Employment & Training Assistant

Otsego County•Cooperstown, NY

About The Position

The Employment & Training Assistant performs administrative support tasks for the Department of Social Services’ Employment and Training Program. The work includes gathering information, conducting initial participant interviews, verifying eligibility, and—under supervision—providing counseling, job development, and monitoring sub-grantees. Unlike clerical work, the role requires applying knowledge of Employment and Training regulations and principles to individual situations, using independent judgment. The position is under the direct supervision of a higher-level employment position. Supervision may be exercised over clerical personnel. Related work is performed as required. The role assists with developing job and training opportunities, reviewing applications and determining eligibility, matching job-ready participants with available positions, and monitoring sub-agents. It also involves interviewing clients, identifying skills and job-readiness issues, helping formulate employability plans, sharing information about jobs, training, and agency programs, attending training, and preparing records and reports. The minimum qualifications are a high school diploma or equivalency and either an associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited or New York State registered two-year college, two years of qualifying experience in job development, personnel counseling, or placement, or an equivalent combination of training and experience within the stated limits. Verifiable part-time and volunteer experience is prorated toward full-time experience requirements. Applicants may be required to undergo a criminal-history background investigation, including fingerprinting. The classification is Competitive. The last day for filing is October 30, 2026.

Requirements

High school graduation or a high school equivalency diploma.
Either graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered two-year college with an associate degree or higher; two years of experience in job development, personnel counseling, or placement in an Employment and Training, community action, or similar agency serving economically disadvantaged, minority, handicapped, or low-income persons; or an equivalent combination of training and experience within the stated limits.
Working knowledge of the operation of an Employment and Training Program.
Working knowledge of social science concepts related to poverty and unemployment.
Ability to collect, organize, and interpret data and information relating to Employment and Training programs and projects.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, private and governmental agencies, and labor groups.
Ability to develop jobs and provide services to clients.
Ability to express oneself orally and in writing.
Ability to understand oral and written directions.
If a degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, provide independent verification of equivalency; the applicant must pay the evaluation fee.
Applicants may be required to undergo a local, state, and/or national criminal-history background investigation, including a fingerprint check; failure to meet background-investigation standards may result in disqualification.

Responsibilities

Assist in developing realistic job and training opportunities for agency clients.
Review client applications and make eligibility determinations.
Help match job-ready participants with positions in the public or private sector.
Under supervision, assist with financial and non-financial monitoring of sub-agents.
May assist with implementing, operating, and maintaining an occupational assessment system.
Interview clients; identify skills or job-readiness problems; and help formulate participant employability plans.
Disseminate information to clients about job opportunities, training, and other agency programs.
Participate in formal training courses as needed and attend on-the-job and special training sessions.
Study appropriate materials related to local Employment and Training Programs.
Prepare records and reports.
May supervise clerical personnel.