Employment Specialist - Bilingual Preferred

Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains is seeking an Employment Specialist to support refugees in Albuquerque and surrounding areas. You will assess clients, create employment plans, coach on job search, and help grow employer partnerships to create diverse opportunities.

The role emphasizes coordinating services across cultural communities, providing pre-employment training, resume development, interview prep, and ongoing post-placement support to promote successful, sustainable employment

Qualifications

• Associates degree or two years of college preferred.
• Experience working with refugees or in human services is a plus.
• Strong communication, documentation, and coordination abilities.

Responsibilities

• Assess clients and create employment plans with pre-employment coaching.
• Provide job search assistance including resume and interview prep.
• Maintain and expand employer partnerships to ensure diverse opportunities.
• Coordinate services and support across cultural communities.
• Document efforts and progress in client records.

Skills

Coordinate services

Diversity & inclusion

Compliance knowledge

Crisis intervention

Professional communication

Documentation

Active listening

Social perceptiveness

Complex problem solving

Critical thinking

Reading comprehension

Writing

Service orientation

Computer skills

Education

Associates degree or two years of college

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains is a nonprofit, human services agency where you have the opportunity to provide support to children and families across the Rocky Mountain region. We are passionate about what we do and dream of inspiring community through our commitment and mission. We are a welcoming agency that believes that ALL people from the newborn to the elderly are valued members of our communities.

JOB SUMMARY & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Employment Specialist is responsible for assisting refugees to obtain employment in their new community. This is done by conducting an initial assessment, creating an employment plan, providing pre-employment coaching, assisting clients with all aspects of their job search, and maintenance and expansion of employer partners to ensure that diverse employment opportunities are continuously available for refugee clients.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Occupational Competencies

• Coordinate services: Knowledge of currently available community resources, services, and supports, and ability to connect individuals or families to appropriate resources to meet their needs through referral, application, or enrollment assistance.
• Deliver services within diverse cultural communities: Skills and sensitivity in working with individuals and families from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Meet standards of practice: Familiarity with or ability to follow practice standards, including applicable local, state and federal regulations and guidance, and contractual requirements.
• Provide crisis intervention: Experience with crisis management, problem solving, and mediation best practices.
• Communicate professionally: Ability to communicate professionally and cooperate with colleagues, other professionals, community partners, and other individuals involved in the care and coordination of services.
• Document efforts: Ability to maintain high quality, thorough, and timely documentation and records of activities, services, and efforts.

Foundational Competencies

• Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and attempting to understand the personal and cultural reasons for their reactions.
• Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Computer skills: ability to work in Word, Excel, Outlook, and other applications.

EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES

• Complete employment orientation and employment plan in collaboration with refugee clients, empowering them to set and achieve short- and long-term goals. Based on client interests, education, work experience, and career goals, may refer to appropriate training programs.
• Provide pre-employment skills training and job readiness coaching, including assisting job seekers with resume creation, coaching on job search strategies, completion of job applications, and interview preparation and practice. Provide public transportation orientation and training.
• Provide referrals and coordination to ensure that client has all supports in place in order to sustain employment. This may include childcare, transportation assistance, or work clothing.
• Assess client's skills for particular jobs based upon employer needs and complete job applications, both online and in person. Transport clients to employer job sites and hiring fairs in order to complete job applications and provide support through the screening and interview process. Follow up with employer after application or interview.
• Researches and identifies new industries and employers that may offer employment opportunities for refugees. Maintain contact with employers by utilizing methods such as site visits, telephone calls, newsletters, email, and hosting special events for employers.
• Determine ongoing eligibility and program compliance for cash assistance and transportation assistance, and distribute payments to eligible clients, as required by applicable state requirements and work location. Ensure payments and disbursements are tracked in notes and client databases.
• Maintain client records, including case notes, ESL attendance, and other documents which demonstrate clients' progress toward career goals and compliance with program requirements.
• Conducts ongoing post-placement follow up with employers to ensure successful employment outcomes and employer satisfaction.
• Provide intensive support for employed clients as necessary to promote job retention.
• Perform other duties as required.

TRANSPORTATION

Must maintain a valid driver's license and carry personal auto liability insurance at the level of $100,000/300,000/100,000.

• Frequent travel with personal vehicle. May be required to transport clients in personal vehicle.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

• Associates degree or two years of college preferred; Candidates with a high school diploma and two years of transferable work/volunteer experience may be considered.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Arabic, Spanish, or Swahili bilingual preferred.

Key Words: career coach, case management, refugee employment services

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.