Career Specialist

Chicago House empowers persons living with or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS to lead healthy and dignified lives, through housing and compassionate, client-centered support services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Deliver employment services on-site at Howard Brown three days a week and two days a week on-site at Chicago House.
• Provide employment related drop-in services to clients at Howard Brown including: information on the Chicago House Employment Program and services offered, benefits, resume and cover letter assistance, help job applications and computer skills, interview preparation, transportation and clothing resources, and referrals to internal and external resources.
• Screen each patient and if the topic of employment issues or needs come up the client is offered a referral to the Career Specialist.
• Conduct an intake and assessments and other documentation for client records Document each visit with the client in Howard Brown's electronic management system, and generate a note in the system as a referral to the Career Specialist so that the Career Specialist may follow-up with the client to engage in employment services Maintain record keeping procedures also in Chicago Houses' database which include writing daily case notes on participants' progress, participants' employment status and completing monthly reports.
• Provide brief services as well as long-term employment services.
• Provide career counseling and assist in the development of clients' short/long term employment goals.
• Coordinate referrals to related supportive services, including benefits counseling, housing, mental health services, substance use services, medical services, etc. Assist participants with job search, interview, resume and cover letter writing skill development. Evaluate and monitor program participants' progress towards completing employment preparation components and achieving career goals.
• Meet at least weekly with program participants to review and monitor progress towards completing short-term and long-term goals identified in work plans and revise work plans when appropriate.
• Collaborate with Howard Brown staff regularly to familiarize them with the employment program at Chicago House and the services offered on-site at Howard Brown
• Coordinate services between external providers, participant and other Employment staff to promote collaboration and to advocate on behalf of participant, as needed. Attend Chicago House staff meetings, employment meetings and individual supervision meetings, as required.
• Represent Chicago House at meetings and functions addressing workforce development issues, and employment and retention issues. Represent Chicago House at contractor meetings and at other community meetings when applicable.
• Travel throughout the Chicagoland area approximately fifty percent of the time will be required.

REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in social work or a related field is required, MSW, LCSW, or training in Vocational Rehab preferred;
• Minimum of 2 years working in social work and/or employment services is required; Experience practicing Trauma-Informed Care, Harm Reduction, and/or Supported Employment required.
• Familiarity with HIV/AIDS, the LGBTQ Community, Substance Use, Mental Health, and Post-Correctional care preferred;
• Previous case management and/or job development experience preferred; Outgoing and assertive personality;
• Ability to work cooperatively as a part of a team in a clinical and non-clinical setting; Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organization and documentation skills.
• Proven ability to collaborate successfully across diverse cultural and social communities Prefer candidates who have access to reliable personal transportation and the willingness to travel throughout the Chicagoland area.

EMAIL RESUME & COVER LETTER TO:lkarlic@chicagohouse.org

Chicago House is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, sex assigned at birth, arrest record, HIV status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.