Employment Specialist

• Provides job coaching and supports for a designated caseload, which include: on site assessments, job training, soft skills training, skills training, job retention skills, mobility training, coworker support and advocacy.
• Provides job development services for individuals currently seeking employment. This includes assisting individuals with searching for jobs, applying for jobs, preparing for and attending interviews and following up with employers after a job interview and/or offers of employment.
• Initiates and maintains ongoing relationships with businesses, sets up and maintains employer profiles and contact logs.
• Arranges and provides job exploration activities, vocational training, job coaching supports, and work experiences for individuals who have a goal of paid employment to help them crystalize a career goal.
• Assists students with the transition from high school to college. This includes, but not limited to, post-secondary career counseling, job exploration, college supports, work readiness training, and self-advocacy trainings.
• Reviews potential barriers to employment with individuals and creates plans for ways to overcome barriers.
• Assesses the skills and abilities of individuals in community employment settings to provide professional guidance and recommendations on the most appropriate employment services.
• Provides information about available services, programs, and employment opportunities to individuals, family members and other support providers.
• Explains and conveys to employers any special requirements that candidates may have in order to perform a job optimally.
• Maintains ongoing contact with employers to ensure they are satisfied with all aspects of the services provided as well as the performance of the employee.
• Attends meetings for individuals as well as participates in required departmental meetings, special projects, and in-services or other trainings.
• Maintains and assures security of all confidential files and information on individuals receiving services, provides documentation in accordance with State and Federal regulations.
• Documents services provided with daily notes and monthly reports.
• Informs the Director of Employment Services of concerns with worker placements, employer issues, or sensitive situations pertaining to individuals receiving services.
• This position requires a two-week notice of voluntary resignation.

Knowledge Areas:
Strong communication skills (verbally and written), adaptability/flexibility, personal accountability, compliance with policy/procedures/regulations, build and maintain collaborative relationships, business ethics, employee/employer relations (coaching, training, motiving), strong time management skills, works well as part of a team, problem solving, record keeping procedures, various computer programs and applications, adherence to training requirements, maintains confidentiality, safety and security.

Adapts to changes in the work environment;
Manages competing demands;
Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events. Changes approach/method to best fit the situation;
Manages difficult or emotional situations, while keeping one's own emotions under control;
Follows instructions and responds promptly to needs;
Solicits feedback to improve service;
Responds to requests for assistance;
Meets commitments;
Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness;
Maintains confidentiality;
Sound decision making and judgment, interpersonal skills, planning/organizing, strategic thinking and time management. The ability to work independently in multiple settings. Ability to interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups, individuals receiving services, employers, and the general public;
Must be knowledgeable about various software programs and proprietary applications;
Become trained in the use of Therap for plan writing, event reporting and ongoing communication. Become trained in the use of New York Employment Services System (NYESS).

Efficiency:
Demonstrates highly efficient time management skills; adept at multi-tasking to accomplish goals; performs activities in an orderly, efficient, and cohesive manner; plans schedule in a way to improve productivity and efficiency.

Customer Service:
Consistently exceeds individual and business expectations by working efficiently and ensuring that all job quality standards are met; listens to businesses and individuals attentively, addresses their concerns; enacts a personal approach to service provision; projects a professional image; maintains composure and preforms to agency standards in high pressure situations; conducts appropriate investigations to identify the root cause of any problems while including the employer and searching for collaborative resolution;

maintains…