Employment Coordinator

Lutheran-Social-Services-of-the-National-Capital-Are; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area is seeking an Employment Coordinator to help clients obtain competitive employment. You will assess barriers, create individualized employment plans, and develop relationships with employers to identify placement opportunities.

Responsibilities include educating employers, providing pre‑employment orientation, advocating for favorable hours, pay and benefits, and maintaining thorough records.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or undergraduate degree preferred.
• Two years of direct service experience in employment or social services, or refugee/immigration setting preferred.
• English proficiency required; US work experience required.

Responsibilities

• Develops and updates customized employment plans to resolve barriers.
• Outreach to employers to create competitive and permanent job opportunities.
• Provides pre-employment orientation and client education on rights and benefits.
• Maintains records of client activity, enrollments, placements, and outcomes.
• Spends 65%+ of hours in community settings building employer relationships.
• Coordinates with case managers to align services and goals.

Skills

Excellent communication

Advocacy

Problem-solving

Labor market knowledge

MS Office

Driver's license

Bilingual

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate or undergraduate degree preferred

Tools

PC/Windows environment proficiency

Job description

The Employment Coordinator provides individualized employment search and support to clients in their efforts to secure and maintain competitive employment. The position seeks and explores relationships with businesses that will provide possible competitive and permanent job opportunities for clients. ESSENTIALDUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:Maintain current knowledge of labor laws and labor market trends.Leverage knowledge of the labor market and client population to implement an employer outreach strategy for competitive and permanent job opportunities for clients.Provide education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact with the employer/educator.Advocate for clients for better hours, higher pay, benefits, and reduced requirements.Orient clients to the program and assist them in obtaining competitive employment in the community.Completes an employment assessment and enrollment for each new client.Request cash and rental assistance until clients attain financial self-sufficiency.Assists clients in learning how their cash and rental assistance will be affected by earned income.Provide Pre-Employment Orientation to clients on the following topics: Need for and advantages of early employment; Minimum wage; U.S. worker’s rights and responsibilities; Payment options (direct deposit vs. check); Balancing work and personal responsibilities; Benefit of having all adults working; Common tax withholdings; Employer-provided health insurance and other benefits; Unemployment insurance; Employer expectations; Career laddering and obtaining job upgrades; and Sanctioning policy and procedures.Helps clients think about long-term employment goals, work history, strengths, personal culture, justice involvement, and other factors that relate to a current vocational goal.Creates an Individualized Employment Plan to resolve barriers to employment such as: childcare, language proficiency, transportation, physical or mental health concerns, etc.Develops the Individualized Employment Plan with the client and with input from the health worker and case manager. Updates the employment plan when there is a change in employment or education status.Provides individualized follow-along support to assist clients in maintaining employment for 90 days.Provides outreach services as necessary to clients when they miss appointments. Uses a variety of methods to discover what is interfering with the person’s employment plan.Participates in weekly meetings with the employment services team and communicates individually with case managers to coordinate services and generate ideas to help clients achieve their employment goals.Spends at least 65% or more of total scheduled work hours in the community. For example, meets clients in community settings and develops relationships with managers and their businesses.Maintain records (file) of all client employment activity as well as all potential and current employers.Maintain and submit records of supported employment activities, including performance standards (enrollments, placements, retention), referrals, attendance, and required case notes per the client’s service plan.Maintain an annual caseload of 40-60 cases.Qualifications: EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or undergraduate degree in social studies or related field preferred.Two years of direct service experience in employment services OR social services OR refugee and immigration setting required.English proficiency required.US work experience required.SKILLS and COMPETENCIES:Subject matter expert in local labor market trends.Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and interpersonal).Skill in advocating for clients and problem-solving.Skill in the use of computer systems (preferably in a PC, Windows-based operating environment) and MS Office products.Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.Bilingual preferred: Pashto, Persian, Spanish, Tigrinya, Ukrainian