Employment Specialist- Group Homes

Heartshare; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(B) retirement plan

Paid vacation and sick days

Professional development

Flexible spending account

Job summary

HeartShare seeks an Employment Specialist to work full-time in a mission-driven, team-oriented setting. The role focuses on exposing and transitioning youth in foster homes toward trauma-informed, career-ready independence.

You will conduct career readiness workshops, provide one-on-one coaching, and manage referral partnerships. The position supports a hybrid schedule (3 days in-office, 2 days remote) after a probation period, and requires dedication to outcomes and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required (four-year college or equivalent).
• Master's degree preferred.
• 1-3 years experience with youth ages 14-26 required; 5-7 years preferred.
• Bi-Lingual preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide employment-focused engagements using motivational interviewing to youth in group homes.
• Facilitate group and individual engagement services and employment workshops, in-person and virtual.
• Maintain bi-weekly contact with youth, with more frequent follow-up as needed for job placement.
• Prepare youth for internships and job opportunities through screening methods.
• Oversee Go-Getters internship program and other youth internships/work experiences.
• Place youth in SYEP and track progress via workforce development data tools.

Skills

Motivational interviewing

Youth engagement

Career readiness

Data entry

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

MS Office / Google Tools

Job description

Reporting to the Director of Workforce and Employment Initiatives, the Employment Specialist’s position is full-time, working collaboratively in a fun, team-oriented, mission-focused and goal driven environment, to expose and transition the mindset of the youth within our foster homes into trauma informed, career ready, financially stable, professionally confident individuals. Through career readiness workshops, one on one sessions, community partnership development and meticulous data tracking, the Employment Specialist plays a vital role in the transitional process of the youth we service. Upon the successful completion a 90 probationary period, this role will be eligible to participate in a hybrid schedule; reporting three days in-office and two days remote.

Essential Functions And Primary Responsibilities Of Position

• Through the use of motivational interviewing and a holistic, student-centered approach, provide consistent,high-quality employment-focused engagements to ensure that youth in group home settings are motivated, qualified candidates ready for the trainings and job opportunities they seek.
• Provide impactful group and individual engagement services, as well as facilitating employment driven workshops within each Supportive Housing Residence, in person and virtually.
• Develop and maintain a structured participant engagement schedule, ensuring that all youth are contacted at least bi-weekly throughout their career pathway journey. Youth with more immediate employment, internship, or training needs should receive weekly or daily follow-up and support, as appropriate, to promote successful outcomes and timely placement.
• Through the YA-WORC screening methods, prepare youth for HSVS internships, SYEP and job/career opportunities with employers.
• Advertise, sign-up and oversee all youth who participate in the (in-house) internship program (Go-Getters), attend all in-person and virtual meetings related to the (MIP)Mentored Internship Program, along with WLG (Work Learn Grow).
• Sign up eligible youth for SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program) and place them within various departments throughout the agency.
• Weekly, update the Workforce development tracker that captures touchpoints for all HeartShare youth who receive support from the WFD team.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date client records by documenting services and completing real-time data entry into designated systems and trackers to support service delivery, reporting, and compliance requirements.
• Develop marketing materials and actively take part in outreach methods to ensure youth are informed, aware and excited about upcoming job fairs, vocational trainings, professional developments, career readiness workshops and any other workforce development related event.
• Attend all Youth Development events, meetings and programs.
• Provide non-judgmental support to youth to help them achieve their vocational, educational, and employment goals.
• Build trust, generate interest and develop strong working relationships with youth within the homes.
• Help youth and young adults create their short and long-term employment goals through a realistic, accountability driven scope.
• Attend all ACS, Fair Futures and HSVS trainings (both in-person and virtually)
• Ensure all students have a completed EPC (Employment Portfolio Checklist) before being sent out on job interviews/internships. Each EPC indicates that a student has successfully completed their resume, template cover letter and thank you letter, a mock interview, and has proper interview attire.
• Employment Specialists are expected to meet a quarterly job placement target for connecting youth to permanent employment opportunities. Placement goals will be established by management and may be adjusted based on program needs, caseload size, and funding requirements.
• Maintain communication with youth after employment to capture milestone data and provide continuous support for the first year of employment.
• Keep in contact with alumni to utilize their knowledge and include them in workshops, events, etc. Able to work flexible hours and some evenings (as requested).
• Motivated to support, engage and develop youth through traditional and non-traditional methods.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned, consistent with the scope, responsibilities, and level of the position, and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or equivalent required.
• Master's degree or equivalent preferred.
• 1-3 years' experience working with youth ages 14-26 required, 5-7 years strongly preferred.
• Bi-Lingual Preferred: Not required, but helpful if possessed
• Standard Hours: 9 am - 5 pm (Monday – Friday) 40 Hours Flex, special events during evening hours required monthly

Physical Demands And Travel Requirements

• Constantly required to exchange accurate information
• Constantly operates a computer and other office tools
• Frequently required to stand
• Occasionally moves about inside a building or residential setting
• Must be able to lift or move up to 25 pounds
• Up to 75% Travel to other agency sites

Work Environment and Schedule

• The work environment outlines the physical environment, working conditions and time spent working. Examples:
• Residential setting requiring adjustments or changes with scheduling, working with a team, and include regular contact with individuals receiving Heartshare services.
• Active work environment that may include standing, walking, community travel, and crisis response.
• Professional office environment with a balance of independent work and cross-functional collaboration.
• Dynamic human services environment serving diverse populations with a strong focus on compassion, flexibility, and responsiveness.
• Community-based setting with frequent collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and external partners
• Trauma-informed and client-centered workplace requiring adaptability, professionalism, and teamwork.

Benefits

• Rewarding Work in a team environment.
• Paid vacation, sick, personal days, and holidays.
• 403(B) retirement plans with employer contribution.
• Health, dental, vision and life insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit).
• Employee Appreciation Programs and Events.
• Tuition Assistance Program.
• Professional Development opportunities.
• Wellhub Discount
• Verizon Wireless Discount.
• BJs Membership discount.
• Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more

HeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to [e-mail].

About Heartshare

Who WE ARE: For over 150 years, Heartshare has been dedicated to championing and empowering New Yorkers society has too often overlooked and underestimated. To learn more about HeartShare, please visit our website at www.heartshare.org or Follow us on Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Facebook HeartShare Human Services of New York | Homepage HeartShare Human Services of New York nurtures and empowers children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.