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Form of workPosition Title: Employment Specialist/Coach FLSA Code: Exempt
Department: Workforce Development Reports to: Director of Workforce
Position Overview
Founded in 1971, Centers for New Horizons, Inc. (Centers) is a nonprofit organization that assists children, youth, and families to become self-reliant. With 200+ full-time staff, most of whom live in or near its service communities, Centers provides programs in thirteen locations throughout the Bronzeville, Englewood, and Riverdale communities of Chicago's Southside that reach over 1,000 individuals daily.
Essential Functions
The Employment Specialist provides a variety of education and employment counseling, referral, placement and/or related services to eligible program participants. Maintains client documentation by completing forms necessary to maintain compliance status, compiling progress reports, and entering information into a database. Employment Specialists are responsible for providing participants one-on-one coaching sessions, case management support, and adhering to all program requirements.
Essential Responsibilities
Founded in 1971, Centers for New Horizons, Inc. (Centers) is a nonprofit organization that assists children, youth, and families to become self-reliant. With 200+ full-time staff, most of whom live in or near its service communities, Centers provides programs in thirteen locations throughout the Bronzeville, Englewood, and Riverdale communities of Chicago's Southside that reach over 1,000 individuals daily.
Essential Functions
The Employment Specialist provides a variety of education and employment counseling, referral, placement and/or related services to eligible program participants. Maintains client documentation by completing forms necessary to maintain compliance status, compiling progress reports, and entering information into a database. Employment Specialists are responsible for providing participants one-on-one coaching sessions, case management support, and adhering to all program requirements.
Essential Responsibilities
- Manage participants’ caseload
- Develop comprehensive services and resources to assist participants with career and academic planning toward employment goals
- Meet with each workforce development program participant upon enrollment to establish an individualized career training and placement strategy
- Interview, advise, and guide a diverse population of clients to ascertain employability; interpret and explain regulations, rules, policies, and procedures to clients; may determine client eligibility for services; advise clients of their rights, benefits, responsibilities, and obligations under program participation
- Assist participants with establishing their individual employment plan (IEP) toward goals and serve as an advisor as needed
- Assist participants with creating a professional portfolio
- Coach participants on making lifestyle changes to sustain successful career development initiatives
- Develop new resources and/or re-kindle existing ones to create new work sites and employment opportunities
- Ensure that applications and other forms are completed accurately and thoroughly
- Provide required documentation for approval of supportive services for client transportation, employment and training needs
- Prepare and submit weekly and monthly reports and required documentation demonstrating the progress of weekly and monthly goals
- Monitor and evaluate client's progress through program components; monitor service providers through reports and site visits; resolve problems or provide guidance and counseling; make phone calls or conduct field visits to investigate clients' progress in various programs designed to assist clients in preparing for and obtaining employment
- Input necessary information into automated system(s); organizes cases; maintain and update records on client employment, training, and follow-up activities; take required action(s) established by regulations and/or department policy; and prepare reports on client and program activities
- Maintain an awareness of the local job market and opportunities to assist in providing guidance to clients; may arrange for employment interviews, attend job fairs, conduct special workshops, presentations, group orientations, or perform other training and outreach activities
- Cultivate relationships with workforce development entities, local economic development councils, area, and regional employers
- Meet with Business Service Representative to discuss participants’ statuses
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of occupations, job skills, labor market trends, community resources, and vocational services
- Knowledge and understanding of job referral and placement procedures
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with individuals and groups
- Must have moderate proficiency in keyboarding or be willing to receive additional training to improve speed and accuracy
- Ability to communicate effectively and project a professional image when giving and taking information in writing, in person, and over the phone
- Must be able to work in an independent manner
- Must possess good time-management, problem-prevention, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to take initiative and prioritize tasks
- Ability to work accurately with close attention to detail
- Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information
- Ability to work with co-workers, customers, and outside agencies professionally and tactfully while exhibiting a professional, businesslike appearance and demeanor
- Must display flexibility, patience, and compassion when working with consumers
Qualifications
Completion of a directly related degree from an accredited institution/university or equivalent combination of training and experience. At least 2 years of work experience that can be demonstrated to be applicable to the duties listed in the job description. Completion of a Job Development or Workforce Development certification training is preferred. Must have a vehicle with a valid Driver’s License.
EEO Statement
Centers for New Horizons, its partners, and subcontractors are committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation; and to making all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity.
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
Centers for New Horizons, its partners, and subcontractors are committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation; and to making all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity.
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
