Employment Counselor (IRAP)

Catholic Charities of Buffalo • Buffalo, NY

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Catholic Charities of Buffalo is seeking a full-time Employment Counselor to join our International Refugee Assistance Program (IRAP) at our 20 Herkimer Street location in Buffalo, NY. In this role, you will assess participants' employability by evaluating their strengths, skills, and potential barriers as part of the Erie County Work Experience Program. The Employment Counselor provides comprehensive job development services, including resume creation, job application support, community linkage, and advocacy to empower participants on their path toward meaningful employment. Catholic Charities is a non-profit organization offering a wide array of programs to empower individuals, children, and families. As the most comprehensive human service provider in Western New York, we serve the eight counties with dozens of programs at over 40 professionally staffed locations. Our services include comprehensive counseling for all ages, basic emergency assistance (including operating eight food pantries), mental health services, chemical dependency treatment, educational and job readiness services, services for older adults, marriage counseling, immigration and refugee assistance , and various programs addressing family issues. We strive to provide HOPE for all seasons. This position operates on a 35‑hour workweek, Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in social work, school or career counseling, guidance, education, or related human services field.
• Must have reliable transportation for job requirements.
• Knowledge and experience with Vocational and Employment assessment.
• Experience working with at- risk youth .
• Experience working with older youth and adult population s .
• Strong personal and interpersonal communication skills .
• Excellent organizational skills.
• The ability to keep concise records.
• A sensitivity to the development stages and well-being of participants.
• The ability to work with diverse individuals and groups .
• Able to accept supervision and work well both independently and in teams.
• Excellent problem-solving skills to analyze issues and create action plans.
• The ability to adapt to changing work priorities and maintain flexible working hours .
• The ability to establish and maintain constructive relationships is important.
• Applicants must reside in New York State to be considered.

Responsibilities

• Ability to engage with diverse clientele experiencing the impact of poverty, short- and long-term multi-problem situations and urgent needs
• Comfortable providing case management services and making appropriate referrals to both internal and external referral sources
• Expand and maintain a job bank for direct hire and / or Work E xperience job sites
• Assess and evaluate participants job performance and provid e constructive feedback
• Work closely with local employers to match students with available employment opportunities
• Learn and utilize program specific data tracking system (OSOS) as well as internal database
• Collaborate with Educators and Case Managers and provide employment related support to students/participants.
• Utilize various methods, including standardized tests and websites such as CAREER ZONE to assess a student's employability, strengths, and barriers to employment
• Present to schools, career programs, education departments and community organizations on program incentives and eligibility
• Formulate a work plan for participant s to develop short- and long-term career goals
• Facilitate ongoing job readiness classes to program participants with a focus on employability skills which include areas such as communication on the job, interviewing skills, local and national employability outlook, dress for employment, how to determine what job is best for you, conflict resolution, and other areas
• Assists clients with job placement, including job-search , resume/cover letter development, labor market analysis and employment contacts
• Maintains case files as directed to meet customer follow-up and program evaluation needs
• Meet quantitative expectations established by the funding sources and agency
• Engage in professional development and in-service trainings
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Comply with the Agency's Compliance Program, Code of Ethics, laws, regulations, and ethical standards applicable to your job duties

Benefits

• 35 hours per week, hybrid/flexible schedule
• 25 PTO days per year ( PTO is prorated based on start date)
• 13 paid holidays per year ( Part‑time holiday pay depends on the employee's regular schedule)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution after six months
• Employer‑paid life insurance and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Training & development opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees