Specialist – Mobile Employment, Field Based

Downtown Women's Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Downtown Women’s Center seeks a Specialist – Mobile Employment, Field Based to deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive employment services to women and gender diverse clients who are unhoused or at risk. The role provides 1:1 support, job readiness, and career series delivery in field and home settings across Los Angeles County.

Reporting to the Manager - Workforce Development, you will recruit participants, facilitate programs, and engage employers to fill job opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience in mentoring, counseling, case management or similar roles (preferred).
• Knowledge of homelessness, trauma, and mental health issues (preferred).
• Fluency in English; Spanish a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed employment services and 1:1 job readiness support.
• Conduct employer engagement and job development to source opportunities.
• Coach participants for interviews and resume-building, and coordinate Career Series.
• Maintain accurate records and progress notes for program participants.

Skills

Empathic

Organized

Resourceful

Relationship Management

Microsoft Office Suite

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Position:Specialist – Mobile Employment, Field Based

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Job Id:538

# of Openings:1

The Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) seeks a full-time Specialist - Mobile Employment to provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive, strengths-based employment services to women and gender diverse individuals who are currently or formerly unhoused. The Specialist - Mobile Employment plays a key role in helping participants achieve their educational and employment goals and supports them with job readiness, employment search and placement. This role will support DWC’s general Workforce Development and DWC programs and will provide 1:1 employment support, conduct employer engagement, and deliver DWC’s Career Series. The Specialist - Mobile Employment evaluates an individual's background, skills, and interests and matches potential job openings or training programs, as well as coaches and prepares candidates for interviews and entry into the workforce. This position is also responsible for employer engagement and job development to fill open job opportunities. The Specialist - Mobile Employment is a member of the Health & Wellness Department and reports directly to the Manager - Workforce Development.

Essential Functions

• Provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive employment services
• Conduct 1:1 job readiness activity with clients, including resume-building, practice interviews, job applications, computer tutorials, cover letters, reference lists, and job search guidance.
• Provide in-home and field-based services to best accommodate individuals residing in Los Angeles County.
• Recruit participants, conduct orientations, schedule programming, and provide support across agency programs to assist with vocational and educational attainment.
• Support participants in developing employment-related goals and identifying professional development opportunities.
• Provide ongoing support to participants in their job search and development of job-related skills.
• Provide effective crisis intervention in consultation with program staff and supervisor.
• Utilize Evidence Based Practices in service delivery such as Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, and Critical Time Intervention.
• Engage prospective employers through networking, telemarketing and/or cold calling, or set up appointments.
• Maintain working relationships with employers, industry organizations, and public agencies to source job openings and secure employment and vocational training opportunities for clients.
• Conduct career readiness series to prepare individuals for employment.
• Coordinate tours for participants, referral agencies, and prospective employers.
• Support volunteers and peer leaders in coordination.
• Provide event coordination support as needed.
• Facilitate Job Preparation classes and other seminars as assigned.
• Maintain up-to-date referral resources for participants.
• Provide employment and educational resources to program staff and participants.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of activities, case management notes, and services provided to each client.
• Attend trainings, multi-disciplinary team meetings and regular one-on-one supervision as scheduled
• Track outcomes and monitor progress towards program goals.
• Provide regular, timely written reports to supervisor as assigned.
• Serve as an ambassador of DWC and its mission and values by participating in community meetings/events.
• Other duties as assigned to support the mission of the organization

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

• Empathic
• Organized
• Resourceful
• Relationship Management

Supervisory Responsibility

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Downtown Women’s Center operates several program and administrative locations in the Skid Row neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles. The organization’s primary hub is located on San Pedro Street (SP) and includes participant-facing services, staff and departmental offices, and Permanent Supportive Housing units.

Programs at the SP site include the Day Center, Women’s Health Clinic, kitchen and meal services, Trauma Recovery Center, supportive service offices, and housing units, among other operations.

Although some positions may have a primary work location at another DWC program site or within the community, employees in all roles may be expected to attend trainings, meetings, or other work-related activities at the San Pedro (SP) location. Parking near the San Pedro (SP) Access Center is limited, and employees should plan for offsite parking with a short walk to the site.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. This role requires frequent walking to and from various locations, including shelters, encampments, community partner sites, and program facilities. The employee must also be able to lift files, open filing cabinets, squats, climb stairs, reach, and bend or stand on a stool as necessary. Occasional lifting of outreach supplies or materials (up to 25 pounds) may be required.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time, non-exempt position. Ability to work during business hours is required; days and hours of work are Monday- Friday 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM. However, based on the needs of the program some evening or weekend hours may be required.

Travel

This position is primarily field based; travel throughout Los Angeles County is required in this position, involving work with participants in their homes or in the community, but with the expectation to work on-site at various DWC locations as scheduled.

Work Location

Expectation to work either in the field or the office at least four days per week. Must be able to work on-site as scheduled for in-person meetings and trainings.

Required Education, Experience, and Qualifications

• At least two years of experience providing services in the role of mentor, counselor, case manager or similar position preferred
• Knowledge of the complex barriers surrounding women’s homelessness and unemployment
• Experience working with issues of homelessness, trauma, and mental health preferred
• Strong administrative skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) required
• Oral and written fluency in English required; Spanish a plus
• Excellent active listening and problem-solving skills with ability to exercise and model good judgment
• Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills; proven ability to communicate with diverse audiences
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities, including proficiency in balancing direct service responsibilities with effective record keeping
• Ability to be flexible with hours when needed
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Knowledge of the complex barriers surrounding women's homelessness
• Cultural humility; knowledge of communities that are disproportionately represented in the homeless population (communities of color, LGBTQ+ etc.)
• Comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations around confidentiality and mandated-reporting
• Professional attitude; team- and service-oriented, friendly, and positive
• Current valid California state driver’s license, insurance, and vehicle with good driving record required
• Must be a CA resident and live no more than 80 miles from DWC; must be available for in-person meetings at DWC
• Must provide documentation of a negative TB test result within the last twelve months, on first day of hire

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Background check required

Pay Range

$28.98-29.22/hourly

Work Authorization

Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. DWC does not sponsor employment visas, such as H-1B.

Downtown Women’s Center will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Downtown Women’s Center is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the Civil Right’s Department Fair Chance Act webpage.

Downtown Women’s Center provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants and actively seeks candidates who reflect the rich diversity of the communities that we serve. We are committed to a work environment that embraces and promotes individuality and inclusion. We believe that diversity and inclusion of varied perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences are essential to our organization’s effectiveness, and allow us to serve our clients in the respectful, responsive, and understanding way that they deserve. We define diversity in broad terms to include race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental or physical disability, marital status, pregnancy, military and veteran status, medical condition, geography, socio-economic status, and other unique attributes that make us who we are.

Downtown Women’s Center complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.