Employment Specialist (WSS4): WorkSource Kitsap

State of Washington Employment Security Department; Silverdale (WA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules

Telework opportunities

Job summary

The State of Washington Employment Security Department seeks an Employment Specialist (WSS4) who will work in-person at the WorkSource Kitsap office in Silverdale. This role centers on delivering customer‑driven employment and training services, conducting assessments, managing caseloads, and coordinating support to help job seekers overcome barriers.

You will build individualized employment plans, navigate program rules, connect customers with training resources, and lead workshops.

Qualifications

• Requires thorough client-centered service delivery including needs assessment, goal setting, case management, problem-solving and supportive communication.
• Ability to evaluate and determine client qualifications for program eligibility.
• Ability to structure personalized employability and career growth plans.
• Ongoing workforce guidance and follow-up with customers.

Responsibilities

• Conduct individual interviews to articulate program services and activities and identify components such as individualized and training services.
• Develop individual employment plans and guide customers to access employment and training programs.
• Lead staff-assisted job development, job matching and job follow-up; make referrals and verify customer job search.
• Provide outreach and follow-up services to customers and coaching to overcome barriers to employment.
• Utilize a variety of instructional strategies to meet customers’ needs and learning styles.
• Administer career assessments and ensure results inform employment plans with labor market information.

Skills

Client-Centered Service Delivery

Eligibility Assessment Expertise

Employability Plan Development

Career Coaching and Follow-Up

Job description

This position works in-person at the WorkSource office in Silverdale.

The ideal candidate for the Employment Specialist (WSS4) role is a dynamic and resourceful professional deeply committed to delivering customer-centered employment and training services. They possess a proven ability to conduct insightful individual assessments, manage complex caseloads, and facilitate critical support services to help job seekers overcome barriers and achieve sustainable employment.

Skilled in developing tailored employment service plans, they are adept at navigating program regulations, securing training resources, and guiding customers through every step of their workforce journey. Their coaching and mentoring skills enable them to connect meaningfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with significant employment challenges.

Beyond individual service, the ideal candidate is a skilled collaborator and community ambassador. They build and maintain productive relationships with employers, partners, and service providers, actively promoting agency programs and cultivating job opportunities. Their organizational savvy enables them to manage records with precision and maintain compliance with program protocols.

About the Workforce Services Division:

Workforce Services Division (WSD) is made up of three Lines of Business: WorkSource, Central Operations System Support, and Washington Service Corps (WSC). WSD administers the Labor Exchange (LEX), Migrant Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW), Veterans Services, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), and WorkFirst programs for job seekers and employers in Washington and provides job seekers with referrals to partners providing Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) adult, youth, and dislocated worker training and support services.

In this role, you will assess customer needs, determine eligibility for specialized programs, and create personalized employment and training plans. You will conduct interviews, provide coaching and mentoring, and help remove barriers to employment by connecting individuals to support services and resources. You will also lead workshops, deliver classroom instruction, and use assessments and labor market information to guide customers toward meaningful career pathways. This position requires maintaining accurate records, coordinating with partner agencies, and collaborating with local employers to identify job openings and training opportunities. The role is located in Silverdale, Washington, with in-person attendance required at the WorkSource Kitsap office; one day of telework may be approved after training.

What a typical day looks like:

• Conduct individual interviews to articulate program services and activities; identify components such as individualized and training services, applicable to customer need.
• Develop individual employment plans; guide customers to effectively use in employment and training programs and services.
• Conduct staff assisted job development, job matches and job follow-up; make job referrals; verify customer job search.
• Provide outreach and follow up services to customers.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to instruct and guide customers that have employment barriers.
• Effectively use a variety of instructional strategies that meet the customer’s needs, interests, and learning style.
• 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.

Qualifying candidates will meet one of the following criteria options:

Option 1: One (1) year as a WorkSource Specialist 3 or equivalent class within the Employment Security Department, or another state’s Employment Security agency.

Option 2: Three (3) years of professional experience in workforce development, social or human resource services, public relations, or professional public contact work.

Option 3: A combination of education and/or relevant experience totaling three (3) years.

Required experience includes:

• Client-Centered Service Delivery: Needs assessment to evaluate client situations, goal setting to establish realistic objectives, case management to develop and oversee service plans, problem-solving to address barriers, and communication skills to guide and support clients effectively.
• Eligibility Assessment Expertise: Ability to evaluate and determine client qualifications.
• Employability Plan Development Expertise: Ability to structure personalized career growth strategies.
• Career Coaching and Follow-Up Expertise: Ability to provide ongoing workforce guidance.

Required equity competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

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.

Why work with us?

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.

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**