What are the responsibilities and job description for the Employment Specialist position at Total Action For Progress?
Roanoke, VA
CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt
Every TAP employee shares in TAP’s responsibility to “Mobilize Community Resources” in support of TAP’s anti-poverty efforts.
DEFINITION AND PURPOSE:
Responsible for client employment services. Work with area employers to ensure VACares clients find self-sustaining employment.
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
Supervised by: Program Manager
Supervises: No one
Coordinates with: Local businesses, homeless Vets, Fatherhood, local jails, Virginia Western
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Establishes contacts with prospective new employers.
- Maintains contact with existing employers.
- Facilitates employment relationship between employers and participants.
- Assists participants enrolled in program to seek and/or obtain suitable employment.
- Develops relationships with temporary employers and/or temporary employment agencies, when applicable.
- Strives to meet program placement goals.
- Meets with employers to market VaCARES, develops ongoing relationships, and develops job placement opportunities for participants.
- Forms working relationships with community employment services and resources, including Virginia Employment Commission, Disability Rehabilitative Services of Virginia, local Chambers of Commerce and the Virginia Workforce Investment Board.
- Conducts employment group sessions and classes.
- Recruits community volunteers to participate in job readiness workshops.
- Counsels participants on career planning and administers career study/aptitude tests to determine client interests and skill level.
- Counsels participants on job seeking skills.
- Maintains an ongoing list of employers and job openings sharing the same with participants. Posts job openings in CARES office.
- Assists participants with employment needs, supplying clothing and accessing assistive technology resources when applicable.
- Assists participants in obtaining appropriate employment documents.
- Assists participants with approved transportation requirements.
- Conducts employment follow-ups in a timely manner.
- Maintains complete participant files.
- Inputs required employment information in CARES data system at baseline, six months during program participation, and six months post-graduation.
- Prepares required monthly report and submits in a timely manner.
- Attends trainings and meetings as required by program.
- Performs other duties as assigned and required.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of employer’s policy and procedures preferred.
- Working knowledge of state employment regulations and human resource policies preferred.
- Experience with offenders and ex-offenders helpful.
- Must be computer literate.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office required.
- Knowledge of computer data entry required.
- Excellent organizational skills and leadership ability.
- Good written and oral communication skills a must.
- Ability to communicate with various racial and economic backgrounds.
- Ability to work independently.
- Demonstrated ability to instruct adults in job seeking and retention skills, including resume writing and conflict resolution.
TRAINING, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Graduation from a four-year college or have related experience.
- Experience with human services or offender/ex-offender programs preferred.
- Training and experience in employment services preferred.
- Training and experience in facilitating groups preferred.
- At TAP, we focus on the Whole Family Approach. Whole Family is a family led strategy to achieve set goals. As an employee you may be required to attend Whole Family training and subject to data entry into the agency’s software as part of the Whole Family approach and serving clients
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Reliable transportation and a valid Virginia Operator’s license with a good driving record for insurance purposes.
- TAP participates in the Virginia DMV Driver Alert Program. Employees who operate a TAP vehicle or their personal vehicle to conduct TAP business may be subject to driver record monitoring through the Virginia DMV Driver Alert Program.
- This position is eligible for remote work upon supervisor’s approval.
- Able and willing to travel extensively.
- Must pass drug screening. Some positions require positive complete background screening including: criminal, sex offender and child protective services.
- Physical activity of this position – climbing; ascending and descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like; stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, use of fingers for – picking, pinching and typing; grasping, feeling, hearing, talking, repetitive motion of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
- Physical requirements of this position – light work; exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently.
- Visual acuity requirements of this position – close visual acuity to perform such activities as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.
- Conditions subject to in this position – worker not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
This description provides information regarding the essential functions of the designated job, and general nature and level of work associated with the job. It should not be interpreted to describe all the duties that may be required of such employees or be used to limit the nature and extent of assignments such an individual may be given.
We only hire individuals legally eligible for employment in the United States.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Drug Free Workplace
Bilingual Ability is a plus.
Salary : $17 - $19