Career Counselor

Job Summary: The Lighthouse Career Counselor provides guidance and support to individuals with disabilities to explore career options and navigate resources that impact successful employment outcomes. We are seeking a compassionate, knowledgeable, and motivated professional committed to empowering clients through assessment of skills and interests, personalized career exploration, skill development, and informed choice. This role requires strong communication skills, adaptability to meet diverse client needs, and effective collaboration with stakeholders to achieve client goals for employment.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Career Counselor will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Conduct assessments to evaluate and identify each client’s strengths, skills, interests, abilities, and readiness for employment.
2. Prepare detailed reports summarizing each client’s assessment results as related to individualized skills, interests, and goals for employment.
3. Develop individualized career plans for clients, monitor their progress towards goals, and make the necessary plan adjustments as needed.
4. Provide one-on-one career counseling to clients who have physical, intellectual, developmental, and/or mental health disabilities to help them determine and navigate their career path.
5. Facilitate referrals to services such as skills training, transportation assistance, assistive technology, and benefits counseling.
6. Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills, adapting techniques and materials to accommodate various learning styles.
7. Collaborate with vocational rehabilitation counselors, employment specialists, and other stakeholders to ensure a coordinated service delivery and positive outcomes for each client.
8. Advocate for inclusive hiring practices and workplace accommodations with prospective employers.
9. Organize workshops and training sessions on job-related strategies and skills development to optimize the potential for successful job placements.
10. Participate in recruiting events and public speaking engagements to promote program growth, support public education, and facilitate networking opportunities between clients and potential employers.
11. Maintain accurate, confidential documentation of counseling sessions and client materials in accordance with program standards.
12. Perform other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in counseling, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, social work, or related field required; a master’s degree is preferred. Additional certification as Certified Career Counselor (CCC), Certified Career Counselor Educator (CCCE), or Certified Clinical Supervisor of Career Counseling (CCSCC) is also preferred.
2. Special Knowledge or Skills: Knowledge of the job market and skill in administering various career assessment tools and techniques to help clients identify skills, interests, and explore career opportunities. Experience using the Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) preferred Knowledge of ADA, accommodations, vocational rehabilitation systems, and disability employment programs. Strong interpersonal, communication, and advocacy skills. Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and teams. Excellent oral and written communication skills; Ability to develop and perform professional presentations. Proficient in the use of MS Office tools.
3. Experience: Minimum of one year of proven experience as a Career Counselor or Career Coach preferred. Certification from a recognized career counseling body is a plus.
4. Physical: Must be able to sit for long periods of time. Able to travel throughout the facility to safely and effectively manage all work responsibilities, breaks and emergency evacuations, with or without reasonable accommodation. Able to manage all self-care needs and activities of daily living as required to support successful employment, with or without reasonable accommodation.
5. Personality Traits: Must be friendly and professional at all times. Well organized, punctual, personable, dependable, able to motivate and work well with others, enthusiastic, adaptive, positive, and flexible. Good customer relations skills are required. Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and speak in a manner that is clear, professional, and appropriate at all times.
6. Working Conditions: : Office setting. Occasional travel required between facilities.
7. Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours a week. May require occasional overtime and some evening and weekend work under extraordinary circumstances.
8. Background Check and Drug Testing Required: Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results.

This job description does not imply that these are the only duties to be performed. The incumbent in this position will perform such other tasks as may be required for the effective operation of the Division/Department upon request by his/her supervisor.

Accomplishments in these areas of responsibility will be the basis of the employee’s evaluation, continuation of employment, and changes in compensation.