Placement Specialist

Job Category: Volunteers of America Minnesota

Come join our life-changing team building hope, resilience and well-being as an Employment Placement Specialist!

Shift Details:FT – 40 hours/week

Schedule:Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:00pm with one late evening (until 7:00pm at each location, to be scheduled with the team as needed)

Compensation:$50,000-$55,000 annual salary

Locations: 2825 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406 & 1771 Kent Street, Roseville, MN 55113

About the job:

The Employment Placement Specialist (EPS) provides direct resident services in the areas of employment counseling, resident needs assessment, vocational evaluation, employment preparation, basic computer skills, referral to community resources and support services, determining program eligibility and job development and placement.

VOA manages Residential Reentry Centers (RRC) for correctional agencies that offer men and women a safe, structured, supervised environment, as well as employment counseling, job placement, financial management assistance, and other reentry programs and services.

• Interviews, advises and guides a diverse population of residents to ascertain employability. Assesses resident’s education, work experience, skills, abilities, qualifications and job interests. Assesses resident’s readiness for job referral, classroom training, on-the-job training and/or support services. Matches residents with available employment, training or other opportunities/services.
• Identifies problems/barriers that hinder employability. Assists residents in resolving and mitigating barriers to employment by identifying the need for other services and benefits. Makes appropriate referrals to community resources.
• Works with the Case Managers (CM) in the development of resident individual program plan (IPP) to ensure it addresses employment related issues and activities.
• Provides job placement resources to residents both in the RRC and in the community, to include the Department of Labor’s “One-Stop System”, consistent with current labor market trends.
• Provides employment information assistance using computer-based technology and resources which include career assistance software and on-line resources.
• Instructs residents in portfolio development, resume writing, proper dress and interview techniques.
• Provides individual and group counseling, case management and post-release follow-up relative to employment.
• Conducts assessments for resident risk, needs and strengths.
• Provides individual and group counseling that address criminogenic attitudes and behaviors.
• Conducts job fairs either on-site or in partnership with other organizations.
• Provides bi-weekly status reports to the RRM. If full-time employment, or active progress towards meeting other identified needs and goals is not obtained by a resident within 30 days of arrival to the facility, a report to the RRM outlining efforts to assist must be included.
• Develops a plan with the CM to involve the resident in productive activities to minimize a resident’s idle time.

Job Highlights:

• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Employer Paid Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability
• Quality training, continuing career education and leadership programs
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holiday & Sick Days)

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelors degree, preferably in one of the behavioral sciences or equivalent experience.
• Experience working with correctional clientele preferred
• Demonstrable understanding of employment preparation, development, placement and job retention
• Demonstrable understanding of assessment tools that address employment readiness and anti-social attitudes and behaviors
• Demonstrable understanding of cognitive-behavioral counseling approaches and tools
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships…