Vocational Specialist - N. Seattle

Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental & Vision

403(b) plan

PTO 21 days

11 holidays

Job summary

Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care is seeking a full-time Vocational Specialist in the Seattle area. The role focuses on building community partnerships, identifying job opportunities, and supporting clients with mental health challenges to gain and retain employment.

The ideal candidate will engage employers, coordinate with treatment teams, and help clients navigate barriers to employment, while traveling across the community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing/sales, human resources, psychology/sociology, or related field required.
• One year of experience in employment or vocational services.

Responsibilities

• Create employment opportunities for clients via business networking.
• Research and follow up on local job leads.
• Negotiate job description modifications with employers to support client needs.
• Spend 65% of time on outreach and opportunity development.
• Provide career development, placement, and retention support for adults with mental health disabilities.
• Coordinate services with treatment teams to ensure integrated care.
• Utilize computers and EHRs to document services.
• Follow local employment program policies and standards.
• Demonstrate patience and empathy with clients facing mental health challenges.
• Use Microsoft Office and Salesforce to track data.

Skills

Outreach & networking

Career counseling

Employer negotiation

Microsoft Office

Salesforce

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing/sales/HR/psychology/sociology or related field

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position: Vocational Specialist - N. Seattle

Location: Meridian Center for Health, WA

Job Id: 846

# of Openings: 0

SIGNING BONUS $1500

Bachelor's salary range: $23.98 - $30.73

Master's salary range: $27.77 - $35.87

About Us

As a non‑profit organization, Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care is dedicated to serving our community by offering a wide range of mental health services, from inpatient to outpatient care. We believe that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment. Join us in making a difference every day!

Role Overview

Employment provides more than steady income. For individuals struggling with mental illness, employment is a vehicle to their recovery that provides a sense of purpose.

As a Vocational Specialist, you are the bridge that unites community partners with employment seekers, whose lives are affected by mental illness. If you find value in employment for people and can see the importance of partnering with community businesses to fulfill that value, Valley Cities Behavioral Health has a unique opportunity for you.

Valley Cities is looking for a full‑time Vocational Specialist to join our team. In this role, the Vocational Specialist will utilize techniques to build community partnerships, as well as provide direct clinical engagement to help job seekers find and retain employment. The Vocational Specialist consults with area business partners to learn about job opportunities and then prepares, places, & supports job seekers to be successful in those roles, breaking down barriers that are a result of mental health challenges. A Vocational Specialist needs to be self‑directed, organized, and willing to travel throughout the community.

Key Responsibilities

• Create employment opportunities for clients/job seekers through business networking
• Research and follow‑through on job leads in the local community.
• Negotiates with employers for modification of job descriptions or restructuring of job duties to better accommodate the support needs of the individual.
• Spends 65% of time in outreach, negotiating and seeking career opportunities.
• Provides career development services including vocational planning, job placement, and job retention support for adults with mental health disabilities.
• Able to effectively coordinate services with treatment team members.
• Uses a computer to efficiently navigate the internet, write and submit reports, and utilize an electronic health record for documentation of services.
• Follows King County’s Supported Employment Program policies and standards.
• Exhibits patience and empathy with a sometimes‑vulnerable population of our community, who are challenged by mental illness.
• Contributes to clinical consultation groups, advocating that employment is a necessity to a client’s recovery.
• Utilizes software programs such as Microsoft Office Programs and Salesforce to accurately track data.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in the areas of marketing/sales, human resources, psychology/sociology, or another related field required.

Experience

• Knowledge of mental illness as a hidden disability & stigma that exists in the community.
• One year of experience in employment or vocational services.

Other

• Current driver’s license and automotive insurance
• Pass required background checks.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package to include medical, dental, vision and 403(b).
• 21 days of PTO, plus 11 Paid Holidays
• Free Supervision Hours towards Washington State Licensure
• Potential participation Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• A positive and collaborative work environment.
• A chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of our employees/clients.

How to Apply

If you are ready to take the next step in your career and join a company that values your contributions, we would love to hear from you!

Please submit your resume (cover letter optional) detailing your relevant experience and why you are the perfect fit for this role.

Join us at Valley Cities and be part of a team that is dedicated to making a difference every day. We look forward to welcoming you on board!

Schedule

For a Vocational Specialist at Valley Cities Behavioral Health, the position is dynamic, providing opportunities for those who thrive in an ever‑evolving environment. Discussion of schedules is encouraged during the interview process from both candidate and hiring manager.

Equal Opportunity Employment & E‑Verify

We are dedicated to Equal Opportunity Employment & embrace the contributions of a diverse and inclusive workforce. Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans and does not unlawfully discriminate under federal, state, or local laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.

This employer participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E‑Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E‑Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I‑9.

Valley Cities is dedicated to Equal Opportunity Employment.

Valley Cities is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to recruit, hire, train, promote, reassign, compensate, and administer all personnel actions without regard to age, sex, race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or medical condition including pregnancy. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job‑related factors.

Valley Cities also provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs or practices fully required by law. If you would like to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources.