Employment Specialist

Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares is a community-based not-for-profit organization that provides counseling and case management, employment and training, housing, and legal assistance to veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. We promote and protect the rights of veterans through advocacy, public education, and partnerships with local, state, and national entities. Believing that war causes wounds and suffering that last beyond the battlefield, our mission is to support veterans as they navigate the challenges of post-military life, and to prevent and end veteran homelessness through wrap-around care and informed advocacy.

To learn more about Swords to Plowshares, please visit our website rds-to-plowshares.org.

Job Title: Employment Specialist

Location: 1060 Howard St. San Francisco (primary) + 330 Franklin Street, Oakland (as needed)

Schedule: Monday through Friday 9 am-5 pm

Reporting Type: 4 days in office, 1 day from home- after 90 days

Employment Type: Non-exempt, Full-time

Salary Range: $31.90 per hour

Summary:

The Employment Specialist-II recruits, enrolls and provided job placement assistance to each veteran. The Employment Specialist-II provides supportive services, develops recruitment and implementation plans, and performs community and some employment outreach throughout the San Francisco and East Bay Area. The Employment Specialist-II provides assessments, case management, information and referral, and job counseling to assist veterans reintegrating into the civilian workforce. Employment Specialists-II coordinates with employers for job placement and/or occupational training programs in accordance with contract goals.

Employment Specialist-II will host employer spotlights and assist with workshops, maintain relationships with community-based organizations, employers, assist Program Managers with special projects.

Responsibilities:

Assess and counsel veterans for job readiness

Develop Individual Employment Plans (IEP’s) with veteran clients to assess barriers to employment, and identify individual veteran client service needs

Determine client eligibility for federal/state employment and training programs

Maintain veteran participant caseload and make necessary referrals to additional services as appropriate, including counseling on mental health issues, legal advocacy, job readiness workshops, and pre‑employment training

Provides job placement assistance including resume development, job search, interview techniques, host employer spotlights and aid with weekly workshops

Provide support services, including liaison or linkages with advocacy programs for VA benefits and other entitlements, personal counseling services, and community programs for the homeless and/or unemployed

Maintain concise and up‑to‑date client files, including required documentation and weekly case/progress notes, thorough and accurate completion and execution of paperwork in a timely manner

Perform any other employment related tasks as identified and delegated by the Employment Director, Program Manager, and Program Coordinator

Desired

Qualifications:

Five (4-5) years of experience providing vocational and/or pre‑employment counseling and case management in a multi-service setting

Translatable military experience and skills may be alternatively substituted

Knowledge of federal and state government employment programs a plus

Ability to meet multiple deadlines while maintaining a professional composure

Extremely tactful and diplomatic when dealing with people

Ability to articulate and facilitate presentations in a public speaking forum

Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and interact well with people from diverse economic, ethnic and educational backgrounds

Ability to sit for prolonged periods

Ability to…