Employment Specialist - Vancouver, WA

ATHENA Consulting; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance.

Health Savings Account

401k with employer match

Life and AD&D Insurance

Disability Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

HR self-serve portal

Sick leave

Job summary

ATHENA Consulting is recruiting an Employment Specialist for a full-time role in Vancouver, WA. The position pays $24.00 per hour and requires in-office work.

You will interview participants, assess backgrounds, and guide them toward educational and employment opportunities within local labor markets. You will provide job search support, share high-demand occupations, and coordinate with employers to align qualifications with job orders.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in interviewing and employment counseling preferred.
• Knowledge of public employment programs (WIOA, TANF, SNAP) preferred.
• Bilingual in Russian or Spanish preferred.
• Understanding of workforce center operations, job development and employment-related problem solving preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interview and assess each participant to gather information on education, background, prior work experience, skills, interests, and employment goals.
• Provide participants with current employment information, including high-demand occupations and hiring events.
• Use assessment tools to develop realistic career pathways.
• Assist participants with training opportunities to build employment skills.
• Provide job search assistance and referrals during meetings.
• Match participant qualifications to employer job orders.

Skills

Excellent organization

Self-motivated

Verbal communication

Written communication

Listening skills

Multitasking

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Microsoft Teams

Education

High School diploma

Tools

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Teams

Job description

ATHENA Consulting is an award-winning staffing firm serving state and local governments. Our mission is to make lives better! We make our Clients’ Lives Easier by engaging and supporting our clients and partnering with them to be the most knowledgeable staffing partner. We make our Employees’ Lives Better by identifying and cultivating their talents and matching these talents with our customers’ needs. ATHENA places a high value on customer service, accountability and getting the job done.

POSITION SUMMARY:

We are currently recruiting an Employment Specialist. This full-time position pays $24.00 an hour and is in Vancouver, WA.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Interview and assess each participant to gather information on education, background, prior work experience, skills, interests, and short- and long-term employment goals.
• Provide participants with current employment information, including high-demand occupation lists, hiring events, and other workforce resources.
• Use assessment tools to develop realistic career pathways.
• Assist participants with training opportunities to build employment skills.
• Provide job search assistance and job referrals during each meeting.
• Match participant qualifications to employer job order requirements.
• Enter all participant updates into the appropriate application the same day in accordance with program regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Monitor performance reports to ensure services and data entry are completed timely and accurately.
• Assist program participants in developing job readiness skills and provide feedback to case managers as needed.
• Reach out to participants to provide job matching services, hiring event information, and follow-up regarding potential hire opportunities.
• Create and maintain participant files with up-to-date documentation as required by program regulations and local policies and procedures.
• Disseminate labor market information and workforce development services information, including Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) resources.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently; must be self-motivated.
• Excellent verbal, written, and listening communication skills.
• Ability to understand and adhere to the duties, methods, and procedures required by the position.
• Ability to navigate multiple computer software programs to document required information.
• Ability to work collaboratively with team members and support shared goals and objectives.
• Ability to provide fast-paced customer service with accurate and timely documentation in multiple systems.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.

Education and Experience:

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience in interviewing and employment counseling preferred.
• General knowledge of public employment and training programs preferred.
• Working knowledge of workforce center programs such as WIOA, TANF, and SNAP preferred.
• Bilingual skills in Russian or Spanish preferred.
• Understanding of workforce center operations, job development, and employment-related problem solving preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Extensive standing, sitting, computer, phone, and desk work may be required.
• Some kneeling and lifting of up to 10 pounds may be required.
• Standard hours of work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, however evening and weekend hours may be required.
• Travel is required.

Successful ATHENA employees will display the following characteristics:

• You strive to be the best in your field currently and in the future.
• You like to make your employer look good.
• You find solutions, where others only see problems.
• You are proactive, you make and meet commitments, and you perform your duties exceedingly well.
• You are aware of the employer’s needs at all times and are well-versed in what you personally and ATHENA can offer them as a whole.
• You have the ability to work with diverse, integrated, deliverable-driven teams to accomplish the larger mission.

The benefits of working for ATHENA include:

• Support from a team of professionals committed to making your life better.
• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• Health Savings Account
• 401k with a generous employer match.
• ATHENA paid Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance for employee.
• Additional Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance for employee, spouses, and children.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Easy to use employee self-serve HR portal.
• Sick leave varies– be sure to inquire with your Recruiter.

The statements in this Job Posting are intended to describe the general nature and minimum level of work required. The content should not be construed as a complete list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required to meet the criteria for this position. Upon request, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Application for employment is not intended to and does not create a contract or offer of employment and if hired, employment with the company is on an at-will basis and could be terminated at the will of either party.

ATHENA Consulting LLC does not discriminate in hiring based on federally protected classifications to include but not limited to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status or other characteristics protected by law. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.