Job Summary:

The Military Career Navigator serves as a dedicated workforce professional within the Military Career Connections (MCC) Program, supporting the shared workforce development mission of Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC), the Howard County Office of Workforce Development (HCOWD), and U.S. Army Garrison Fort Geroge G. Meade. 

The Military Career Navigator provides career coaching, case management, career readiness, and employment services to transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses. This position guides participants from intake through employment and retention by assessing needs, developing individual career plans, coordinating workforce and supportive services, and connecting participants to training and career opportunities. The Military Career Navigator also cultivates partnerships with employers, training providers, military organizations, and community resources to expand career pathways and support successful workforce outcomes. This role requires strong relationship-building skills, knowledge of military culture, and a commitment to helping military-connected individuals achieve their employment and career goals.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

To perform in this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned to meet business needs.

Client Assessment, Career Coaching & Employment Planning

• Conduct intake and comprehensive assessments to identify participant strengths, skills, interests, barriers, employment goals, and service needs.

• Translate military experience, MOS/AFSC/Rating-related skills, and military family experience into transferable civilian workforce skills and career pathways.

• Develop Individual Employment Plans (IEPs) that establish measurable employment, training, and career goals and identify appropriate services and resources.

• Provide individualized career coaching, job-search guidance, resume development, interview preparation, and employment-readiness services, including federal resume and clearance-sensitive job-search strategies when appropriate.

• Assist participants in identifying career pathways, training, credentials, apprenticeships, fellowships, and other work-based learning opportunities aligned with their goals and regional labor-market demand.

Case Management & Participant Support

• Maintain an assigned caseload and provide active case management from intake through successful completion, employment, and post-placement follow-up, as appropriate.

• Maintain regular, purposeful contact with assigned participants; monitor participation, progress, barriers, and employment goals; and take timely action when participants are not progressing toward established milestones.

• Coordinate and track referrals to MCC, training providers, employers, military and veteran resources, and community partners to ensure participants receive appropriate services without unnecessary duplication.

• Monitor participant progress against the IEP and update goals, services, referrals, and action steps as participant circumstances or career objectives change.

• Provide supportive and wraparound resource navigation, including connections to benefits, transportation, childcare/dependent-care resources, stabilization services, and other appropriate community supports.

• Provide post-placement follow-up and retention support, helping participants address employment challenges and maintain career stability, including challenges related to relocation or deployment.

• Maintain timely and accurate documentation of all participant contacts, services, referrals, outcomes, and progress in required case management and workforce tracking systems.

• Maintain participant confidentiality and comply with AAWDC, funding-source, and applicable program documentation requirements.

Military & Military Family Career Navigation

• Develop portable career strategies that account for PCS moves, deployment cycles, career interruptions, and the need for continuity across duty stations.

• Assist military spouses with professional licensing and certification transfers across state lines and connect them with appropriate licensing and credentialing resources.

• Connect military spouses to remote and hybrid employment opportunities, entrepreneurship resources, and Military Spouse Preference programs and hiring initiatives.

• Stay current on military and veteran employment resources, benefits, GI Bill resources, employment rights, and supportive services to provide accurate navigation and referrals.

• Provide career coaching that addresses deployment-related employment gaps and other barriers unique to military-connected job seekers.

Outreach, Employer Engagement & Partnerships

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employers, training providers, military installation partners, government agencies, veteran-serving organizations, and community organizations.

• Develop and implement grassroots outreach efforts to increase awareness and participation in the Military Career Connections Program by meeting transitioning service members, military spouses, veterans, and other eligible military-connected individuals where they are, including through targeted engagement at Fort Meade, installation activities, community events, and other appropriate on-base and off-base touchpoints.

• Partner with employers to identify employment opportunities, apprenticeships, fellowships, OJT placements, and other career pathways aligned with military skill sets and regional workforce needs.

• Host and participate in job fairs, hiring events, career workshops, TAP briefings, employer events, and other outreach activities tailored to military-connected job seekers.

• Collaborate with Veterans Affairs (VA), Transition Assistance Program (TAP), Military OneSource, Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), Military Family Readiness Groups, Base Family Support Centers, spouse organizations, and other military transition and family-support programs.

• Coordinate with Maryland American Job Centers, DVOP/LVER partners, county veteran and community agencies, and other workforce partners to support priority of service, co-enrollment, training, and wraparound needs.

• Maintain a visible and consistent workforce-development presence at Fort Meade and other assigned partner locations based on program needs.

Data Management, Reporting & Compliance

• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete participant and service records in required workforce and case-management systems.

• Track enrollment, services, training, employment, credentials, retention, referrals, and other required outcomes for assigned participants.

