Employment Specialist - Case Manager

Larimer County•Fort Collins, CO

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Career Transition and Training team at Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development (LCEWD) is hiring a Career Transition Counselor/Case Manager to join their skilled, collaborative, and service-oriented team! The Career Transition Counselor/Case Manager works with eligible adults (ages 18+) who are seeking assistance with career assessment, exploration, training, and skill development. The Career Transition and Training Team serves a broad cross-section of local residents from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, including highly skilled laid-off workers, veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, displaced homemakers, older workers, and many other populations identified under the federally funded Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). In addition to providing career services through WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker programs, this position also supports the Skills Training Employment Program (STEP). STEP helps eligible individuals overcome barriers to employment by providing access to occupational skills training, career coaching, supportive services, and connections to in-demand career pathways. Through these programs, the Career Transition Counselor/Case Manager empowers participants to build the skills, confidence, and resources needed to secure sustainable employment and advance their careers. LCEWD carefully recruits staff to build on our existing culture of collaboration, respect, inclusiveness, and innovation. We value all types of diversity and are passionate about serving people, businesses, and our community. We also value the journey and recognize skills can be demonstrated through a variety of professional and personal experiences. LCEWD believes in having purpose and balance in life and we support employee flexibility!

Requirements

Apply skills in coaching, teaching, and/or facilitation to build a strong working rapport with customers.
Effectively connect and counsel customers using a hybrid environment of in-person meetings and virtual platforms.
Operate a "fast track" service model to efficiently move ready-to-work individuals into short-term work-based learning opportunities, accelerated training pathways and apprenticeships.
Adapt and respond quickly to the varying levels of resources, access, and/or digital literacy of their customers.
Work with a range of participants who represent broad and varying socio-economic backgrounds, skills, education, and interests.
Have knowledge of career exploration practices and tools, labor market information, and local area employment trends.
Demonstrate empathy, compassion, and effective conflict resolution skills with customers, co-workers, colleagues, and partners.
Understand and stay current on the fundamentals and trends of employment counseling i.e. resume, interviewing, and networking.
Two (2) years of experience in a related field or in the performance of similar duties and responsibilities is required.
High School Diploma or GED, required.

Responsibilities

Assists and guides customers with identifying their occupation of choice by using a variety of online career exploration tools and resources.
Works with a diverse customer base to identify any potential skill gaps that may be preventing them from entering or re-entering the workforce.
Develops a detailed plan in partnership with customers (including any skill upgrades or training needs) that will guide the customer to quality employment.
Assist customers with completing internal scholarship or internship applications in order to fund their re-skill, upskill, or other training plans; advocates for the approval of these scholarships from the Career Transition and Training team.
Provides active support and guidance on job search strategies and assistance with resume, cover letter, and interviewing.
Collaborates with community partner organizations to coordinate the specific supports that will enable customers to participate in program services, training, work-based learning, apprenticeship and job searching activities.
Maintains periodic follow-up contact with customers and provides further assistance when needed to ensure continued customer employment.
Applies standard operating procedures set by LCEWD and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) for the digital tracking, reporting, and maintenance of customer activities and outcomes.