Position: Employment Specialist

Status: Full Time

Program: Resettlement Program

Reports: Program Manager

Definition: MEIRS Employment Specialist supports overall employment and resettlement goals for newly arrived clients who identify as granted asylums seekers, refugees, Afghan/Ukrainian Parolees and other PRM & ORR eligible population. The Employment Specialist is responsible supporting clients in finding their first employment opportunities in the United States. They will schedule appointments with clients; complete employment assessments, develop resumes, submit job applications; support with preparation for Job interview, and follow up with employers and clients. This ES will support the transportation of clients and work with other case managers to meet new refugee, asylum seeker, and parolee clients’ needs. This position will be responsible for job placements for MEIRS resettled clients.

This position requires a valid driver license and reliable transportation and auto insurance with at least $100,000/ $300,000 limits.

 Responsibilities: The primary responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Support employable adults to address barriers to employment
• Coordinate and conduct initial employability assessments of new and old clients

• Develop and implement an employment service plan and family self-sufficiency plan with clients.

• Arrange for and/or transport clients to employment opportunities including job interviews and site visits as needed.

• Provide employment orientation to all work-eligible clients.

• To assist eligible clients to secure employment and attain self-sufficiency.

• To assess employment histories and develop employment plans for each client, while working closely with the clients’ resettlement case manager.

• To follow-up on all job placements with employers and assist refugees and employers in the resolution of job related problems.

• To develop and maintain relationships with employment agencies and employers, to document all employer contacts, and to maintain an employer database.

• To coordinate with RCA specialist to assure clients are in compliance with eligibility requirements ongoing.

• To assure all eligible clients are enrolled and receiving timely employability/employment services

• Attend OMRS/RAs meetings

• Other duties assigned by supervisor

Educational Qualifications: MEIRS Employment Specialist shall have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in one of the social sciences or a related field.

Experience Qualifications: MEIRS Employment Specialist shall have a minimum of two (2) years experience in social work, job development, job placement, job counseling or any cross-cultural, employment and social services related field. Cross-cultural and data collection experience is preferred. Multilingual skills preferred (Arabic, Ukrainian, Pashto, Lingala, Dari, French, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Portuguese, Kinyarwanda, Somali, Maay Maay)

Personal Qualifications: The MEIRS Employment Specialist will have flexibility, initiative, dependability, interpersonal and communication skills, be well organized, interpersonal and communication skills, the desire and ability to work with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds with different lifestyles and behaviors, and the ability to set limits and maintain boundaries. Shall also be well organized and possess sensitivity towards others.

General Expectations:

• Be committed to the mission of the MEIRS .

• To understand and work within MEIRS Personnel, Accounting, Administrative and Service Area Policies and Procedures.

• Work in harmonious relationship with all Agency staff and community.

• To accept shared responsibilities and authority with other team members to successfully accomplish the goal of each team of which he or she is a member.

• Perform duties in a conscientious, cooperative manner.

• Perform required amount of work in a timely fashion with a minimum of errors.

• To assure quality in work performed in order to facilitate the delivery of quality services.

• Be punctual for scheduled work and use time off appropriately.

• Comply fully with all relevant licensing, certification, accreditation and legal standards as required by the agency, contracts, Medicare, Medicaid (MaineCare), HIPAA and other applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

• Arrange for interpreter services, if necessary.

• Prepare narrative and statistical reports and submit to supervisor

• Enter data into the Client Track system/other database MEIRS uses in recording all employment activities in a timely and accurate fashion.

• Complete and maintain physical file documentation in case files in a timely and confidential manner.

• Attend and participate in staff meetings, supervisory meetings, other meetings, and training programs.

• Assist in the coordination of activities with other MIERS programs and work as a member of a team.

• Maintain a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

• Submit timely: timesheets, mileage and personal expenses and other required administrative tasks

Required Knowledge, skills and abilities

-Familiarity with the new Mainer’s experience in the United States is required; first-hand experience is highly valued

-Near-fluent English language speaking, understanding, reading, writing skills

-Preferred to speak, understand, read and write one or more of the following languages: Maay Maay, Somali, Lingala, Kiswahili, Pashto/Dari,French or other languages.

-Direct experience delivering direct human services.

Responsibility: Responsibilities include: working under limited supervision following standardized practices and/or methods; leading, guiding, and/or coordinating others; and tracking services . Utilization of some resources from other work units may be required to perform the job's functions. There is some opportunity to significantly impact the organization's services. 

Working Environment: The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions requires the following physical demands.

Benefits

-Paid vacation

-PTO

-Health Insurance

-Dental/vision

-STD

-LTD

All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills aptitudes and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills or abilities.

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Employee and Signature Date

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Program Manager Date 

**Maine Immigrant & Refugee Services(MEIRS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer**