Career Specialist

Goodwill Industries of New Mexico•Rio Rancho, NM

About The Position

The Career Specialist helps community members develop computer, soft, job-search, and interviewing skills and supports them in obtaining and retaining competitive community employment. The role includes assisting clients with resumes and applications, maintaining regular client contact, conducting post-placement follow-ups, documenting cases, entering client data, teaching classes, and providing job leads and job-search instruction. The position also conducts community outreach, develops new business partnerships, and maintains existing partnerships. The Career Specialist assesses participants’ strengths, abilities, and potential barriers; creates customized job-search plans; and connects participants with employers and community agencies. The role promotes the benefits of hiring Goodwill Industries of New Mexico participants, maintains employer contacts, analyzes potential job sites, and contributes to program placement and service goals. It also requires accurate client files, service billing, reports, satisfaction survey data, and compliance with HIPAA, CARF standards, agency policies, and professional ethics. The work setting varies according to where training takes place and may involve travel, outdoor weather, extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, odors, chemicals, or loud noise. The employee regularly uses hands and arms and communicates visually and verbally; frequently sits, walks, and stands; and occasionally stoops, kneels, crouches, crawls, and lifts or moves up to 25 pounds. Extended hours and varied work schedules may be required.

Requirements

Knowledge of organizational practices, policies, and procedures, and ability to comply with them.
Knowledge of and compliance with safety policies and procedures.
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, county, and local laws, regulations, and requirements.
Knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Knowledge of outreach services and activities, funding agencies, and community health care and vocational services.
Skill in working with persons with developmental disabilities.
Skill in operating word-processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
Ability to train varied skills in different environments and under different physical demands.
Ability to travel as required by caseload and scope of work.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as time studies, case notes, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to prepare accurate, complete, legible reports and create and deliver detailed, effective speeches and presentations.
Excellent customer service skills.
Ability to read, write, and understand English and follow verbal and written instructions.
Ability to interact and maintain good working relationships with people of varied social and cultural backgrounds and with people with disabilities.
Ability to work extended hours and varied work schedules.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, work independently, manage time, handle multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
Pass a criminal background check and drug test.
Valid New Mexico driver’s license, liability insurance, insurability under the agency insurance carrier, dependable vehicle, and clean driving record.
Two years of work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to acquire CPR and First Aid certification.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in social services or a related field preferred; other educational requirements may apply depending on the funding source.
Bilingual ability preferred.

Responsibilities

Adhere to Goodwill attendance and punctuality policies and provide excellent customer service.
Develop and maintain contacts with new and existing businesses and community partners.
Educate employers about the benefits of hiring participants, including tax considerations, job coaching, follow-up services, on-the-job training, and ADA-related information.
Assess participants’ job strengths, abilities, and barriers and develop customized job-search plans to support competitive community employment.
Maintain knowledge of local labor-market trends, income levels, businesses, and community agencies.
Communicate with other agencies and organizations, including DVR, APS, Adelante, DOL, the Chamber of Commerce, and UNM.
Analyze potential work sites and ensure employer questionnaires are accurate and complete.
Make at least twenty employer contacts per week and maintain a current file of employers contacted.
Help meet program goals and objectives for participants served and placed, including individual placement and participant-service goals.
Manage participant files and accurately document services, including case and contact notes.
Complete accurate and timely billing of services.
Develop local business partnerships that promote preferred hiring of GINM participants.
Maintain narrative, statistical, and financial records and prepare monthly department reports in accordance with GINM, state, and CARF standards.
Gather satisfaction survey data from participants, funders, employers, and other stakeholders.
Ensure HIPAA compliance, maintain confidentiality, and uphold safety responsibilities for persons served and staff under the employee’s supervision.
Maintain CARF compliance, implement applicable standards, and follow professional ethics and the Code of Conduct/Business Ethics policy.
Perform other incidental and related duties as assigned.