Job Coach

Title: Job Coach Farmworks

Shift: Monday to Friday

Summary: Under the general guidance of the Workforce Manager, the Farmworks Job Coach is responsible for providing job coaching and case management support to participants, and adhering to all FarmWorks implementation requirements. The Job Coach will be an energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive team member who positively and productively supports high-risk participants. Chicago FarmWorks is a 2.8-acre farm in Garfield Park that fights poverty. We do this through two related goals: to distribute local produce of the highest quality to those who need it most and to help people with multiple barriers to employment find full-time, permanent jobs.

The Job Coach leverages industry knowledge and best practices to promote the mission and vision of Heartland Alliance. Supports culture development and management efforts.

Duties & Responsibilities

Coaches participants for success in their transitional job experience.Demonstrates ability to successfully model workplace behavior for participants and accurately communicates expectations for participants, including policies and procedures.Provides one-on-one case management and participates in case consultation.Assists with the development of individual success plans for participants.Identifies support service needs and connects participants to appropriate services.Supports participants in their transition to long-term, unsubsidized employment, and job retention.Develops and maintains relationships with employers and connects participants to appropriate opportunities.Supports the development of job searches, resume writing and interview skills.Develops and leads work-readiness coursework and activities.Manages the orientation process for new participants, and provides an accurate overview of what participants can expect from the program, including hours, wages, services, activities, and advancement pathways.Identifies and builds relationships with external education, certification, and training providers, such as City Colleges.Coordinates and schedules internal and external content providers and education/training providers such as higher education, industry certification training, and web-based career exploration platforms.Develops and/or identifies work-readiness curriculum, implements curriculum, and schedules and supervises weekly work-readiness coursework.Participate in training to learn the principles of trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, conflict de-escalation, harm reduction, and other concepts. Applies that knowledge in daily interactions with FARMWORKS participants.Manages all necessary paperwork and reporting associated with orientation, case management activities, employer contacts, participant advancement, retention follow-up, and other programming activities.Supports participants and internal and external stakeholders as needed.Other duties may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A

Education And Experience

High School diploma or General Education Diploma required. Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field preferred.Minimum three (3) years experience in case management, counseling, and/or coaching functions in a social service setting, preferably with formerly incarcerated individuals, opportunity youth, or similarly at-risk populations.

Certifications/Licenses

Valid Driver’s License is required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A)

Knowledge of workforce development and employment services for chronically unemployed individuals or individuals experiencing poverty.Knowledge of the local ecosystem of support service providers.Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.Ability to prioritize work in a high-volume environment.Commitment to the mission and values of HHCS, as demonstrated by a professional approach that is strength-based, trauma-informed, inclusive, and grounded in human rights.Excellent communication skills. Strong networker, convener, relationship builder, and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders both internally and externally.Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations professionally and diplomatically.A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and analytical ability.Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.Ability to work independently and remain self-motivated with minimal direct supervision.Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills.Individuals with criminal records and other lived experiences are encouraged to apply.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.To meet both the needs of our participants and contractual obligations, employees are required to be flexible regarding scheduling and work location. Program sites are located throughout the Chicago area, including the North and South sides of Chicago, as well as the suburbs. Employees may be required to report to any one of our locations on a temporary or permanent basis.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk.The employee must be able to stoop, kneel, and/or crawl.The employee is regularly required to use hands to key, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.The employee must have unrestricted ability to provide physical restraint.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Heartland Human Care Services makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.