Career Develpoment Specialist

ID:AIL-022Location:MilanProgram:ACE

Wage/Hr:$27.00Hours/Week:25Minimum Age:55

Being Age 55 or Older is Good for The Environment! The Agricultural Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program offers unique opportunities in Scientific, Technical, and Agricultural support for individuals aged 55 and over to support the Department of Agriculture?s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through a grant administered program awarded to National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions). This is a unique program where your talents, expertise, and experience will truly be valued. The ACES program provides an opportunity to work side-by-side with NRCS staff that are doing important work every day.Benefits: Paid Health Insurance Premium for positions budgeted at 60 hours per pay period, Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave, Paid Federal Holidays, and optional Vision and Dental Insurance available for positions budgeted at 35 hours per pay period.Positions listed here do not guarantee employment for any definite period. Enrollment in the Experienced Worker Programs administered by NEW Solutions is temporary. The enrollment relationship between NEW Solutions and the Enrollee is an "at-will" relationship. This means that an Enrollee is free to terminate enrollment at any time during the enrollment period, and NEW Solutions and the Agency have the right to terminate the relationship with the Enrollee.PLEASE NOTE: An ?ACES Enrollee? is not a federal employee, nor an employee of NEW Solutions. An ?ACES Enrollee? is a participant in a grant program established through a Cooperative Agreement funded by the USDA-NRCS and administered by NEW Solutions.This opportunity applies to applicants legally eligible to work in the United States.

Qualifications

Minimum of 15 year(s) of experience in Mentoring, Training, Supervising, and Career Development. OR MA/MS Degree in Agriculture, Communications, and/or Mentorship.

• Valid State Driver?s license.
• Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access
• PowerPoint.
  
  

Duties

Career Development Specialist ? Involvement includes helping staff to build role-specific skill sets that can include networking, seeking out a mentor and taking on new responsibilities in their current job. The role is to be helpful in developmental approach: help in deciding a career goal, then map out the experience, competencies, and connections staff will need to get there.

• Assist with completing on-boarding requirements and completing Employee Career Planner Tool. Help new employees develop a resume and a Knowledge, Skills and Abilities narrative/statement to prepare the employee for successful interviews and enhanced job applications. Develop a Short-Term (1-3 years) and a Mid/Long Term (3-10 years) Career Plan that helps achieve the employees? career goals. Develop and utilize Performance Documentation spreadsheets that will cover all program related experience and accomplishments. Discuss necessary requirements to achieve with-in grade and promotion potential Grade increases. Conduct one meeting during the year to cover new employee orientation components and discuss career paths and opportunities within NRCS. Help new employees increase career networks and receive greater exposure within the Agency and help them by discussing and sharing the agency?s unwritten behavioral norms and standards. 60%
• Conduct one time management & Goal Setting Training to improve office and team efficiencies. Conduct one or more communication training sessions to improve supervisor and staff interaction. Improve Critical Thinking Skills by having new employees learn and embrace new and changing technologies and learn to adopt challenging assumptions and norms. Have the new employee develop logic reasoning skills and seek diversity of thought and collaboration within and outside the agency. 20%
• Match mentors (experienced NRCS employees) and proteges based on developmental goals, areas of expertise, and objectives for the relationship. All Mentor and Prot?g? arrangements will be entered into the NRCS Mentor/Prot?g? Portal http://www.eservices.usda.gov/usdamentoring. Provide employees with opportunities to develop new knowledge, skills, and experiences. 10%
• Broaden employee experiences, assist in developing goals, and cultivate new opportunities within the first year after a mentor is selected. Conduct interviews every four months with both the Mentor and the Prot?g? to determine the success of the relationship and the need for any changes or reassignments. Work with Mentors to help them transfer an awareness and knowledge of NRCS Programs and Protocols to assist the new employee during their first year of employment. 10%
  
  

Other

• Annual information system security, anti-harassment, and civil rights training.
• Travel Requirements: Occasionally to satisfy the duties of the position. Day trips that could last up to 8 hrs. No overnight trips
• Rental cars: NRCS Agency vehicles will be available for travel.
• Remote work arrangements are available for this position.
  
  

NEW Solutions is committed to promoting equal opportunity and to an environment free from discrimination and harassment in any form administering Experienced Worker Programs under cooperative agreements with federal agencies. It is NEW Solutions' policy to comply with all applicable laws that provide equal opportunity and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in enrolling participants in the federal programs.