Career Employment Specialist

County of Santa Barbara•Santa Barbara, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is for the CalWORKs Program and focuses on helping families achieve self-sufficiency and supporting individuals in their career journeys through comprehensive employment services. The role involves direct or indirect client services in employment counseling, needs assessment, vocational evaluation, employment preparation, training, program development, and referral to community resources. Candidates will determine eligibility, conduct assessments, provide employment and training services, manage a caseload, and help participants overcome barriers to employment. The role requires cultural competency and the ability to build rapport with diverse populations. It also involves developing partnerships with the business community and community agencies, conducting orientations, administering assessments, facilitating workshops, and identifying job placement sites. Maintaining accurate client records and ensuring compliance with program requirements are essential. The Career Employment Specialist series is flexibly staffed, with an entry-level Career Employment Specialist working under supervision and potentially advancing to Career Employment Specialist, Senior, with 18 months of qualifying experience. The Senior level involves independent work, complex cases, and potentially training other staff. Some positions require fluency in both English and Spanish.

Requirements

Completion of 12 semester units, 18 quarter units, or 12 continuing education credits in business administration, economics, behavioral sciences, or related field (such as sociology, counseling, social work, psychology, or vocational guidance), or other field related to the provision of employment services.
Two years of experience conducting interviews, handling a caseload, providing counseling, or direct public contact experience dealing with employment-related issues.
OR Completion of the education described above AND two years of experience equivalent to an Eligibility Worker with Santa Barbara County.
OR A combination of training, education (as described above), and experience that is equivalent to the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License may be required.
Incumbents may be required to perform civil defense duties and work outside normal business hours.
Working conditions may involve exposure to communicable diseases such as tuberculosis.
As a condition of employment, selectees must sign statements agreeing to comply with Section 1166 of the California Penal Code relating to child abuse reporting and Section 15630 of the California Penal Code relating to elder abuse reporting.
Knowledge of general goals and purposes of public social services programs.
Knowledge of techniques for interviewing and gathering information from varied populations.
Arithmetic skills sufficient to interpret client income and expense information to identify general eligibility for services and benefits within program requirements.
Knowledge of general office practices and procedures and record-keeping methods.
Knowledge of techniques for communicating with individuals from various socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.
Knowledge of employment interviewing and assessment methods.
Knowledge of standard English usage and grammar.
Knowledge of basic computer applications related to an office work environment.
Ability to learn laws and regulations pertaining to assigned employment services programs.
Ability to read, apply, interpret, and explain State and Federal regulations, policies, and procedures governing assigned program areas.
Ability to learn community educational, vocational, and social services resources.
Ability to understand and apply vocational guidance, work-readiness appraisal, employment plan, assessment theory and concepts.
Ability to learn to identify socioeconomic, physical, mental, behavioral, cultural, language, and other barriers to employment and develop approaches to mitigate them.
Ability to gather, record, and evaluate information.
Ability to draw logical conclusions and make appropriate recommendations, judgments, and decisions.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Ability to organize and prioritize work assignments.
Ability to maintain accurate and systematic records.
Ability to prepare statistical and narrative reports.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual – Speaking Required for Some Positions: The ability to converse fluently in English and Spanish is required for some positions.
Candidates may be appointed at the Senior level if they meet the CES employment standards and have eighteen (18) months of experience equivalent to a Career Employment Specialist with Santa Barbara County, and the department's needs.

Responsibilities

Determining eligibility, appraisal, and assessment for employment and training services.
Providing employment and training services to eligible participants.
Maintaining a caseload to help participants achieve self-sufficiency through employment and/or training.
Working with participants on barrier removal, crisis intervention, and stabilization services.
Delivering a range of employment and training services, including job search assistance, skills training, and career counseling.
Helping participants overcome barriers to employment by connecting them with supportive services.
Developing professional partnerships with the business community, community partner agencies, schools, colleges, and universities.
Conducting individual or group program orientations.
Administering vocational assessment testing.
Facilitating job club workshops.
Providing computer assistance to program participants.
Identifying new and potential job placement sites in public and for-profit agencies and businesses.
Educating and training participating employers and site supervisors.
Representing the program at job fairs and employer events.
Maintaining accurate and up-to-date client records and program documentation.
Ensuring participant eligibility, service delivery, case documentation, and follow-up activities comply with applicable federal, State, County, and program requirements.
Interviews, advises, and guides a diverse population of clients to ascertain employability.
Interprets and explains regulations, rules, policies, and procedures to clients.
Determines client eligibility for services.
Apprises clients of their rights, benefits, responsibilities, and obligations under program participation.
Ensures that applications and other forms are completed accurately and thoroughly.
Works in a team environment developing workforce projects implemented by contractors or partners.
Assists in the preparation of grant applications for funding of new workforce projects.
Performs program monitoring of sub-contractors.
Collects data and reports to the State or Federal government on program or project accomplishments.
Participates in the development of funding solicitations.
Performs business outreach and services on behalf of the countywide workforce development system.
Assesses client's education, work experience, skills, abilities, qualifications, and job interest.
Assesses client readiness for job referral, classroom training, on-the-job training, and/or support services.
Attempts to match clients with available employment, training, or other opportunities/services.
Identifies problems/barriers that hinder employability.
Assists clients in resolving and mitigating barriers to employment by identifying the need for other services and benefits.
Counsels clients regarding recommended solutions and suggested supportive services.
Makes appropriate referrals to department, County, and other community resources.
Analyzes information obtained from interviews, tests, and other sources to develop short- and long-term client goals.
Develops and implements individual employment plans.
Ensures client conformance with program rules and regulations, department policies, and employment plans.
Contacts public and private employers to develop on-the-job training and/or direct job placement sites for clients.
Maintains cooperative relationships with employers, academic and vocational training institutions, and support service and community resource agencies.
Identifies appropriate job placement/training opportunities.
Arranges for employment interviews.
Attends job fairs, and conducts workshops, presentations, group orientations, or other training and outreach activities.
Monitors and evaluates client's progress through program components.
Monitors service providers through reports and site visits.
Resolves problems or provides guidance and counseling.
Makes phone calls or conducts field visits to investigate clients' progress in various programs.
Inputs necessary information into automated system(s).
Organizes cases.
Maintains and updates records on client employment, training, and follow-up activities.
Takes required action(s) established by regulations and/or department policy.
Prepares reports on client and program activities.
Participates in training, pilot, and other special projects, committees, and studies.