Employment Specialist

Position Title: Employment Specialist
Department: Refugee and Immigrant Department (RIS)
Division: College Readiness/Learner Supports (CLR)
Employee Status: Full-time
Group: Professional Staff Association (PSA) Grant Funded through 6-30-2026
Grade: J
Salary: (48,536-$51,300 annually)
FLSA: Exempt
ICCB Classification: Professional
Issued: 08/2025
Application Deadline: September 2, 2025
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Reporting Relationships
Reports to: Program Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services
Supervision Exercised: None

Job Summary
The Employment Specialist supports job readiness and placement efforts for program participants, with a focus on individuals with limited English proficiency. This role involves building strong relationships with area employers, promoting the skills and legal work eligibility of participants, and creating successful employment matches. The specialist provides individualized counseling, conducts job readiness workshops, and assists participants with resumes, applications, and interview preparation. Working closely with internal staff and interpreters, the Employment Specialist helps remove barriers to employment and ensures ongoing support for job retention. This position also involves tracking program outcomes, maintaining accurate documentation, and staying informed of local labor market trends to meet grant objectives and support participant success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Additional related duties may be assigned.

• Establish relationships and maintain close contact with area employers for job development and placement opportunities especially with employers who hire limited English proficient individuals.
• Educate area employers about the skills of program participants and ability to work legally in the U.S.
• Create appropriate matches with candidates and employers to ensure successful employment outcomes.
• Communicate with employers and program participant employees as needed to help facilitate job retention and the satisfaction of both the employer and employee.
• Meet measurable outcomes and metrics as established by the grant program projections. Work with the Program Director to adjust approach as needed.
• Maintain regular contact with participants actively seeking employment.
• Counsel and provide employment focused case management in regards to job readiness by educating program participants about U.S. workplace culture and expectations via workshops and one on one participant counseling.
• Work closely with the refugee program coordinator, case managers, and interpreters to remove participant barriers to employment. Maintain participant files and record services in the case note database.
• Assist participants in building their resume and completing job applications.
• Practice interview skills with participants as they prepare for potential employment interviews.
• Assist with the planning, development, coordination, marketing, and evaluation of employment services offered by the program.
• Attend and participate in conferences, job fairs, and workshops as they relate to job duties.
• Stay current with community employment needs and related skills required for employment.
• Show flexibility and understanding in dealing with persons from diverse social, economic and educational backgrounds.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Regular attendance is required and expected.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree in human services or related field required. Bachelors’ degree preferred.
• 2-3 years of related experience required. Experience working with industry or employers preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• High customer service focus.
• Functional use of Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in either Spanish, French, Arabic, or Swahili.

Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting.

Physical Demands
Physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, talk, and hear.