Employment Specialist (CV58-1) - Reentry Services Division

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley; Camden (NJ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley is seeking an Employment Specialist to join our growing team. You will help clients obtain employment by linking them with jobs and training opportunities, and develop community connections and resources for jobs and training.

The role includes counseling, coordinating job readiness programs, and maintaining documentation while collaborating with the Director/Workforce Readiness Coordinator.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in a Human Service field and experience in vocational counseling and job placement.
• Career networking and knowledge of local labor market preferred.
• Must possess effective written and verbal communication skills, and an ability to interact appropriately with clientele.
• Basic computer skills are preferred.
• Must be able to pass criminal background check from funding source.

Responsibilities

• Interact with clients, staff and community members professionally with respect and courtesy.
• Maintain client and staff confidentiality per policies.
• Attend staff meetings, supervisory conferences and training sessions.
• Develop resource file and inventory of prospective employers based on local needs and client skills.
• Establish and maintain employer contacts and other groups promoting job development.
• Develop resource file on educational opportunities (ABE, GED, vocational training, apprenticeships, on-job training, colleges).
• Conduct career counseling and vocational assessments.
• Meet unemployed clients to assess prospects and formulate work-related goals and connect to resources.
• Conduct telephone job verification as required by funding sources.
• Notify funding source in writing of each client's employment.
• Visit work sites as required by funding source.
• Conduct job readiness and job retention classes.
• Participate in team meetings and complete documentation per funding source.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Career networking

Labor market knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Basic computer skills

Education

Associate's Degree in Human Services

Tools

Basic computer skills

Job description

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley is looking to hire an Employment Specialist to join our highly dynamic and growing team. They shall report to the Director/Workforce Readiness Coordinator. The responsibilities are treatment in function. Responsibilities include assisting clients in obtaining employment by linking clients with jobs and educational/training opportunities and the development of community contacts and resources for jobs and training.

Scope Of Duties

• Interact (verbally and non-verbally) with all clients, staff, and community members professionally with respect and courtesy.
• Maintain client and staff confidentiality in compliance with administrative policies and procedures.
• Attend and participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings, supervisory conferences, and training sessions.
• Develop resource file and inventory of prospective employers, based on analysis of local work force needs/opportunities and client's skills and work experience.
• Establish and maintain contacts with employers and other groups potentially interested in hiring clients as well as other community-based organizations promoting job development.
• Develop resource file on educational opportunities for clients including Adult Basic Education (ABE), GED, vocational training, apprenticeships, on-job training, and two and four year colleges.
• Conduct career counseling and vocational assessments.
• Meet with each unemployed client according to the established guidelines in the phase system and resident handbook to assess employment and training prospects and assist in formulating work-related goals and strategies; continue provision of assistance in linking client with potential employers and training resources.
• Conduct telephone job verification for all clients in accordance with funding source requirements.
• Notify funding source in writing of each client's employment.
• Visit all work sites in accordance with funding source requirements.
• Conduct job readiness and job retention classes.
• Participate in all team meetings.
• Complete all necessary documentation in accordance with funding source requirements and policies and procedures.
• Any duties assigned by Supervisor.

Essential Functions

• Regularly required to talk, hear, stand, sit, walk, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally required to smell, stoop, kneel, crouch.
• Regularly required to lift and move up to 10 lbs.
• Regularly required to see clearly at 20 inches or less, observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes remains fixed on a given point.

Credentials/Abilities

• Must have an Associate's Degree in a Human Service field and experience in vocational counseling and job placement.
• Career networking and knowledge of local labor market preferred.
• Must possess effective written and verbal communication skills, and an ability to interact appropriately with clientele.
• Basic computer skills are preferred.
• Must be able to pass criminal background check from funding source.

EEO of "Individuals with Disabilities" and "Veteran Status"/AA