WorkSource Express Center Career Specialist

IRCO • Portland, OR

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants, refugees, and the broader community in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to welcome, serve and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. Find out more at www.irco.org .

POSITION: WorkSource Express Center Career Specialist
JOB CLASS/GRADE: Specialist 1/Grade 8
WAGE: Starting at $48,600 per year based on experience
FLSA; EEO; WC: Non-Exempt; Professional; 8864
LOCATIONS: N/E WorkSource, 30 N Webster St. Suite E, Portland OR 97217 and Central City Concern, 2 NW 2nd Ave., Portland OR 97209
Hybrid schedule
FTE; FT/PT; STATUS : 1.0 FTE; Full-Time with Benefits; Regular
NUMBER OF POSITIONS: (1)
APPLY AT: www.irco.org
STATUS: Full-Time with Benefits
PROGRAM(S): WorkSource
SECTOR/DIVISION: Workforce Development/Workforce and Employment Services
REQUIREMENTS: English required, bilingual preferred. Pass criminal background check.

This job announcement is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this job. This is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Program/Department Summary
IRCO’s Workforce Development Sector provides career coaching, career services, and training to youth and adults so that they gain living wages and become empowered through their careers. The WorkSource N/NE Center is part of IRCO’s larger Workforce Development Sector and plays an instrumental role in providing training scholarships, career services, and workshops to both the communities IRCO serves and the larger Portland Metro community.

Position Summary
The WorkSource Express Center Career Specialist is responsible for providing training services and support to clients of various backgrounds and skill levels at both the WorkSource Express Center located within Central City Concern’s Employment Access Center office space and WorkSource N/NE. This individual connects and refers Employment Access Center customers to the WorkSource Portland Metro (WSPM) system. The focus of both the Express Center and the WorkSource Center (WSC) is on developing workforce skills, career planning support, training support, and workshop provision, connecting customers to services, Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) documentations, Individual Training Account (ITA) scholarship application review, post training follow-up and job placement support. In addition, the WorkSource Express Center Career Specialist works closely with Central City Concern workforce staff to coordinate services.

Requirements

• English required, bilingual preferred.
• Pass criminal background check.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of training and experience
• Minimum 2 years of work experience
• Ability to use a computer proficiently, especially Microsoft Office products
• Ability to pass criminal background check

Nice To Haves

• Experience in the WorkSource System or in Workforce Development.
• Skilled in record keeping and case management systems.
• Experience in conducting training and workshops.
• Knowledge of vocational counseling and career coaching for individuals with barriers to employment.
• Proficient in facilitating scholarship processing.
• Knowledge of the local job market and concerns of private employers.

Responsibilities

• Serve a customer pool from various backgrounds and be an effective ambassador for WorkSource Portland Metro services (WSPM) in the Downtown area and at the Central City Concern Express Center.
• Operate in the Express Center and in the WorkSource Center N/NE assisting with WorkSource registration, Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) documentation, resource room assistance, and recommendations/referrals to meet customers’ needs.
• Coordinate with Central City Concern employment staff to best support clients in the Employment Access Center (Express) location.
• Develop workshops and resources as needed for the Express Center participants and Central City Concern staff.
• Guide participants on use of WorkSource services and assess needs for career and/or training plan development plans.
• Coach participants to create a career plan that will fit their specific goals, needs, and skills to update their skills or retrain them for the current labor market.
• Provide technical assistance as needed to help customers work through WorkSource registration process and fund enrollment.
• Review and verify participant readiness for training opportunities, assist with the Individual Training Account (ITA) scholarship process, and review applications for training scholarships.
• Facilitate support services to help participants overcome barriers to participation in WorkSource services and employment as defined by the regional program standards.
• Connect individuals to community resources in the Portland Metro, professional skill development and training opportunities as well as resources that can provide needed wrap around services to customers.
• Refer WorkSource participants to Aligned Partner Network organizations and WIOA funded Youth Workforce System providers and other WorkSource programs as appropriate.
• Support customers throughout their trainings with regular check-ins.
• Create plans for support as needed when obstacles arise.
• Follow up with training outcomes of customers awarded training scholarships and collect the required accreditation documents like certificates, diplomas, and others.
• Assist customers with finding employment by working on work readiness skills, job search skills, resume, interviewing, job search skills, sharing job leads with customers and facilitating employer networking where appropriate.
• Follow up with enrolled participants to capture employment information and reconnect them to WorkSource Centers if additional services are needed.
• Attract additional customers, increase engagement, and facilitate access for the hard-to-reach population.
• Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships between the staff, client services, WSPM programs, and the funding agencies.
• Participate in a weekly training scholarship meeting.
• Gather, compile and maintain current labor market data to provide information to clients seeking advice on the current labor market and projected employment opportunities.
• Conduct regular workshops for customers as outlined by monthly workshop schedules and collect customer feedback for all workshops conducted.
• Coordinate closely with and participate in regular meetings with the WorkSource N/NE team and Worksystems.
• Accurately and professionally maintain case files.
• Write detailed case notes and outcome reports.
• Document service and performance data in I-Trac database.
• Track program/grant required statistics and summarize in report form.
• Verify customers' eligibility for SNAP E&T program services monthly.
• Gather and report participant success stories.
• Assist with other WorkSource duties and tasks as needed.
• Deliver WorkSource services at the Express Center located within Central City Concern as an extension of the WSPM Center's offerings. This may include, but is not limited to, delivery of one-on-one services, WIOA documentation, resource room assistance and recommendations to additional WorkSource services and programs in response to customer need.
• Participate in regularly scheduled joint program meetings with partners and/or program orientations, as required.
• Perform other related duties as required by the WorkSource Center.
• Capable of meeting multiple, including conflicting deadlines.
• Competent at maintaining a high level of confidentiality.
• Ability to work flexible hours to meet the availability of clients.

Benefits

• 3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year
• 401k match of over 100% on first 5%, immediate vesting
• 3% match for student loans or college savings
• 12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families, no deductibles
• Employer Paid Life, Short term, and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Flexible spending accounts

What This Job Offers

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