Employment Specialist

Description

Position Summary:

The Employment Specialist will support refugees and immigrants in attaining self-sufficiency through employment-related supportive services and education about working in a U.S. context. The Employment Specialist will build relationships with employers through partnership with area employers. This role also provides support to businesses seeking to improve their hiring and onboarding practices. The position’s hours are anytime between Monday and Saturday. This position has an option to work from home on a limited basis and requires supervisor approval. 

Accountability:

The Employment Specialist is accountable to the Director of Education Services.

Qualifications:

• B.A. degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Education, ESL, and/or related field or relevant experience required.
• Experience working with refugees and/or immigrants preferred.
• One to two years of experience providing social services or employment services. 
• Fluency in Swahili, French, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Pashto, Dari, or Arabic is desirable but not required. 
• Knowledge of the resources and programs available in Linn County and surrounding areas.
• Experience completing case notes and outside agency applications
• Possession of a driver’s license and personal transportation and insurance required.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality concerning volunteers, clients, students, children, and staff or agency business.
• Excellent written and verbal/oral communication skills.
• Ability to develop rapport with people of all ages, backgrounds, and economic resources, and to treat others in a friendly, courteous, and appreciative manner.
• Strong decision-making skills
• Flexibility and ability to handle stress and new or undefined situations.
• Ability to address conflict and problem solve.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize projects and tasks.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, take initiative, and manage multiple projects with changing priorities.
• Computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite and databases such as Salesforce, and/or ability to learn new software and systems.
• Behave as a professional representative of CMC and communicate the mission and activities.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to issues related to literacy, immigrants, refugees, women, poverty, and mental illness.
• Commitment to the CMC mission and the values of the Sisters of Mercy.

Responsibilities:

• Employer Outreach Duties: 
• Identifies area employers who hire immigrants and refugees. 
• Identifies area employers who would benefit from hiring immigrants and refugees. 
• Performs outreach to include calls, emails, and tours to employers’ place of business along with tours of CMC. 
• Keeps a timely record of each outreach event in Salesforce. 

Client and Employment Duties:

• Determines specific employment opportunities appropriate to clients and assists clients in accessing these opportunities by guiding them through the application and hiring process.
• Refers program participants to community resources and other services.
• Monitors client job performance, wage level, and employer/employee satisfaction.
• Assists clients and employers as necessary with post placement issues and continuing employment needs.
• Provides advocacy, assessment, and case management services to individuals, families and groups. 
• Assists enrolled individuals and families in addressing needs such as personal and family adjustments, finances, employment, food, clothing, housing, and physical and mental impairments to determine nature and degree of problem. 
• Refers program participants to community resources and other services.
• Compiles records and prepares statistical reports as required. Reviews service plan and performs follow-up to determine quantity and quality of service provided and status of the program participant’s case. 
• Completes accurate and timely case notes and reports. Submits documentation to the supervisor according to established timelines.

General Agency Duties

• Be able to explain CMC program information to students, clients, residents, volunteers and others in the community.
• Present a positive image of the Center and its programs.
• Provide direction, guidance and support to volunteers and interns as relevant to role, foster relationships with, and show appreciation for volunteers with whom you are in direct contact.
• Contribute to the CMC newsletter, board/committee reports and other public information activities as needed.
• Assist with CMC fundraising efforts and serve on event committees as needed.  
• Maintain clean and organized facilities including the storage and archives.
• Assist with the shared staff responsibilities for security of the clients/volunteers and building.
• Perform other duties as requested/assigned.

Physical Work Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. 
• The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time, work at a computer, and engage in repetitive hand and/or wrist movements. 
• The employee occasionally lifts and/ or moves up to 40 lbs. 
• 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. 
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.