Workforce Development Specialist

Volunteers of America Mid-States; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness program

Medical Coverage

Dental Coverage

Vision Coverage

403b retirement plan with company fund

Company-paid benefits and paid timeOff

Job summary

Volunteers of America Mid-States in Knoxville, TN seeks a Workforce Development Specialist to deliver comprehensive workforce development services for individuals facing barriers to employment. You will provide career coaching, individualized employment planning, and case management, while coordinating supportive services and maintaining compliance with funding regulations.

You will build partnerships with employers, educational institutions, and community organizations to expand opportunities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Business, Workforce Development, Education, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of two years of experience in workforce development, case management, employment services, career coaching, vocational rehabilitation, or related human services.
• Knowledge of workforce development strategies, employment retention practices, career planning, supportive services, and community resources.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing barriers to employment, including justice involvement, recovery, homelessness, unemployment, or other socioeconomic challenges.

Responsibilities

• Conduct participant intake, assessments, eligibility determination, and individualized employment planning.
• Develop and monitor participant employment and career advancement goals.
• Provide career coaching, job readiness instruction, resume development, interviewing preparation.
• Coordinate supportive services to reduce barriers to employment, including transportation, work clothing, certifications, tools, and other employment-related needs.
• Maintain regular participant contact to monitor progress toward employment and career goals.
• Conduct employment retention follow-up and provide continued support following placement.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local employers, staffing agencies, workforce partners, educational institutions, and community organizations.
• Identify employment opportunities aligned with participant skills and career interests.
• Coordinate hiring events, employer recruitment activities, job fairs, and workforce outreach initiatives.
• Maintain ongoing communication with employers to support successful employee retention.
• Conduct outreach activities to recruit eligible participants and increase community awareness of program services.
• Build referral partnerships with treatment providers, recovery organizations, probation and parole, educational institutions, Kentucky Career Center, housing providers, and other community partners.
• Represent VOA Work at community meetings, employer events, workforce initiatives, and networking opportunities.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely case documentation within required electronic case management systems.
• Complete progress notes, assessments, case plans, supportive service documentation, and employment verification within required timeframes.
• Verify employment through employer contact and participant documentation.
• Track participant outcomes, credential attainment, employment placements, and retention milestones.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements, agency policies, confidentiality standards, and accreditation requirements.
• Participate in quality assurance reviews, monitoring activities, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with Career Coaches, Program Managers, Peer Support Specialists, housing providers, and community partners to coordinate participant services.
• Participate in multidisciplinary staffing meetings and case consultations.
• Assist with special projects, grant initiatives, and organizational workforce development activities as assigned.

Skills

Organization

Communication

Documentation

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Business, Workforce Development, Education, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic case management systems

Job description

POSITION TITLE: Workforce Development Specialist

LOCATION: Knoxville, TN

STATUS: Full Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt

PROGRAM: VOA Work

REPORTS TO: Senior Program Manager

INTRODUCTION

Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA) is a non-profit organization spanning four states that creates positive change in the lives of individuals and communities through a ministry of service. We provide housing for families, veterans, and low-income seniors. We provide care and support for individuals with developmental disabilities, healing accountability that brings people together with restorative justice, and free HIV testing and education. When Volunteers of America was founded in 1896, "volunteer" referred to anyone who served others as a vocation through a commitment to a mission. Today, we are still staffed by paid, mission-driven professionals working to create positive change and build thriving communities. Flexibility, teamwork, and fun are some of the reasons our employees are proud to work at VOA! We offer a comprehensive benefits package to employees who meet eligibility requirements.

BENEFITS

Volunteers of America Mid-States, offers a rich and robust benefits package the supports a healthy work life balance, which include the following:

Health and Wellness

• Employee Assistance Plans (EAP)
• Health and Wellness Program
• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Spending Account
• Short Term Disability
• MetLife Legal Plans

Financial Wellbeing

• Competitive Compensation Packages
• Life Insurance (company paid)
• 403b retirement plan with company fund matching
• Employee discounts

• Loan forgiveness options through federal programs

• All company paid benefits and paid time off effective day one

(National Health Corp & Public Service Loan Forgiveness)

Work Culture

• Commitment Committee
• Justice Committee
• Integrity Committee
• Compassion Committee
• Retention Committee

Training & Development

• VOA LEAD Program- Leadership Development Program
• VOA University - Staff Development
• VOA Academy - Clinical Training and Development

JOB SUMMARY AND QUALIFICATIONS

The Workforce Development Specialist is responsible for delivering comprehensive workforce development services that assist individuals experiencing barriers to employment in obtaining, maintaining, and advancing in competitive employment. This position provides individualized career coaching, employment planning, case management, employer engagement, workforce readiness training, supportive service coordination, and employment retention services while ensuring compliance with all program requirements and funding regulations.
The Workforce Development Specialist develops strong partnerships with employers, educational institutions, community organizations, and referral agencies to expand employment opportunities and improve participant outcomes. This position plays a critical role in advancing workforce participation, increasing earned income, and supporting long-term economic self-sufficiency through participant-centered service delivery.

WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE FOR THIS ROLE

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Business, Workforce Development, Education, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of two years of experience in workforce development, case management, employment services, career coaching, vocational rehabilitation, or related human services.
• Knowledge of workforce development strategies, employment retention practices, career planning, supportive services, and community resources.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing barriers to employment, including justice involvement, recovery, homelessness, unemployment, or other socioeconomic challenges.
• Strong organizational, communication, documentation, and time management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and electronic case management systems.
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel throughout the service area.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Participant Services

• Conduct participant intake, assessments, eligibility determination, and individualized employment planning.
• Develop and monitor participant employment and career advancement goals.
• Provide career coaching, job readiness instruction, resume development, interviewing preparation.
• Coordinate supportive services to reduce barriers to employment, including transportation, work clothing, certifications, tools, and other employment-related needs.
• Maintain regular participant contact to monitor progress toward employment and career goals.
• Conduct employment retention follow-up and provide continued support following placement.

Employer Engagement

• Develop and maintain relationships with local employers, staffing agencies, workforce partners, educational institutions, and community organizations.
• Identify employment opportunities aligned with participant skills and career interests.
• Coordinate hiring events, employer recruitment activities, job fairs, and workforce outreach initiatives.
• Maintain ongoing communication with employers to support successful employee retention.

Outreach & Community Partnerships

• Conduct outreach activities to recruit eligible participants and increase community awareness of program services.
• Build referral partnerships with treatment providers, recovery organizations, probation and parole, educational institutions, Kentucky Career Center, housing providers, and other community partners.
• Represent VOA Work at community meetings, employer events, workforce initiatives, and networking opportunities.

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely case documentation within required electronic case management systems.
• Complete progress notes, assessments, case plans, supportive service documentation, and employment verification within required timeframes.
• Verify employment through employer contact and participant documentation.
• Track participant outcomes, credential attainment, employment placements, and retention milestones.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements, agency policies, confidentiality standards, and accreditation requirements.
• Participate in quality assurance reviews, monitoring activities, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Team Collaboration

• Collaborate with Career Coaches, Program Managers, Peer Support Specialists, housing providers, and community partners to coordinate participant services.
• Participate in multidisciplinary staffing meetings and case consultations.
• Assist with special projects, grant initiatives, and organizational workforce development activities as assigned.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.