Employment Specialist II - WAC
About The Position
About Young Community Developers Established in 1973, YCD is a nonprofit organization who serves residents of all ages living in the most historically underserved communities of San Francisco. YCD takes a holistic approach via a delivery eco-system of services designed to empower residents in achieving economic mobility, in turn building and sustaining a positive community by providing them with education opportunities, workforce development training, and social services. YCD’s philosophy is that every individual should have the right to sustainable and generational economic mobility, aiming to break the cycle of poverty. Each year YCD provides around 1,200 community members with employment and training services through their programs and partnerships. YCD is also proud to share that they have been voted by Non-Profit Times as one of the top 50 best nonprofits of its size to work for in the United States! POSITION SUMMARY The Employment Specialist II is a mid-level member of the Workforce Access Center (WAC) team with demonstrated experience in workforce development, employment services, and case management. This position manages a diverse caseload of approximately 60 to 100 participants annually across Rapid Response and Layoff, Restorative, and Intensive service tiers. The Employment Specialist II conducts participant assessments, develops individualized employment plans, provides career coaching, delivers job-readiness workshops, coordinates supportive services, and assists participants with securing and retaining employment or enrolling in sector-based training. The Employment Specialist II works with moderate independence, collaborates with employers and community partners, and contributes to service delivery across YCD career pathways. This position reports directly to the WAC Director.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in workforce development, social services, or a related field preferred; 2-4 years of relevant experience in workforce development, case management, recruiting, social services, or a related field may be considered in place of a degree
- Demonstrated experience managing a caseload, conducting assessments, developing individualized plans, and maintaining accurate case documentation.
- Demonstrated ability to facilitate employment-readiness workshops with moderate supervision
- Experience helping individuals overcome employment barriers and access supportive services
- Strong interpersonal, written, organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, educational, socioeconomic, and employment backgrounds
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace
- Strong commitment to YCD mission and the communities it serves
Nice To Haves
- Knowledge of San Francisco workforce-development, education, training, and supportive-service systems
- Familiarity with OEWD-funded programs and workforce performance requirements
- Experience serving people affected by unemployment, layoffs, homelessness, justice-system involvement, economic instability, or other barriers
- Familiarity with construction, healthcare, security, technology, transportation, hospitality, or other high-demand sectors
- Working knowledge of Salesforce, Workforce Central, or comparable systems preferred
- Bilingual or bicultural capacity in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or another San Francisco threshold language
Responsibilities
- Conduct participant intake, eligibility screening, orientation, and comprehensive employment-readiness assessments
- Develop individualized employment plans with clear goals, activities, while maintaining consistent communication with participants documenting progress toward employment & training goals and provide retention follow-up at 30-, 90-, and 180-day
- Assist participants with job searches, online applications, resumes, cover letters, interviewing, and employment-related communication along with preparation for job fairs and hiring events
- Collaborate with YCD departments, administrative staff, program leadership, Job Developers, employers, training providers, and partners to support referrals, interviews, placements, and retention and refer qualified and job-ready participants for employment opportunities
- Coordinate referrals for transportation, housing, childcare, legal services, mental health services, identification documents, work attire, technology access, and other assistance to manage possible barriers
- Apply trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and participant-centered practices
- Facilitate individual & group job-readiness workshops/other topics independently
- Adapt content for different educational levels, employment backgrounds, learning styles, and technology skills
- Incorporate responsible use of AI tools into job-readiness instruction while emphasizing accuracy, privacy, and professional judgment
- Develop and maintain relationships with employers, training providers, educational institutions, community organizations, and public agencies to remain informed about current job openings, occupational requirements, and emerging career opportunities
- Represent YCD and WAC professionally in meetings, events, and community settings and promote WAC services to prospective participants, employers, and partners
- Accurately enter and maintain participant information in Workforce Central, Salesforce, and all required systems using confidential record keeping practices
- Complete timely case notes documenting services, progress, referrals, barriers, and follow-up while maintaining complete and organized electronic and physical case files
- Ensure compliance with OEWD, YCD, grant, contractual, and program requirements while participating in monitoring, quality-assurance, audit, and corrective-action processes
- Track progress toward enrollment, service, training, referral, placement, supportive-service, and retention goals along with contributing to monthly, quarterly, and grant-related reporting
- Participate in professional development, program planning, and continuous-improvement activities, local travel and occasional evening or weekend work may be required for employer visits, outreach and local events, program activities, etc
- Valid California driver’s license and reliable transportation required
- Perform other related duties as assigned
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
