Employment Specialist - Part-Time

Help people build careers, stability, and brighter futures.

Central City Concern is seeking a compassionate, resourceful, and mission-driven Employment Specialist I to support individuals impacted by homelessness, poverty, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders as they pursue meaningful employment. In this role, you will partner with clients throughout their employment journey, helping them identify career goals, overcome barriers, secure employment, and maintain long-term success in work, housing, and recovery.

At CCC, employment is more than a job. It is a pathway to stability, self-sufficiency, and personal transformation. As an Employment Specialist, you will play a direct role in helping individuals build confidence, develop workforce skills, connect to opportunities, and achieve lasting success.

• Provide individualized employment coaching, career exploration, and job retention support.
• Help clients develop employment plans, career maps, resumes, cover letters, and interview skills.
• Connect clients to community resources that address barriers such as housing, transportation, behavioral health, and basic needs.
• Build relationships with employers and match clients to appropriate employment opportunities.
• Monitor client progress, document services, and maintain accurate records within case management systems.
• Collaborate closely with CCC programs, housing teams, and community partners to provide coordinated support.

If you are passionate about helping people achieve economic independence and believe in the power of employment as a tool for recovery and stability, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day while advancing CCC's mission to end homelessness through outcome-based strategies that support personal and community transformation.

Location: Employment Access Center - 2 NW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97209

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 20 hours/week (Morning Hours Ideal)

Compensation: $22.73/hr - $30.15/hr. Final comp will be determined based on relevant experience, education, credentials/licensure, and internal equity.
External candidates:
Offer max $26.37/hr per our Union contract.

This role is a Union Represented position through;
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). You can find more information about your representation here www.afscme.org

This position could be subject to Recall Rights:
This applies to employees who were previously laid off from a CCC union-represented position. The previous employee may have recall rights to be considered for rehire before internal or external candidates are considered.

Seniority Bid Window:
Opens: 9/9/26 Closes: 9/17/26

• High school diploma or GED and one year of experience in workforce development, social services, job placement, job coaching, employment and training, or related field.
• Must embrace the mission and philosophy of recovery and client centered treatment.
• Must be able to work weekends and/or evenings, as necessary.
• Must have necessary computer skills to accomplish duties.
• Knowledge of area employers, housing resources, training providers, human service agencies and community groups.
• Must be able to perform intra-city travel.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, TB test, and background check.
• This includes clearance by the DHS Background Check if working in FAN, Blackburn or OTRC Programs.
• Work on this specific contract prohibits convictions of child or elderly abuse, offenses against persons, sexual offenses, or child neglect.
• Ability to adhere to Central City Concern's drug-free workplace which encourages a safe, healthy, and productive work environment and strictly complies with the Drug-Free Workplace Act…