. Knowledge of basic management principles, practices, and procedures. Knowledge of language and grammar used to prepare brief narratives and to communicate effectively with others. Knowledge of basic mathematics and statistics used to compile and analyze data. Ability to supervise a moderate sized staff of professional and clerical personnel. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Ability to apply good work habits such as punctuality, reliability, preciseness, and dependability in order to effectively complete assigned tasks and contribute to the smooth operation of the department and division.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS