PROMISE JOBS Advisor

State of Iowa • Sioux City - 51101 - Woodbury County, IA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

PROMISE JOBS is Iowa’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Employment & Training program designed to assist cash assistance recipients with becoming self-sufficient through participation in work ready activities. Iowa Workforce Development is seeking applicants for a PROMISE JOBS Workforce Advisor. As a valued member of our Iowa WORKS team, you will help customers develop an individualized plan outlining activities to reach their goals and reduce their dependence on welfare support systems. You will provide directed, supported pre-employment, and employment activities, including: Building supportive and trusting and supportive relationships with customers. Coaching and modeling with customers. Motivational interviewing. Connections to Iowa WORKS partners and community resources. Accountability towards goal attainment. The successful candidate in this role will collaborate with PROMISE JOBS customers to develop Family Investment Agreements (FIA) highlighting strengths and addressing challenges. You will use assessment tools to help determine suitable educational, training, and employment plans. FIA activities may include: Job readiness workshops. Group and individual job search. Work experience. Unpaid Community Services. HiSet study or high school completion. Education assessment/post-secondary education. Family Development and Self-Sufficiency programs. Monitored employment. PROMISE JOBS Advisors Case Management: Maintain and manage PROMISE JOBS case records by documenting case actions, referrals, services and participation hours. Remain in regular contact with PROMISE JOBS customers to answer questions and support goal attainment. Ensure FIAs are carried out by scheduling customers for activities and monitoring attendance and participation. Coordinating and communicating with the Department of Health and Human Services referring agency and any other involved partners. Authorize transportation and childcare allowances and initiate overpayment recovery when appropriate. Assist work ready customers with completing Family Self-Sufficiency Grant (FSSG) applications for additional funds to alleviate obstacles to obtaining and maintaining employment. Review cases for sanction when customers do not follow through with their chosen steps toward self-sufficiency. Represent the department in all appeals related to caseloads.

Requirements

• Excellent customer service skills, including demonstrated communication skills, written and verbal.
• Demonstrate professionalism, develop and maintain positive working relationships with team members, customers, employers, and community organizations.
• Interact effectively with a wide variety of individuals from different ethnic, economic, cultural, or educational backgrounds.
• Ability to build relationships with customers using a coaching, goal-oriented, and person-centered approach.
• Organize, plan, and prioritize workflow to meet deadlines for multiple tasks and reports.
• Strong presentation skills to customer groups, to provide information on Iowa WORKS programs and services.
• Remain flexible to changing customer, team and agency needs and policies.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field.
• Four years of full-time work experience in career services, teaching or training to improve skills, job coaching, providing human services to individuals in need, sales, customer service, call center operations, or human-resources-related services involving interviewing, reviewing job applications, conducting employment-related assessments, or job placement.
• A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described above), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes twelve months of full-time work as a Workforce Associate.

Responsibilities

• Develop an individualized plan outlining activities to reach customer goals and reduce dependence on welfare support systems.
• Provide directed, supported pre-employment, and employment activities.
• Build supportive and trusting relationships with customers.
• Coach and model with customers.
• Utilize motivational interviewing techniques.
• Make connections to Iowa WORKS partners and community resources.
• Ensure accountability towards goal attainment.
• Collaborate with PROMISE JOBS customers to develop Family Investment Agreements (FIA) highlighting strengths and addressing challenges.
• Use assessment tools to help determine suitable educational, training, and employment plans.
• Maintain and manage PROMISE JOBS case records by documenting case actions, referrals, services and participation hours.
• Remain in regular contact with PROMISE JOBS customers to answer questions and support goal attainment.
• Ensure FIAs are carried out by scheduling customers for activities and monitoring attendance and participation.
• Coordinate and communicate with the Department of Health and Human Services referring agency and any other involved partners.
• Authorize transportation and childcare allowances and initiate overpayment recovery when appropriate.
• Assist work ready customers with completing Family Self-Sufficiency Grant (FSSG) applications for additional funds to alleviate obstacles to obtaining and maintaining employment.
• Review cases for sanction when customers do not follow through with their chosen steps toward self-sufficiency.
• Represent the department in all appeals related to caseloads.

Benefits

• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off, including nine paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave with no cap on the sick leave accrual.
• IPERS retirement package.
• Optional deferred compensation retirement plan.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
• Free Life and Long-term Disability Insurance with the option to purchase additional coverage.
• Employee Assistance Programs and Discount Programs for support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level