Employment Specialist 3: (WSS3) Kelso/Hybrid

State of Washington; Kelso (WA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework 1 day/week after training

Flexible work schedules

Job summary

The State of Washington, through the WorkSource program, seeks a dynamic WorkSource Specialist 3 to provide in-person employment services at the Kelso WorkSource Center with up to one day of telework per week after training. You will guide job seekers through assessments, service plans, and job-search activities, while coordinating with WorkFirst, Basic Food & Employment, and RESEA programs.

You will build partnerships with employers, deliver orientations and workshops, and ensure records

Qualifications

• Two years of professional experience in workforce development, social or public contact work or equivalent.
• One year as WorkSource Specialist 2 or equivalent class within ESD or another state agency, or a combination of education and relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide routine, staff-assisted employment services; conduct interviews, registrations, and assess barriers.
• Provide information about agency services; direct to internal or external resources and support services.
• Offer career guidance and training information; refer customers to job search, training providers or resources.
• Conduct community outreach to meet job seekers where they are and provide workforce resources.

Skills

Employment coaching

Workforce development

Data management

Customer service

Digital literacy

Job description

This position works in person at the WorkSource Office in Kelso.

This position will be eligible for 1 day of telework per week after training.

The ideal candidate for the WorkSource Specialist 3 role is a dynamic and adaptable workforce development professional with a strong commitment to serving diverse communities. They bring a deep understanding of integrated service delivery and are passionate about connecting job seekers with meaningful employment opportunities while supporting employers in meeting their workforce needs.

The incumbent will deliver employment services at the WorkSource Center, for those customers who need job search support, training and assistance to find employment who are unemployed. They will provide services both in-person and virtually. This candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment and is skilled at navigating multiple program areas including WorkFirst, Basic Food & Employment, Veterans Services, Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) and Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA), among others.

This individual excels in providing customer-centered employment services, conducting assessments to identify training and employment pathways, and facilitating engaging orientations and workshops. They are detail-oriented and proficient in records management, ensuring compliance with agency and program procedures. Their ability to build and maintain strong relationships with businesses, community partners, and service providers enhances the reach and impact of WorkSource services. A collaborative team player, they contribute to regional service strategies and are committed to fostering innovation, continuity, and staff morale.

They demonstrate a clear understanding of federal, state, and local policies and are dedicated to upholding agency performance standards. With a proactive mindset and a customer-first approach, this candidate is well-positioned to advance the mission of ESD and make a lasting impact in the community.

Provide routine, basic customer-centered employment services. This includes:

• Provide staff-assisted customer services; conduct group and individual in-depth interviews, partial and full registrations, and review job readiness, employment barriers and customer needs; administer skill, interest, and aptitude tests using formal tools; identify employment and/or training goals; develop and monitor service plans; develop recommendations for continuous engagement

• Provide information about the full range of agency services and programs; direct to appropriate internal or external resources and/or support services; provide for continuous engagement

• Provide career and/or employment guidance and training information; refer customers to job search, training providers and/or resources through WorkSource and/or partner service

• Conduct occasional community outreach to meet job seekers where they are, offering essential workforce resources at various locations throughout the community.

Perform records management functions in accordance with agency and local policy and procedures. This includes:

• Administer a variety of assessments and informal and formal career tools; review and explain results; incorporate assessment results into employment plans in conjunction with relevant labor market information; prepare and present information to customer

• Record and maintain case notes, service plans, program-related expenditures, and exit outcomes; coordinate with other employment and training programs as necessary; enter new and/or updated data in management information systems

Facilitate group or in-person orientations and workshops using in-person and virtual methods. This includes:

• Facilitates general or program-related workshops and support group activities

• Facilitates customer orientation to WorkSource services

• One year as a WorkSource Specialist 2 or equivalent class within the Employment Security Department, or another state’s Employment Security agency

• OR Two years of professional experience in workforce development, social or human resource services, public relations, or professional public contact work

• OR a combination of education and/or relevant experience

Required equity competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow

• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others

Required experience includes:

• Employment Coaching Expertise: Ability to provide career guidance and training

• Workforce Development Knowledge: Proficiency in outlining employment options

• Data Management Expertise: Ability to track job seeker and employer interactions systematically

• Employment Support and Referral Expertise: Ability to assess job seekers’ needs effectively

• Problem-Solving Skills: Proficiency in finding solutions and directing individuals to the correct services

• Digital Literacy and Online Navigation Expertise: Ability to support job seekers in using web-based employment tools

• Customer Assistance Skills: Proficiency in guiding individuals through digital job search platforms

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

This recruitment may be used to fill additional agency-wide positions in accordance with Article 4 of the WFSE Collective Bargaining Agreement.

**This Organization Participates in E-Verify**