• Ensure case notes and supporting documentation clearly reflect participant engagement, services provided, progress toward goals, barriers, referrals, and outcomes.

• Use participant and program data to identify service gaps, follow-up needs, and opportunities to improve participant outcomes.

• Support required reports, dashboards, audits, monitoring activities, and performance reviews by maintaining accurate documentation and data.

Administrative & Additional Duties

• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, professional development, training, and other AAWDC and HCOWD activities as required.

• Maintain working knowledge of AAWDC and HCOWD programs, departments, referral processes, and community resources to ensure participants are connected to the appropriate services.

• Work collaboratively with AAWDC and HCOWD staff and partners to provide coordinated services and advance the organization’s mission.

• Perform other duties as assigned based on departmental and organizational needs.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

· None

Qualifications:

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, Social Work, Workforce Development, Business, Education, or a related field OR equivalent experience in workforce development, veteran services, military family support, or a related field.

• Experience working with military spouses, transitioning service members, veterans, military families, or other military-connected populations, with preference given to candidates with military spouse employment or family-support experience.

• Experience providing case management, workforce development, career coaching, employment services, or job placement.

• Experience managing an assigned caseload and maintaining accurate and timely participant documentation preferred.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment, including the ability to build and maintain effective partner relationships.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Familiarity with military culture, ranks, MOS/AFSC/Rating terminology, and the transition from military to civilian employment.

• Strong case-management, organization, time-management, and follow-up skills, with the ability to manage multiple participants, priorities, and deadlines.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, coaching, motivational, and relationship-building skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience using case-management, CRM, workforce, or other participant-tracking systems.

• Knowledge of workforce development practices, employment resources, training opportunities, veteran benefits, and wraparound services.

• Understanding of PCS cycles, deployment impacts, military spouse employment barriers, and career continuity challenges.

• Knowledge of licensing reciprocity, professional certification transfers, Military Spouse Preference Hiring Authorities, and spouse employment resources.

• Ability to work effectively in an office, community, military installation, and virtual environment.

• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify barriers, coordinate resources, and determine appropriate referrals.

• Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply.

Licensure and Certifications 

· Required Certifications: Must obtain and maintain the following certifications within the timeframe established by AAWDC: CWDP, GCDF, and Veterans at Work Certificate (SHRM Foundation)

  Competencies and Attributes:

• Workforce Development & Military Employment Knowledge: Demonstrates knowledge of workforce development programs, employment services, career pathways, training resources, and workforce system partners. Understands workforce legislation, funding requirements, and service-delivery models, including WIOA and related workforce programs. Maintains knowledge of military culture, military-to-civilian transition challenges, military spouse employment issues, veteran resources, and workforce opportunities that support military-connected job seekers.

• Customer Service, Career Coaching & Case Management: Provides participant-centered career coaching, case management, and employment services to transition service members, veterans, military spouses, and other job seekers. Conducts assessments, develops employment plans, monitors participant progress, maintains accurate documentation, and coordinates services and referrals to support successful employment and retention outcomes. Demonstrates empathy, professionalism, accountability, and strong follow-through.

• Communication, Collaboration & Partnership Development: Communicates effectively with participants, employers, military installation personnel, workforce partners, training providers, community organizations, and government agencies. Build and maintain productive relationships that support participant success and workforce-development goals. Represents the MCC Program professionally at meetings, workshops, career fairs, hiring events, and military-community engagements.

• Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Competence: Demonstrates respect for diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Understands the unique needs of veterans, military spouses, transitioning service members, individuals with disabilities, and other priority populations. Promotes equitable access to workforce services and creates a welcoming and inclusive environment for all participants.

• Labor Market Knowledge & Career Development: Applies labor market information, career-development principles, and workforce trends to help participants make informed employment and training decisions. Understands regional industry demand, credentialing pathways, apprenticeships, work-based learning opportunities, military skill translation, and career mobility strategies. Supports participants in identifying realistic career pathways that align with their goals, skills, and labor market opportunities.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

· Primarily office-based, with regular responsibilities at AAWDC, HCOWD, and Fort Meade, and occasional travel to partner organizations, employer locations, military installations, and community sites.

· Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for outreach, workshops, job fairs, or hiring events.

· Hybrid or remote work arrangements may be available depending on program needs.

· General office environment.

· Standard office hours for this position are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

· Position may require local travel within Anne Arundel County and surrounding areas.

This position description does not imply that the stated requirements are the only expectations for the position. Other duties may be assigned depending on departmental and organizational needs. AAWDC has the right to revise this position description at any time. AAWDC is an “at will” employer, and as such, neither this position description nor your signature constitutes any form of a contractual agreement between you and AAWDC.

Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, gender identity genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.