Employment Specialist, Basic Food Employment and Training

YWCA Seattle King Snohomish • Seattle, WA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Employment Specialist supports eligible Basic Food recipients in King County as they build skills, explore career paths, and move toward employment. Based in Seattle, the role uses coaching, relationship-building, and organizational skills to help participants identify strengths, develop employment goals, navigate job searches, and access training and other resources. The specialist provides individual guidance and workshops, connects participants to education, occupational training, supportive services, and community referrals, and helps address barriers to employment.

The position also builds relationships with employers and community partners, coordinates referrals with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), and collaborates with YWCA staff, BFET partners, and the WorkSource system. It maintains accurate participant records and required program data and reports. The role is full-time at 40 hours per week, based onsite in Seattle, with services focused on King County and occasional local travel to community partner locations in King and Snohomish counties.

YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish is a women- and BIPOC-led, family-centered nonprofit organization focused on racial equity and social justice. Employees may encounter clients affected by trauma and are at risk of secondary trauma; the organization encourages support-seeking and self-care. Reasonable accommodations may be made for physical requirements.

Requirements

• One to two years of experience in employment services, case management, community services, or a related field; relevant education and transferable experience will be considered.
• Ability to provide supportive, participant-centered guidance to people facing employment barriers.
• Commitment to YWCA’s mission, racial equity, and respectful work with diverse communities.
• Strong communication, customer service, and organizational skills, with attention to accurate records and follow-through.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, and willingness to learn program databases.
• Ability to manage priorities within a 40-hour workweek and travel locally as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with King County resources, WorkSource, or BFET.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, interview, screen, enroll, and orient eligible Basic Food recipients to the BFET program.
• Receive DSHS referrals and determine participant eligibility for program services.
• Conduct outreach to DSHS, college partners, and community service providers to build referral relationships and connect eligible individuals with services.
• Assess participants’ job readiness, career interests, occupational training needs, and employment barriers.
• Develop individualized employment and education goals with participants and monitor progress.
• Provide job-search assistance, including resume and cover letter development, interview preparation, and guidance on workplace expectations and communication.
• Facilitate program orientations and job-readiness workshops.
• Connect participants with education and occupational training programs and coordinate training arrangements as applicable.
• Coordinate supportive services and community referrals to address barriers to training, job searches, and employment.
• Build employer relationships to identify job opportunities and support participant placement.
• Provide post-placement follow-up to support job retention, wage progression, financial literacy, and time management.
• Collaborate with the Work$ Team, YWCA Economic Advancement staff, BFET partners, and the WorkSource system to coordinate services.
• Maintain accurate and timely participant files, document services and progress, and enter required information into e-JAS.
• Complete monthly and quarterly data and narrative reports on participant demographics, services, and program outcomes.
• Apply YWCA social justice and antiracism principles in daily work and recognize how intersecting forms of oppression relate to poverty and employment barriers.
• Treat participants, staff, volunteers, employers, and community partners with respect and dignity.
• Follow Volunteer Services protocols when volunteers support program activities.

Benefits

• Medical insurance.
• Retirement plan; employees may voluntarily enroll in the Fidelity 403b Plan at hire and are eligible for the YWCA Retirement Fund after two years of employment.
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed