Employment Specialist

The Employment Specialist assists refugees and other qualified immigrants to attain self-sufficiency through employment by guiding them through employment preparation, coordinating job placements, and other career advancement services. This role involves conducting employability assessments, providing job readiness coaching, and developing employment plans for clients.

Responsibilities

• Conduct an employability assessment and provide program orientation to clients eligible for employment services.
• Develop comprehensive employment and career development plans and budget strategies for each employable adult.
• Provide job readiness and job search coaching and connect clients with job opportunities.
• Provide one-on-one assistance to help clients prepare their resumes, search for appropriate job opportunities, and practice interview skills.
• Provide individual mentorship on resume writing, interview preparation, job search techniques, and other skills related to career advancement.
• Ensure the delivery of group coaching and instruction of advanced work readiness and other employability skills.
• Support clients in identifying, enrolling, and completing vocational training activities such as certification attainment, apprenticeships, and paid/unpaid work experience.
• Assist participants with networking and provide job application review.
• Accompany clients to job preparation activities, interviews, and job site tours.
• Coach clients, so they can attend these events independently in the future.
• Develop and cultivate long-term relationships with area employers and staffing agencies to identify appropriate employment opportunities for clients.
• Advocate for clients’ rights in the labor market by providing references and meeting with employers to educate them about the benefits of hiring refugees, asylees, and immigrants.
• Assist clients and employers as necessary with post-placement issues and continuing employment needs.
• Monitor client job performance, wage levels, and related metrics.
• Detail each client interaction in accordance with program requirements.
• Input client information into databases and assist with tracking and reporting as needed.
• Collaborate effectively with coworkers and partner organizations.
• Build and maintain relationships with area service providers for the benefit of clients.
• Use personal, insured vehicle and/or public transportation to travel and transport clients and materials as needed throughout the service delivery area.
• May train and lead the activities of support staff, volunteers, and interns.
• Other related duties as assigned, including but not limited to front desk support, assistance with other direct service teams or tasks.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field of study preferred.
• Relevant professional experience in workforce development field required; minimum of 2 years’ experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations strongly preferred.
• Experience with job placement and job readiness training a plus.
• Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in work product.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written; proficiency in language(s) spoken by IRC’s clients is desired.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research and problem-solving purposes.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a personal, insured vehicle.

Skills

• Workforce Development
• Refugee Employment Support
• Job Placement Activities
• Job Readiness Training
• Employability Assessment
• Employment Planning
• Career Coaching
• Relationship Building
• Networking
• Multicultural Communication
• MS Word
• MS Excel
• Microsoft Outlook
• Data Entry
• Digital Research
• Time Management
• Problem Solving

Languages

English