Work Readiness Instructor

Position Summary:

The Work Readiness Instructor plays a central role in advancing the goals of the Career Mobility Action Plan (Career MAP), an innovative workforce development initiative launched by the DC Department of Human Services (DHS). The Work Readiness Instructor is responsible for preparing participants for employment, career advancement, and long-term economic mobility through engaging instruction, individualized employment support, job search activities, and direct connections to employment opportunities. 

Working primarily with families, the Work Readiness Instructor delivers high-quality employment preparation services that build the practical skills, confidence, and competencies participants need to successfully obtain, retain, and advance in employment. This includes facilitating work readiness and life skills instruction, coordinating independent job search activities, supporting hiring events, reviewing employment plans, and helping participants translate their career goals into measurable action. 

The Work Readiness Instructor works closely with participants, Navigators, DHS Workforce Development Specialists, the Job Developer, employers, and other program partners to connect participants with quality, long-term, unsubsidized employment opportunities. The role extends beyond initial job placement, with an emphasis on employment retention, career progression, wage growth, and continued advancement throughout the participant's Career MAP journey. 

What You'll Do 

Work Readiness Instruction & Curriculum Development

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve life skills, work readiness, job search, and employment retention curriculum in collaboration with program staff and leadership.

• Plan and prepare instructional materials for classes and workshops using workbooks, handouts, presentations, digital resources, labor market information, and other relevant training materials.

• Facilitate engaging work readiness, life skills, job preparation, and employment-focused workshops using a variety of instructional methods designed to meet diverse learning styles and participant needs.

• Create stimulating, participant-centered learning environments that promote active participation, practical skill development, accountability, and continued motivation throughout the employment preparation process.

• Provide participants with assignments and hands-on activities that reinforce employment readiness competencies and allow participants to apply skills through a learn-by-doing approach.

• Track participant performance and progress through required tools, including Positions of Interest, Critical Competencies Forms, assignments, assessments, and other program-established measures.

• Adjust instructional strategies and training content based on participant performance, employer expectations, program outcomes, and identified skill gaps.

Career Coaching & Employment Preparation

• Review participant service plans and employment goals to ensure work readiness activities and employment services align with each participant’s individualized career objectives.

• Coach participants through the employment preparation process, helping them develop the skills, confidence, professional behaviors, and strategies necessary to obtain and retain employment.

• Assist participants with identifying Positions of Interest and evaluating employment opportunities based on their skills, experience, career interests, advancement potential, and financial goals.

• Coordinate and supervise independent job search activities, providing structure, coaching, troubleshooting, and accountability throughout the job search process.

• Provide individualized employment support to participants who require additional assistance overcoming barriers to employment or demonstrating critical workplace competencies.

• Stress urgency, accountability, and personal ownership while guiding participants through a learn-by-doing approach to career planning, job search, and employment advancement.

• Develop trusted working relationships with assigned participants and provide supportive, respectful coaching that recognizes each participant’s unique circumstances, strengths, goals, and barriers.

Job Placement & Employer Engagement

• Achieve established monthly job placement goals by working collaboratively with participants, Navigators, DHS Workforce Development Specialists, Job Developer, employers, and other program partners.

• Connect employment-ready participants to quality, long-term, unsubsidized employment opportunities aligned with their skills, interests, career goals, and advancement potential.

• Design and implement recruitment and employment engagement strategies, including hiring fairs, employer information sessions, on-site employer visits, recruitment events, and other direct connection opportunities.

• Collaborate with employers and workforce partners to understand hiring needs, qualifications, workplace expectations, and advancement opportunities and translate that information into effective participant preparation.

• Prepare participants for employer interactions and recruitment opportunities, reinforcing professional communication, follow-through, workplace expectations, and appropriate job search behaviors.

• Maintain close communication with program team members regarding participant readiness, employment opportunities, interviews, hiring decisions, and identified barriers that could impact successful placement.

Employment Retention & Career Advancement

• Develop and maintain trusted working relationships with assigned participants and monitor employment progress through the participant’s fifth year of employment, as required by the Career MAP program model.

• Capture, verify, and maintain accurate employment information, including job placement, employer information, wages, hours, retention, promotions, salary increases, and other employment milestones.

