Employment Specialist 3

Portland Community College; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 66,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition waiver for employee and family

PERS retirement contributions

Paid leave and holidays

Job summary

Portland Community College seeks an Employment Specialist to provide specialized employment services aligned with program goals. The role includes training clients, conducting outreach, and coordinating with community partners in person at the PCC Opportunity Center.

The position emphasizes independent decision making, grant-funded activity, and the ability to manage diverse caseloads while documenting services in multiple databases. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Experience working with college students or at‑risk populations.
• Experience in the area of position specialization.
• Experience in case management in a social service or educational setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialized employment services supporting assigned program(s).
• Train and support clients with diverse backgrounds and skill levels.
• Work in person at the PCC Opportunity Center (5 days/week).
• Develop and facilitate workshops and information sessions for job seekers.

Skills

Strong communication

Case management

Workshop facilitation

Outreach

Cultural competency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HRM/Business/Social Science/Communications

Tools

Database tracking systems

Job description

Join our Team at Portland Community College

Please Note: PCC currently limits employment to individuals residing in Oregon and Washington. Employment offers are contingent upon the ability to establish residence in Oregon or Washington.

Portland Community College will also ensure that applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for the hiring process are provided for. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the PCC Talent Acquisition Team at [e-mail].

Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and 19th largest in the nation, serving approximately 80,000 full- and part-time students. With four comprehensive campuses, five workforce training and education centers, and 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area, our unique role is to make high‑quality education accessible to everyone, creating opportunities for our students and contributing to the economic development of our community.

What You'll Do and Who We Are Looking For

Position Summary: The Employment Specialist is responsible for providing specialized employment services in support of an assigned program(s) whose ultimate goal is to provide training and support to clients of various backgrounds and skill levels. Incumbents in this classification are typically assigned to an area of specialization within a total employment services program. Specialization may include training clients in workforce skills, job development, job referral, job placement, or employee retention. Incumbents have independent decision making authority and work with little or no supervision. This position is grant‑funded, continuation of this role is dependent upon funding. The Employment Specialist is an in‑person position, 5 days a week at the PCC Opportunity Center at 42nd, 4299 NE Killingsworth Street.

See the classification description for additional information: https://www.pcc.edu/hr/employment/academic-pro-jobs/employment-specialist/

Success Criteria:

1. Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with a diverse population including clients, colleagues, employers and community partners.
2. Proven ability to conduct effective outreach, provide active case management, develop service plans, track client progress and coordinate multiple community services.
3. Competence in maintaining detailed case files and tracking services in multiple databases, experience working in programs with complex policies and procedures, producing program/grant reports.
4. Proven ability to develop and facilitate engaging and effective workshops, including information sessions, job search groups and workshops aimed at developing job seeking skills and soft skills.
5. Comprehensive understanding of workforce development principles and community resources available for clients and the ability to effectively connect clients with these resources.
6. Demonstrated awareness of one's own cultural background and how it influences their perception, values and practices and how these perceptions, values and practices influence their work and interactions with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Social Science, Communications, or related field. Experience performing the duties of this job may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
2. Demonstrated experience working with college students, clients who have barriers in achieving self‑sufficiency, developmentally or physically disabled adults, or at‑risk populations.
3. Demonstrated experience within the area of specialization of position applied for.
4. Experience in case management in a social service or educational setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Fluency in a second language

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• A collaborative and inspiring campus community
• Opportunities for learning and professional development

The PCC district encompasses a 1,500‑square‑mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two‑year degrees, one‑year certificate programs, short‑term training, alternative education, pre‑college courses and life‑long learning. As part of our College community, you’ll enjoy the following benefits.

Portland Community College embraces equity and inclusion as a priority. We are committed to building a community with a variety of backgrounds, skills, views, and life experiences. The more we value equity and inclusion, the more we will add value to the work we do and how we serve our students, engage with each other, and the Oregon Community that we serve. Creating a culture that honors equity and inclusion is our objective and the smart path forward.

Position Grade

Academic Professional 3 (A)

Employment Type

Full time

Total Rewards Package / What We Offer

There is never a dull moment at PCC. We offer more than just a competitive salary. When you join our team at PCC you'll also enjoy:

• Comprehensive benefit package designed to provide employees and their families, including domestic partners, with access to a broad range of benefit options. Includes Health, Dental, and Vision options, Group Life, Long‑term Disability, Long‑term Care, and Auto and Home Insurance programs
• Oregon PERS contribution – PCC currently fully funds the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS/OPSRP) pension and contributes an additional 6% into the employee's Individual Account Program under PERS/OPSRP
• Tax deferred annuity program and a deferred compensation program where employees may save additional pre‑tax dollars for retirement
• PCC provides a tuition waiver for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and dependent children under 24 years of age, as well as partial tuition reimbursement for full‑time employees at other accredited institutions
• Free access to the sport centers / campus gymnasiums, performing arts, and cultural events
• Generous Paid Leave – as determined by our collective bargaining agreement (Pro‑rated by FTE for Part‑Time Employees)

Paid Leave:

• Starts at 13.33 hours of vacation leave per month (additional vacation hours with years of service)
• 1 day of sick leave per month
• 12 holidays
• PCC Winter Break (when College is closed)
• 1 additional personal leave day per year

View a complete list of PCC benefits

How We Determine Initial Salary Placement

Starting Salary $65,928.00 to $70,627.00 (Step 3) based upon qualifications, experience and internal equity

Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public Employment

Portland Community College complies with the Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public Employment law which provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment.

Notice of the Availability of the Annual Security Report

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), you may view Portland Community College’s (PCC) most recent Annual Security Report (ASR) on the Department of Public Safety website. The ASR contains current security and safety‑related policy disclosure statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and sexual assault prevention information and resources, and drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains crime statistics for Clery Act crimes which occurred on PCC properties for the last three calendar years. Paper copies of the ASR are available upon request at all Department of Public Safety offices.

PCC Employment Offers are Contingent Upon the Successful Completion of a Criminal Background Check

PCC Employment Offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Please note that Portland Community College is not currently able to provide visa (e.g. H1-B Visa) sponsorship for potential employees.