About Forward Steps
At Forward Steps, we believe all youth and young adults deserve the confidence and freedom to pursue a fulfilling future. Our evidence-based programs provide individualized support and resources to youth facing adversity throughout their educational and career journey.
We do this through two programs: the Guardian Scholars (GS) program for current and former foster youth pursuing a postsecondary education and the Realizing Aptitudes (RA) program that provides career and postsecondary readiness coaching. Both programs promote a multiple pathway model and use a culturally competent, targeted one-on-one and small group approach.
We are a small, dedicated team passionate about helping others find the best, most fulfilling future – we’d love to have you join us!
Job Summary:
The Career Pathways Coach will work primarily within the Realizing Aptitudes program and provide career development support to students in the Guardian Scholars program. Working with the RA team, and reporting to the Program Manager, the Career Pathways Coach will provide robust career development support ranging from career and post-secondary exploration, planning, enrollment, and persistence and/or workforce entry to youth and young adults facing adversity. Services are delivered in-person, virtually, and through hybrid modalities. This position will also support the RA Program Manager in cultivating new partner relationships, maintaining current partnerships, developing and facilitating workshops, and data collection for program evaluation. As part of the program team, this position will participate in quarterly program development and strategy meetings, and select outreach and fundraising events.
This position is funded through the Colorado Workforce Development Council, Career Navigation & Coaching Collaborative program through December 2024. Forward Steps is raising funds to support the position after the grant period has ended.
Required Competencies
Occupational Competencies
● Facilitation of one-on-one and small group career coaching sessions and workshops
● Experience working with youth and young adults who have experienced difficult life circumstances and/or trauma
● Knowledge of the career development service spectrum and experience working in career/workforce development
● Maintain coaching session notes and appropriate levels of confidentiality
● Ability to communicate professionally with the internal team and external stakeholder groups regarding the spectrum of career development practice as well as ongoing program activity and outcomes
Foundational Competencies
● Active listening – Listen attentively to students, partners & other key stakeholders, understand what’s being said, respond and reflect on what’s being said, and retain key information.
● Cultural competence – Ability to understand, appreciate, and interact with people from cultures and belief systems different from one’s own
● Critical thinking – Ability to analyze complex issues to identify solutions and make decisions
Preferred Competencies
Occupational Competencies
● Administering, scoring, and interpreting career development assessments
● Report writing and curriculum development
● Quantitative and qualitative data collection, interpretation, and reporting out results
● Familiarity with the youth development, education, and workforce development nonprofit sector in the Denver Metro/Front Range area and/or rural areas in Colorado
● Trauma informed care – Understanding and recognizing the prevalence of trauma and adversity when working with youth at-risk and its impact on health and behavior; how that might manifest in working with these youth in a career development context; and how to apply that knowledge when providing direct service
Foundational Competencies
● Fluent in Spanish
Expected Activities
● Career Coaching & Workshop Facilitation (60%)
o Provide one-on-one and small group career coaching and workshops, delivered remotely, virtually, and in hybrid formats
o Facilitate and provide follow up coaching for work-based learning opportunities and apprenticeships
o Collaborate with existing RA partners to continually adapt career program to best meet the needs of students and align with existing partner career development programming
o Deliver career assessments, interpret results, and develop comprehensive, individualized career reports
● Program Outreach (25%)
o Work with RA Program Manager to identify new partners and participate in initial discussions to determine partner/program fit
o As needed, participate in local outreach events 3-4x/year
o Attend annual fundraiser event
● Program Development & Evaluation (15%)
o Participate in quarterly program development meetings to identify ways to best adapt the RA program to best meet the needs of the community
o Participate in quarterly program strategy meetings
o Assist in data collection and program evaluation
o Assist in program curriculum development
Job Details:
● Reports to the Realizing Aptitudes Program Manager
● Location: remote; in-person coaching on partner sites in the Metro Denver/Front Range and Larimer & Weld Counties. Position can be based in either Metro Denver or Northern Colorado.
● Reliable personal transportation & valid driver’s license required
● Must be able to pass a background check
● Hours are 8:30-5:30pm M-F; hours may vary depending on program activity. Some evening and weekends required
● Additional career coaching training required provided by the Colorado Workforce Development Council, Career Coaching Collaborative