Employment Specialist

The Village Family Services, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 26,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

403(b)

403(b) matching

FSA

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

The Village Family Services, Inc. is seeking a dedicated Employment Specialist to assist Transition Age Youth (TAY) with career development, job search, resume preparation, and interview coaching at the Drop-In Center in North Hollywood, CA.

This full-time role focuses on connecting participants with training, employment, and ongoing support to achieve successful outcomes. Responsibilities include tracking KPIs, maintaining referrals, and developing opportunities with local employers.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; two years related experience preferred or equivalent in mental health, chemical dependency, social services, or non-profit field.
• Basic computer skills with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Internet.
• Experience with an electronic records system is highly desirable.
• Valid CA Driver's License.
• CPR & First Aid certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Experience with youth and young adults facing hardship or housing instability.
• Minimum 1 year of employment, workforce development, job readiness, or case management experience, preferably with Transition Age Youth (TAY).
• Ability to track, analyze, and report employment outcomes and KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one employment services to prepare clients for and secure employment.
• Manage a dedicated caseload with independent judgment and strong organizational skills.
• Build and maintain relationships with employers to create job opportunities for participants.
• Identify unemployed TAY and assess employment needs, barriers, interests, and goals.
• Connect TAY to employment resources and workforce programs.
• Provide resumes, applications, interview prep, mock interviews, and workplace readiness coaching.
• Develop partnerships with employers, training providers, and community organizations.
• Follow up with participants to track employment status, retention, and outcomes.
• Maintain data and report on referrals, applications, interviews, placements, trainings, and outcomes.
• Assist clients in finding local employment aligned with goals and abilities.
• Deliver job readiness training, computer tutorials, cover letters, and reference lists.
• Assist in orientation, assess readiness, and provide counseling for job readiness and professional demeanor.
• Maintain up-to-date referral resources for clients.
• Conduct 1-on-1 job readiness activities including resume building and interview practice.
• Facilitate job preparation classes as needed.
• Tailor resumes to identified opportunities.
• Ensure all required documentation is completed accurately.
• Maintain confidentiality in line with HIPAA and laws; uphold professional ethics.

Skills

Basic computer skills

CPR & First Aid

Driver's license

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Experience with youth

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Tools

MS Office

Electronic records

Job description

The Village is accredited by the International Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for its Adoptions, Foster Care, Mental Health, Wraparound, and Drop-In Center services. We deliver evidenced-based behavioral health services to children, youth and adults, and has long been at the forefront of culturally sensitive foster care and adoption services.

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Peer Support Specialist to join our team! This is an exciting opportunity to become part of team in a growing organization. If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of others,

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Employment Specialist will assist Transition Age Youth (TAY) presenting to our Drop-In Center throughout the employment process. The Village Family Services Drop-In Center provide slow-barrier, culturally competent, and trauma-informed services for TAY within the San Fernando Valley Service Area 2. The Drop-In Center staff is responsible for minimizing the psychological, physical, and social barriers that may deter TAY and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) TAY from seeking and accepting needed services and resources. The Employment Specialist is the employment contract for homeless individuals ages 16-25 looking for employment. This individual will assist TAY with career development, job search, resume preparation, and interview coaching, and will develop employment opportunities by identifying work training programs and supported employment programs. Tracks, monitors, and reports employment outcomes and KPIs, including referrals, job readiness services, interviews, job placements, training enrollments, and employment retention to measure program effectiveness and successful TAY outcomes.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma/GED required, and two years related experience preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience in a mental health, chemical dependency, social services, or non-profit field
• Basic computer skills, Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Internet
• Experience with an electronic records system is highly desirable
• Valid CA Driver's License
• CPR &First Aid Certified or able to obtain within 30 days of hire
• Experience working with youth and young adults who have endured hardship or difficulties with chemical dependency
• Minimum 1 year of experience providing employment, workforce development, job readiness, or case management services, preferably working with TAY or individuals experiencing housing instability.
• Demonstrated ability to track, analyze, and report employment outcomes and KPIs, including referrals, job placements, employment retention, and other measurable participant outcomes.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

All of the responsibilities listed below are considered essential functions of this position. Additionally, this position is expected to ensure adherence to the core operating values and the strategic direction of the agency.

• The Employment Specialist works 1-on-1 with clients to provide employment services with the goal that clients get ready for a job, find a job, and keep a job
• Responsible for a dedicated caseload, the successful candidate will have the ability to use independent judgment, exceptional organizational skills, and a willingness to incorporate emerging industry best practices and techniques in their work
• The Employment Specialist will establish new relationships with prospective employers who will employ our participants; maintain pre-existing relationships with employers who currently employ our participants; and effectively match program participants with employers and right-fit employment opportunities
• Employment Assessment & Referral: Identify unemployed TAY and assess employment needs, barriers, interests, skills, and career goals.
• Employment Service Linkage: Connect TAY to appropriate employment resources, including GAIN, START, workforce programs, vocational training, and community employment partners.
• Job Readiness Services: Provide individualized support with resumes, job applications, job searches, interview preparation, mock interviews, and workplace readiness.
• Employer & Community Partnerships: Develop and maintain partnerships with employers, workforce programs, training providers, and community organizations to expand employment opportunities for TAY.
• Employment Follow-Up & Retention: Follow up with TAY after referrals and job placement to track engagement, employment status, retention, and additional support needs.
• KPI & Outcome Tracking: Maintain accurate data and provide regular reports on TAY referred, services provided, job applications completed, interviews obtained, employment placements, training/education enrollments, and employment retention, including successful outcome rates and progress toward program KPIs.
• Assist individuals to find employment in the community, in accordance with the individual's preferences, capacities, and personally developed goals
• Implement systematic instructional programs to train the workers to perform required job duties accurately and efficiently
• Develop community-based employment opportunities for people we support through regular employer contacts, public relations and community interaction
• Provide individualized, ongoing job coaching on and off the job site for newly employed.
• Oversee the day-to-day case management of both working and non-working clients; Encourage and motivate clients to work on their job search
• Orient, assess, and provide employment counseling for clients and assess clients for job readiness, such as dressing for success, interviewing skills, and professional demeanor
• Maintain up-to-date referral resources for clients to facilitate employment search
• Conduct 1-on-1 job readiness activities with clients, including resume building, practice interviews, job applications, computer tutorials, cover letters, reference lists, job search guidance, etc.
• Facilitate Job Preparation classes and other seminars on an as-needed basis
• Customizing participants' resumes to fit identified opportunities
• Ensure all required documentation is completed in a timely and accurate manner
• Must have good communication and interpersonal skills
• Good writing skills and organizational abilities
• Ability to quickly build rapport with a diverse group of youth
• Experience with outreach to at-risk, vulnerable, and hidden populations
• Assists in assuring the safety and well-being of the youth within the Drop-In Center and maintaining a nurturing and supportive environment

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct all functions in accordance with Agency guidelines, policies, procedures, and ethical standards
• Maintains safe work area by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations
• Demonstrates a high level of professionalism in dealing with confidential and sensitive issues
• Attend staff meetings, agencywide meetings, trainings, and other meetings as assigned

Confidentiality and Privacy

Adheres to all legal parameters for ensuring and maintaining clients' confidentiality including HIPAA, State and Federal laws

The Village Family Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Job Type: Full-Time

Pay: $23.00-$23.50 per hour

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location:North Hollywood, CA. In person, onsite