The Vocational Counselor provides job readiness services, assessments, and career coaching to help clients achieve their vocational goals. They are also responsible for building employer relationships, placing clients in jobs, and providing ongoing retention support.
Requirements summary
The position requires an Associate’s degree with two years of relevant experience or a Bachelor’s degree with one year of experience. Candidates must have a background in career or educational counseling.
Are you ready to give back to the community while pursuing your passion?
For over 50 years, Acacia Network and its affiliates have been committed to improving the quality-of-life and wellbeing of underserved communities in New York City and beyond.
We are one of the leading human services organizations in New York City and the largest Hispanic-led nonprofit in the State, serving over 150,000 individuals every year.
Our programs serve individuals at every age and developmental level, from the very young through our daycare programs to mature adults through our older adults centers.
Our extensive array of community-based services are fully integrated, bilingual and culturally competent.
Position overview
The Vocational Counselor is critical to supporting reintegration within community for program clients. They will provide low-threshold educational and job readiness services including assessment, training, and referrals to relevant programs. They will also identify job opportunities for clients and match qualified clients with these employment opportunities. The Vocational Counselor will be responsible for developing relationships with employers, successfully placing clients into these jobs, and providing on going retention services and supports to both the employer and the consumers.
Key essential functions
Conduct education and vocational assessments, and work with clients to develop detailed and individualized service plans.
Provide low-threshold job readiness services.
Provide individual and group vocational counseling and assist in the development of realistic short and long-term vocational goals.
Facilitate job readiness training including resume and interviewing skills, time management skills, employee-employer communications, etc.
Provide referrals to educational and/or vocational training opportunities and maintain engagement with consumers to support their retention in such programs.
Write and maintain progress notes and vocational treatment plan in accordance with agency, state, and funder regulations.
Develop and maintain employer relationships that can be incorporated into a job bank.
Provide career coaching and job search strategies to all program clients.
Benefits
Paid holidays
Paid time off
Medical coverage
Vision coverage
Dental coverage
Ensure that clients are linked to sustainable employment opportunities when they are ready to do so.
Educate client son current job market via counseling, workshops, outings, etc. and match client job skill with potential job qualifications.
Participate in case reviews, case conferences and departmental meetings, as needed.
Provide individual job retention support.
May assist with organizing client career and employment events.
Perform other duties, as assigned.
Requirements
Associate’s degree with two years of experience in career and educational counseling, required; or
Bachelor’s degree with one year of experience in career and educational counseling, preferred.
Minimum of two (2) years of previous relevant experience in setting providing
Why join us?
Acacia Network provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. In addition to a competitive salary, our benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage. We also offer generous paid time off, including vacation days and paid holidays, to support a healthy work-life balance. We prioritize the well-being of our employees both professionally and personally.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.
Market context
Vocational counseling demand in New York
Vocational counselor roles in New York often reflect steady demand in schools, workforce programs, and community services that help clients plan education and employment paths. These positions can be competitive because employers look for a counseling background plus the stated degree-and-experience mix, and the benefits package includes paid time off, holidays, and medical, vision, and dental coverage. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save research time, then tailor your application to show career or educational counseling experience.
