Employment Specialist

Employment Specialist

At Episcopal Community Services (ECS), employees work with participants who may be experiencing homelessness, behavioral health conditions, substance use challenges, and other difficult life circumstances. While this work is meaningful and mission-driven, it can at times be stressful, demanding, or unpredictable. Employees are expected to exercise sound judgment, remain aware of their surroundings, follow established safety, communication, and de-escalation procedures, participate in all required trainings, and promptly report incidents, threats, injuries, or unsafe conditions, in accordance with ECS policies and procedures.

This position is a fully onsite, client-facing role that requires in-person interaction and direct service delivery to participants at ECS program locations. Due to the essential nature of the duties and the need for consistent in-person engagement with clients, remote work or work-from-home arrangements are not available for this position.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Employment Specialists are responsible for a caseload of ECS participants coming from multiple programs across the organization who are seeking employment services. Employment Specialists meet with participants, assess employment barriers, and manage participant job kit and files.

Employment Specialists are expected to assist job seekers with re-entering the job market (most of whom are unhoused) and in making permanent connections to living wage work including: assessing job seeker needs; assisting in development of job search tools and skills; providing job readiness training to Occupational Skills Trainees; helping them access employment opportunities; identification of living wage career pathways; and job placement. The Employment Specialist supports the job seeker in identifying and directing their own employment goals.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides employment services in efforts to achieve competitive employment.
• Assesses participants to develop short- and long-term participant goals.
• Develops and implements individual employment plans.
• Monitors participant conformance with program rules and regulations and department policies.

• Monitors and evaluates participant progress towards employment.
• Provides direct support to participants through job placement.
• Arranges employment interviews, attends job fairs; assists Senior Employment Specialist with conduct workshops, presentations, group orientations; or performs other training and outreach activities.

• Identifies problems/barriers that hinder employability.
• Coaches and assists participants in resolving and mitigating problems or barriers that might hinder employability.
• Identifies the need for other services (including literacy, computer competencies, ESL courses, high school diploma or equivalency education, or postsecondary education opportunities).
• Makes referrals for other support services (including housing, legal, transportation, benefits counseling, childcare, substance abuse counseling).
• Provides light-touch financial coaching and referrals for more intensive financial assistance as available, to mitigate barriers to employment and financial security.

• Maintains participant data and case notes in all relevant systems and supports reporting of all relevant data to funders as needed.
• Communicates with Senior Employment Specialists, Instructors, Assistant Program Managers, Workforce Development Manager, Employment Manager, and Director about participant barriers, goals and progress towards employment in regular meetings, and as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Lived or professional experience in workforce development/case management.
• Understanding and empathy of issues facing unhoused people.
• Demonstrable knowledge of computer skills and proficient in Microsoft applications or Google Office Suite.
• Culturally competent and excited to work with a diverse mix of talented participants and staff.
• Experience working with multi-cultural and underserved populations.
• Familiar with and comfortable with harm reduction model.
• Ability to maintain healthy boundaries.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Must secure finger image screening and annual TB screening. Must be able to pass CDCR background check. Must be able to meet physical requirements of the position which may include long periods at a desk and/or computer workstation as well as the ability to stand, sit, kneel, reach, bend and lift up to 50 pounds.

Mission Essential

• Demonstrate behavior that supports the organization's mission, vision, and values.
• Adhere to all program, funder, and organizational policies, and procedures.
• Communicate effectively and model integrity, fairness, and ethical business practices.