Student Success & Engagement Specialist

About the role

The Student Success & Engagement Specialist is a key member of the Skilled US team, responsible for guiding participants through the Skilled US pathway from intake to completion and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake interviews and ongoing assessments to identify each participant's strengths, goals, and barriers to completion
• Develop, maintain, and monitor Individual Development Plans (IDPs) that advance each participant's educational, credential, employment, and personal goals
• Create and maintain accurate, confidential case files and case notes that are signed and dated, and monitor IDP outcomes through completion and the follow-up period
• Participate in a regular case-conferencing system with educators, job developers, and instructors to review each participant's progress and plan for their success, while respecting participant privacy
• Build trusting relationships that foster a sense of belonging and keep participants actively engaged through completion
• Provide one-on-one and group support to participants struggling with motivation, attendance, or engagement, intervening early when warning signs appear
• Schedule and facilitate regular one-on-one sessions and recurring peer-group sessions that meet at consistent intervals
• Help participants build resilience, self-advocacy, communication, and decision-making skills, and implement restorative practices to support behavior and conflict resolution
• Deliver trauma-informed support and motivational-interviewing techniques in one-on-one and group settings, with time and private space set aside for individual conversation
• Identify participants needing additional social-emotional or mental health support and connect them to a licensed professional — on staff or through a partner — and to appropriate community resources
• Embed life-skills and professional-skills sessions into the program's regular schedule
• Promote a positive program culture grounded in inclusion, respect, and participant voice, in partnership with the program director
• Assess participant needs and deliver allowable supportive services — transportation, PPE and uniforms, tools, testing and licensing fees, childcare, food, housing navigation, and emergency assistance — targeting grant funds on the barriers that most affect completion and placement
• Build and maintain a network of local partners and providers (mental health, substance-use counseling, legal aid, housing, childcare, food assistance) and a clear protocol for when and how to refer
• Connect participants to supportive services quickly in times of crisis to keep them on track toward their goals
• Support participants transitioning into the program, between phases, or back after an extended absence or intervention
• Check in regularly with participants during the follow-up period and use supportive services to encourage a successful transition into the workforce
• Track employment, retention, and wage-progression outcomes, and sustain engagement through an alumni network
• Encourage graduates to return as mentors and peer leaders, strengthening program culture and the pipeline of caring adults
• Serve as a liaison among participants, families, and staff to ensure clear, coordinated communication and support
• Organize workshops, events, and programs that encourage family involvement in participant success
• Build relationships with community organizations and employers that expand resources and opportunities for participants
• Maintain participant-level records of engagement, interventions, supportive-services spend, and outcomes in Salesforce and GPMS (Grantee Performance Management System)
• Use data-driven approaches to assess program effectiveness, flag at-risk participants early, and recommend improvements
• Ensure documentation meets grant and program compliance requirements, including YouthBuild and other funder standards
• Stay current on best practices in case management, engagement, SEL, trauma-informed care, and youth and adult workforce development; use coaches and federal/program officers for compliance guidance

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (or related experience) in social work, counseling, education, psychology, human services, or a related field (LSW/LCSW — preferred)
• Experience in case management, social work, youth or young-adult development, adult education, or workforce program settings, ideally serving participants who face significant barriers
• Familiarity with Individual Development Plans, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, restorative practices, and SEL frameworks
• Knowledge of supportive-services and community-resource navigation (mental health, housing, childcare, legal aid, substance use, food assistance)
• Strong relationship-building, communication, organization, and documentation skills; comfort with data systems (e.g., Salesforce) and confidential recordkeeping
• Ability to collaborate across educators, job developers, instructors, families, and community and employer partners
• Passion for creating an inclusive, supportive learning environment and a genuine commitment to participant success and economic mobility

Work Environment

A training-center and program-based setting with direct, in-person interaction with participants, families, and staff (100% in person). May require flexible hours for evening or weekend sessions, family meetings, and special events. Some local travel to engage community organizations, employers, and resources, and to support participants during the follow-up period.

Compensation and Benefits

• A base salary that is competitively aligned with the market
• Incentive and bonus opportunities

Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA)

Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status or unfavorable discharge from military service. By completing this application you understand that neither the completion of this application nor any other part of my consideration for employment establishes any obligation for PLA to hire me. If hired, I understand that either PLA or I can terminate my employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause and without prior notice. I understand that no representative of PLA has the authority to make any assurance to the contrary. You attest by applying to this position that you have given PLA true and complete information on this application. No requested information has been concealed. I authorize PLA to contact references provided for employment reference checks. If any information I have provided is untrue, or if I have concealed material information, I understand that this will constitute cause for the denial of employment or immediate dismissal.