Employment and Training Counselor I - Promotional

Employment And Training Counselor

This recruitment is promotional only. You must presently be a full or part-time regular or probationary County of Sonoma, Community Development Commission, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, or Sonoma County Water Agency employee in order to apply for this position.

The Human Services Department (HSD) has requested a department promotional certification to fill multiple English and Bilingual (English/Spanish) Time-Limited positions at either the Employment and Training Counselor I or II levels, which are currently funded through 6/30/2029. If you are interested in being considered at the II level, you must apply to the separate, concurrent recruitment being conducted at that level.

Only qualified permanent and/or probationary Human Services Department employees on the eligible list may be eligible for referral to the department for the advertised position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time positions as they occur during the active status of the list.

As an Employment and Training Counselor I, you will be responsible for providing intensive coaching and case management to clients who need assistance providing a safe and stable home for themselves and their families. Counselors work with clients to understand their goals and determine what services they need to improve their income, skill, and/or housing stability.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Providing outreach, assessment, case management, and wrap-around supportive services that assist with goal planning, career development, training, job searching, and barrier reduction
• Working collaboratively with Eligibility Specialists, Program Coordinators, Social Workers, employers, and other community partner organizations to assist mutual clients
• Enrolling clients in appropriate on-the-job training components
• Negotiating, contracting, and establishing training agreements with training vendors
• Interviewing clients struggling with social, emotional, financial, medical, and/or family problems in order to develop background and create an assessment of needs
• Counseling clients to identify personal strengths and potential barriers, and assisting in setting priorities and defining employment related goals
• Providing clients experiencing crises such as homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, and/or domestic abuse with intensive services and resources
• Explaining program rules and regulations and highlighting available services
• Inputting data into CalSAWS/CalJOBS and other caseload management systems
• Participating in division, department, and county work groups and activities
• Collaborating with team members and employers to place clients in subsidized work experience programs

The ideal candidate will possess many of the following:

• Experience providing counseling or social work services
• Knowledge of job seeking practices, labor market trends, and community resources
• Experience in case management practices and developing case plans
• The ability to work and collaborate with a wide variety of clients, partners, and community organizations
• Experience working with culturally and economically diverse groups and clients facing social, health, or economic challenges
• Strong problem-solving skills, including collaborative problem solving
• A familiarity with Safety-Net programs and available services, including CalSAWS, MEDS, and CalJOBS
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities, with the ability to interact with a diverse customer base
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment with the ability to shift gears quickly
• Excellent customer service skills

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.