• Provide ongoing coaching following job placement to support successful workplace adjustment, employment retention, professional development, and career progression.

• Work proactively with employed participants to identify opportunities for job promotions, wage increases, additional responsibilities, professional development, and advancement to higher-quality employment.

• Monitor employment outcomes and partner with participants and program staff to address challenges that could negatively impact job retention or advancement.

• Re-engage participants in employment planning and job search activities when employment ends or when a participant’s current position no longer supports their long-term career and financial goals.

Benefits Cliff & Financial Mobility Support

• Provide subject matter expertise regarding supportive resources and benefits that may affect participants as their employment and income increase.

• Educate participants on resources and considerations including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), TANF earned income disregards, and other benefits cliff support resources relevant to employment and financial mobility.

• Help participants understand the relationship between employment earnings, wage growth, public benefits, and long-term financial independence in coordination with appropriate program staff and partners.

• Identify supportive service needs that may affect a participant’s ability to obtain or retain employment and coordinate with Navigators, the Community Resource Specialist, DHS, and other partners to connect participants with appropriate resources.

• Support participants in making informed employment decisions that consider immediate household needs while maintaining focus on long-term career progression and economic mobility.

Participant Engagement & Progress Monitoring

• Maintain consistent and meaningful engagement with assigned participants throughout work readiness, job search, placement, retention, and career advancement activities.

• Monitor participant progress against employment goals, required competencies, job search activities, placement objectives, and post-employment milestones.

• Identify participants who are not progressing toward established employment goals and coordinate with the participant and appropriate program staff to develop strategies for re-engagement and continued progress.

• Reinforce participant accountability while providing coaching, encouragement, and practical assistance to address challenges that may interfere with employment progress.

• Collaborate with Navigators and other members of the participant’s service team to ensure employment activities support the participant’s broader Mobility Action Plan and family goals.

Data Management & Compliance

• Maintain timely, accurate, and comprehensive documentation within the Electronic Case Management (ECM) system for work readiness activities, participation, employment services, placements, retention, advancement, and participant progress.

• Document participant activities, participation, compliance, job search efforts, employment progress, and other required program milestones in accordance with program standards.

• Diligently verify and report participant employment and milestone achievements to DHS and internal program teams in accordance with established requirements and timelines.

• Collect and maintain appropriate verification of employment, wages, hours, promotions, salary increases, retention, and other required employment outcomes.

• Assist in compiling information for program and funder reports, including participant timesheets, work readiness participation, placements, retention, advancement, and other required performance indicators.

• Review documentation for accuracy and completeness and follow up on missing or inconsistent information to maintain strong data quality and program compliance.

Professional Development & Team Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Navigators, DHS Workforce Development Specialists, the Community Resource Specialist, leadership, and other program partners to ensure coordinated employment services and strong participant outcomes.

• Participate in regional and online learning collaboratives, conferences, workshops, and professional development opportunities to remain informed of emerging workforce development and adult learning practices.

• Share employment trends, participant skill gaps, employer feedback, and other observations with the program team to support continuous improvement of Career MAP employment services.

• Observe all Fedcap and DHS policies, procedures, confidentiality requirements, and professional standards.

• Attend and complete all required trainings, certifications, meetings, and professional development activities as scheduled.

• Contribute to a workplace culture grounded in respect, accountability, collaboration, innovation, participant-centered service, and measurable outcomes.

• Perform other related duties as assigned. This job description is not intended to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the position.

Compensation:

 $24.04/hr.   

You're a Great Fit if You have the following:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Workforce Development, Communication, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited institution required.

Experience

• Minimum of one year of professional experience in adult learning, workforce development, career training, employment services, job placement, or a related field.
• Experience developing, facilitating, or evaluating work readiness, career development, life skills, or employment-focused curriculum preferred.
• Experience coaching individuals through job search, employment preparation, job placement, retention, or career advancement activities preferred.
• Experience identifying community resources and connecting participants to supportive services that address barriers to employment preferred.
• Experience working in a performance-driven environment with measurable employment, placement, retention, or participant engagement outcomes preferred.

 And/or education or experience deemed appropriate by the agency.

Equal Opportunity Employer