Employment Specialist, Case Manager

YWCA Seattle King Snohomish • Seattle, WA

42d • $27 - $27 • Onsite

About The Position

The YWCA Community Jobs program works in partnership with DSHS to provide paid work experience to help people on TANF transition from state assistance to full-time employment. The Employment Specialist works with parents on TANF referred by DSHS to acquire workplace readiness skills, remove barriers to employment, obtain needed training and support services, and find unsubsidized employment that will enable self-sufficiency within a 6-9 month timeframe. The Employment Specialist also works closely with non-profit, government and tribal worksites, and worksite supervisors to ensure a valuable subsidized work experience for each participant. In addition, the Employment Specialist maintains extensive records of clients’ progress and reports on achievement of program outcomes using the E-Jas operating system and must following strict timelines and meet report deadlines. Additional services provided by the Employment Specialist will include working with for-profit employers to develop jobs for participants. This position has a social justice component that will require critical thinking around how external systems impact the work that we are doing through the lens of racism and intersections with poverty. Knowing the core principals of antiracism and grounding those principles in everyday work, as well as working well in non-white environments and championing anti-racism policy, are required job skills and core values. As an equal opportunity employer, we highly encourage people of color to apply.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, social work, education, or related field desired. An equivalent combination of experience and education will be considered.
• One to two years of demonstrated experience required performing work related to client recruitment and enrollment, career assessment and planning, support services, occupational training, workplace readiness, job placement, records maintenance, and outcomes reporting
• Additional experience in job and work-site development, internship placement, and retention services may be required
• Knowledge of the local labor market and target client population(s)
• Knowledge of career assessment methods
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills of basic computer competencies such as email, calendaring, entry-level data entry and familiarity with Microsoft Office products
• Knowledge of local occupational training programs and resources
• Strong customer service orientation
• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racist principles
• Demonstrated understanding of the intersection of racism and poverty
• Experience working with communities of color and people from different cultures than your own
• Creativity in problem-solving, decision making and negotiating solutions
• Working independently and as a member of a team
• Prioritizing, and organizing workload and managing time to meet deadlines
• Candidate must be able to travel independently between multiple work sites within a day

Nice To Haves

• Bi-lingual language skills are highly desired

Responsibilities

• Recruit, interview, screen, determine eligibility, stabilize, enroll, and orient program participants
• Administer, score, and/or interpreting skills and interest assessments for clients
• Determine clients’ job readiness, training, placement, and support service needs
• Work with clients to develop career and employment objectives and individual development action plans
• Provide clients with support services and/or makes referrals to other community agencies to resolve barriers to employment
• Work as a member of a case management team or advocate with other community service providers to deliver support services and ensure follow-through
• Provide individual and group job search preparation and training to clarify and develop the habits and attitudes needed to be successful in the workplace
• Coach clients in developing resumes, cover letters, and other job search materials
• Provide clients with appropriate employer referrals and job search information
• Make job placements
• Maintain complete and accurate client files
• Collect and compile statistics
• Initiate and develop relationships with local employers for the purpose of developing job and internship opportunities and placing clients
• Identify employer needs for skills and training
• Make appropriate job and internship placements, matching participant and employer needs and program requirements
• Work directly with employers to find out what their hiring needs are, market qualified candidates to those positions, and follow up accordingly
• Develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships between the YWCA and employers
• Act as the bridge between job seekers and employers to ensure that each placement is appropriate, set up for success, and meets the specific needs of the employer as well as the career interests of the job seeker
• Monitor work site experiences and maintain ongoing communication with employers and supervisors to ensure the success of each customer placement, which may include conflict mediation if necessary
• Network with local Chambers of Commerce, industry associations, HR groups, diversity networks, and other collaborations to learn about business needs
• Maintain regular contact with Interns and Worksite supervisors to get feedback on Intern performance, resolve problems, and provide additional training as needed
• Plan and lead classes and support groups for clients during the internship
• Work with Program Director to provide Worksite coaching on diversity, accommodation, and training issues
• Work with Program Director to develop and use performance evaluations and feedback mechanisms to ensure Internship outcomes are met and Worksites are satisfied with services
• Actively engages in agency-wide Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI), and strives for racially equitable outcomes; takes responsibility for creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming community by making room for people of color, trans and gender-non-conforming folks, and other populations who routinely encounter systemic oppressions
• Adhere to all Volunteer Services protocols relative to volunteer usage, recognition, and monitoring
• Attend required safety training and meetings; follow all safety and health guidelines, standards, practices, policies, and procedures; and actively participate in the agency’s Emergency Preparedness program and activities
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Excellent benefits package including medical insurance, retirement plan, plus generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave plans
• At the time of hire, employees may enroll voluntarily in the Fidelity 403b Plan
• After two years of employment, employees are eligible to participate in the YWCA Retirement Fund

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees