Employment Specialist

Canopy Northwest Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR

Reports To: Employment Services Manager
Type: Full-time
Compensation: $23 Hourly

The Employment Specialist will support refugees in securing employment and pursuing opportunities for economic advancement through training and career pathways. The Employment Specialist will build and maintain relationships with workforce development agencies, employers, community colleges, training providers, and other key stakeholders to expand employment and advancement opportunities for participants. This position is contingent upon grant funding.

• Conduct a landscape analysis to identify career pathways with clear opportunities for wage and skills growth, available training and bridge programs, potential funding resources, and barriers refugees may face in accessing these opportunities.

• Develop Family Self-Sufficiency Plans (FSSPs) and Individual Employment Plans (IEPs) and assist participants in establishing and achieving employment and career goals.

• Establish and maintain relationships with employers to identify workforce needs, expand employment opportunities, and support successful job placement and career advancement.

• Identify career advancement opportunities and connect participants with vocational training, credentialing, and other education and training opportunities that align with their goals and employer workforce needs.

• Recruit and match career and industry mentors with program participants, as appropriate.

• Work with businesses to provide information, resources, and training that support the successful recruitment, onboarding, and retention of refugee employees.

• Build and maintain relationships with workforce development agencies, educational institutions, training providers, and other community partners to expand participant access to employment and training opportunities.

• Maintain accurate and timely case files and program records documenting participant services, employer and community partnerships, referrals, training, and employment-related activities.

This position may supervise volunteers and interns.

• Ability to effectively communicate participant skills and qualifications to prospective employers and promote Canopy NWA's employment services within the business community.

• Understanding of the Arkansas job market and adult education and training programs.

• Experience in job development and coalition building are preferred, particularly in Arkansas.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships and partnerships with diverse stakeholders.

• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with American Job Centers and other workforce development partners.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business and technical documents or instructions related to employment programs and businesses.

• Ability to contribute to program reporting by maintaining accurate data on employer relationships, workforce partnerships, participant services, and employment activities.

• Ability to facilitate training and workshops with workforce partners, employers, and other stakeholders.

• Demonstrated cross-cultural communication skills and ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

• Ability to track and report program data accurately and consistently.

• Proficiency in one or more additional languages (Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Pashto, Dari, Arabic, Afrikaans, or Spanish) is preferred.

• Excellent written, verbal, and listening skills. English proficiency required.

• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and provide proof of auto liability insurance.

• Other duties as required.

Bachelor's degree (B.A./B.S.) from four-year college or university; or two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Background in refugee employment is a plus.

Approximately 35 hours per week

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and sit.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20…