Employment Advocate

Organization: Community Action Center (CAC) is a community-based, non-profit, human
services organization that provides and advocates for the basic needs of people and families
throughout Rice County. Its programs create a robust safety net for low-income families and
include food access, housing, employment services, clothing, emergency assistance, youth
services, transportation, health care assistance, and more.

CAC provides drop-in resource centers where immediate response and support are available,
and its thriving and abundant food shelves serve fresh, healthy, and culturally relevant food to
thousands of households each year. CAC also administers multiple housing services spanning
from emergency shelter to permanent supportive housing, including ongoing case management
with tenants. CAC’s Recovery Support program helps individuals who are currently using or in
recovery from substance use disorder. Partnerships with local employers allow CAC to connect
individuals to job opportunities and enhance job skills, and CAC’s retail clothing store provides
the entire community with access to affordable clothing.

Mission & Values: CAC’s mission is to promote a healthy, caring, and just community for all
people through resources, advocacy, and volunteer effort. To that end, CAC strives to be a
trauma-responsive organization, providing services that embody the idea that people can adapt,
heal, and even grow from traumatic experiences. Recognizing the effects that trauma has on
individuals, families, and our society as a whole, CAC aims to reduce the impact of trauma on
the lives that the organization touches by helping individuals to feel safe, connected and in
control—over the course of many interpersonal interactions and in a variety of welcoming
settings. Responding to the community in a trauma-responsive way is critical to the success of
this position and to the mission of the CAC.

CAC’s resources and staff are integral parts of their communities and include partnerships with
schools, businesses, faith communities, and other organizations. This extensive local network
allows CAC to pursue community-engaged solutions, prioritize partnerships, and collaborate
with thousands of volunteers. Currently, we are looking for an Employment Advocate to help
support the community-responsive work of CAC.

Job Title: Employment Advocate
Reports to: Resource Center Manager
Primary Location: Flexible between Northfield and Faribault
FLSA Status: Hourly, non-exempt
Compensation: $18-21
Hour Status: 20-40 hours

1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite HS-200 Northfield MN 55057
507.664.3550 PHONE 507.664.3540 FAX www.communityactioncenter.org

Job Summary: The principal purpose of the Employment Advocate will be to build trusting
relationships with individuals accessing employment support and resources at CAC. The
Employment Advocate will also develop and maintain collaborative relationships within our CAC
team of Community, Housing, and Recovery Advocates, as well as employers throughout the
area. The Employment Advocate will support the SNAP Employment and Training grant in order
to help people navigate all resources for employment readiness including resume building, job
searches and applications, support services, accessing special certifications and credentials,
and/or post-secondary certificates or diplomas to obtain employment.

Primary Job Responsibilities: CAC’s success depends on the ability of its staff and volunteers
to adjust and adapt as they dynamically meet the needs of the community. Job responsibilities
include but are not limited to:

Support Services – Responsible for building trusting relationships with community
members accessing CAC employment support. Tasks and activities to include:

• Provide person-centered, trauma-responsive practices to engage and maintain

• Conduct intake and assessments to reflect the strengths, needs, and challenges

• Provide appropriate service coordination in response to intake and assessment,

• Assist people in applying for resources and benefits, offer educational assistance

• Identify and reduce barriers to employment as well as provide holistic

• Develop individualized educational goals with participants and follow up to

• Maintain participant records and case notes in CAC database and Workforce

• Verify SNAP enrollment through MAXIS database and pull data reports as

• 80% of time will be dedicated to supporting employment and training needs of

1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite HS-200 Northfield MN 55057
507.664.3550 PHONE 507.664.3540 FAX www.communityactioncenter.org

Partnerships and Collaboration – Responsible for building trusting relationships with
employers. Tasks and activities to include:

• Work in partnership with local employers to identify trends and gaps, resources

• Assist in building new relationships and employment connections

General Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate commitment to the agency’s mission: “To promote a healthy, caring, and

• Employ trauma-responsive, person-centered care practices to create a safe and healing

• Utilize crisis intervention and conflict resolution skills to support individuals and families

• Follow all mandated reporting laws for vulnerable adults as well as child abuse and

• Attend and actively participate in CAC team and staff meetings, trainings, and all staff

Work Environment and Physical Demands:While performing the duties of this job the
employee is regularly required to walk, stand, bend, kneel, use hands to write, use
computers, and lift up to 40 lbs. Employees are subject to a minimal noise level.

Qualifications: CAC is committed to finding the right person for the position, ideal
candidates will possess many of the following qualities:

1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite HS-200 Northfield MN 55057
507.664.3550 PHONE 507.664.3540 FAX www.communityactioncenter.org

Compensation: The position is designed as a full-time 20-40-hour/week, non-exempt
position. Hourly wage will depend on experience and qualifications with a starting range
$18-21/hour plus benefits (including a stipend for health care). Some components of the
position may require occasional night or weekend hours as well as possible travel throughout
Rice County. CAC offers flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities,
and a chance to creatively build and implement innovative ideas.

Equal Opportunity: CAC is an equal opportunity organization. CAC believes that the most
efficient and effective workplaces include employees from diverse backgrounds. We strive to
create a work environment where all employees and individuals, regardless of race, creed,
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation,
gender identity, disability, public assistance status or veteran status, can succeed and make an
impact in the community.

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

Application and Hiring Process: CAC will be interviewing on a rolling basis until the position
is filled. To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three
professional references to employment@communityactioncenter.org. Inquiries and questions
can be sent to this same e-mail address or by contacting CAC’s Resource Center Manager,
Lisa Sexton, at sexton.lisa@communityactioncenter.org or 507-350-7072.

1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite HS-200 Northfield MN 55057
507.664.3550 PHONE 507.664.3540 FAX www.communityactioncenter.org