Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Vocational Workforce Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

The Vocational Workforce Specialist is a practitioner and program-facing professional who designs and delivers career readiness services, conducts vocational assessments, develops employer relationships and places participants into sustainable employment. This role blends case management, labor market analysis, employer engagement, training coordination and outcomes tracking to drive measurable employment outcomes for job seekers, including youth, veterans, justice-involved individuals and people with disabilities. The ideal candidate is experienced with workforce development frameworks (e.g., WIOA), strong data and reporting skills, skilled in coaching and problem-solving, and adept at translating client needs into employer-ready placements.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Job Coach / Employment Specialist
Vocational Counselor / Career Counselor
Case Manager / Social Services Caseworker

Advancement To:

Workforce Development Manager / Program Manager
Vocational Services Director / Program Director
Grants Manager or Policy Analyst (Workforce Policy)

Lateral Moves:

Training and Curriculum Specialist
Employer Engagement / Business Services Representative

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive vocational assessments (skills inventories, interest inventories, barrier assessments, transferable skills analysis) to develop individualized employment plans with clear, measurable goals and timeframes that align participant strengths with local labor market demand.
Deliver intensive case management and job coaching to a caseload of participants, including needs assessment, goal setting, progress monitoring, referrals to supportive services (transportation, childcare, mental health), and advocacy to remove employment barriers.
Design, prepare and facilitate job readiness workshops and curriculum (resume writing, interviewing skills, workplace etiquette, digital literacy and soft skills) with measurable pre- and post-training evaluations to track skill gains.
Build and maintain strategic employer relationships across multiple sectors to develop job pipelines, create on-the-job training (OJT) opportunities, apprenticeship openings and direct-hire placements that match program participants.
Conduct targeted job development activities (cold calls, employer visits, hiring event coordination, job fairs, labor market outreach) and negotiate job opportunities, wage expectations and reasonable accommodations with hiring managers.
Coordinate vocational training plans and referrals to community colleges, trade schools, credentialing programs and industry partners; monitor participant enrollment, attendance, completion and credential attainment.
Create, update and maintain accurate case notes, individualized employment plans and participant records in workforce information systems (e.g., TWIST, AJB, CalJOBS, Salesforce, TEAMS) to ensure data integrity and timely reporting.
Track participant outcomes (placement rates, retention at 30/60/90 days, wages at placement and follow-up, credential completion) and produce regular program performance reports for funders and internal stakeholders.
Ensure compliance with federal, state and local workforce program regulations (WIOA, VR, TANF), maintain eligibility documentation, and prepare audit-ready files for monitoring and site reviews.
Develop and submit programmatic reports and grant deliverables, including success stories and qualitative narratives, to support funding requests and demonstrate impact to stakeholders.
Provide job retention services and post-placement supports, conducting employer check-ins and participant follow-up to address workplace issues, upskilling needs or retention barriers.
Facilitate and coordinate onsite employer training, work trials, internships, and apprenticeship routes to expand experiential learning opportunities and employer trust.
Conduct outreach and recruitment to priority populations (youth, veterans, justice-involved, individuals with disabilities, English language learners) using targeted outreach campaigns and community partnerships.
Use labor market information and demand-occupation analysis to recommend occupational training pathways and prioritize in-demand sectors when creating individualized plans.
Provide cultural competency-informed, trauma-aware case management and coaching—adapting engagement techniques and supports to meet the needs of diverse populations.
Develop and maintain partnerships with social service agencies, vocational rehabilitation, education providers, community-based organizations and local government to coordinate wraparound supports and referral networks.
Facilitate employer accommodation planning and job modifications in partnership with vocational rehabilitation specialists and employers to support inclusive hiring practices.
Manage multiple priorities and caseloads, triaging urgent needs (e.g., housing instability, legal barriers) while maintaining progress toward employment metrics and program goals.
Train, mentor and provide technical support to staff, interns and volunteers on best practices in vocational assessment, job development and documentation standards.
Lead or participate in continuous quality improvement initiatives, including program evaluation, stakeholder feedback, process mapping and pilot projects to increase placement rates and program efficiency.
Represent the program at community events, coalition meetings and workforce boards; present outcomes, advocate for resources and influence local workforce planning.
Prepare budgets or contribute to budget monitoring by tracking program-related expenditures (training funds, supportive services) and ensuring compliance with fiscal policies.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist with development and refinement of program intake forms, workflows and data collection tools to improve operational efficiency.
Support marketing and outreach content creation (job posting templates, success stories, social media highlights) to promote participant successes and employer partnerships.
Participate in cross-team meetings to align client services with housing, mental health and education partners for holistic participant support.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Vocational assessment and individualized employment plan development
Job development and employer engagement strategies, including OJT and apprenticeship facilitation
Case management and participant documentation in workforce databases (e.g., CalJOBS, TWIST, Salesforce)
Labor market information (LMI) analysis and demand-occupation research
Program performance tracking and outcomes reporting (placement, retention, wage metrics)
Knowledge of workforce funding regulations and compliance (WIOA, VR, TANF)
Workshop and curriculum design for job readiness and soft skills training
Grant reporting, funder deliverable preparation and data-driven storytelling
Familiarity with applicant tracking systems (ATS), CRM platforms and MS Office (Excel pivot tables, reporting)
Basic budget tracking and supportive services administration

Soft Skills

Coaching and motivational interviewing to build participant readiness and resilience
Strong verbal and written communication for employer outreach and participant instruction
Relationship-building and negotiation skills with employers and community partners
Cultural competency, trauma-informed practice and equity-focused service delivery
Problem-solving and adaptability to meet shifting participant and labor market needs
Time management and the ability to prioritize competing caseload demands
Attention to detail for accurate data entry, documentation and compliance
Team collaboration and the ability to mentor junior staff
Customer-service orientation and confidentiality in handling sensitive client information
Outcome-driven mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and measurable impact

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Counseling, Rehabilitation, Education, Public Administration or related field; OR equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Counseling, Social Work, Rehabilitation Counseling, Public Administration or a related field; certifications in workforce development, career coaching or vocational rehabilitation (e.g., CRC, NCRC, or equivalent).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Rehabilitation Counseling
Social Work / Human Services
Career Development / Vocational Rehabilitation
Education / Adult Learning
Public Administration / Workforce Policy

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of direct experience in workforce development, vocational rehabilitation, job placement, or related employment services.

Preferred: 3–5+ years working in WIOA-funded programs, vocational rehabilitation, community-based employment programs or as an employer-facing job developer with demonstrated success in placement outcomes and employer partnerships.