Employment Specialist

Position Title:

Employment Specialist

HVRP

Assistant Director

Washington, DC

* Hybrid

Flexible to meet participant needs:
Monday-Friday (7 am-7 pm);
Some evenings, holidays, and weekends may be required to support operations and respond to emergencies. (subject to change based on operational needs)

1.0 FTE, ? Non-Exempt (Hourly), Temporary;
Ends 06/30/2027

Friendship Place is a nonprofit organization, serving the Washington, DC region, empowering individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness to rebuild their lives with the involvement of the community. Friendship Place offers the most effective model for addressing homelessness, with innovative, customized programs that have positive, demonstrable results and a lasting impact on the community and beyond. Our programs are person-focused - individualized to meet the needs and goals of individuals, families, youth/young adults and Veterans experiencing homelessness.

We provide outreach, hospitality, health care, case management, housing, job placement services, and advocacy.

Friendship Place is a Person-First Organization that promotes transparency and ethical practices among our team and those we serve. All individuals in our organization are expected to perform their job duties in a manner consistent with our core values.

The position provides job development services to assist individuals and families in obtaining employment within the Rental Subsidy and Services Program. This position includes providing direct employment support to participants; building and maintaining partnerships with local employers; developing and hosting job fairs; attending job fairs; and supporting case managers by providing job leads and other employment resources.

• Provide employment-related services and individualized job readiness support to participants, including job search assistance, resume development, interview preparation, employment applications, and job placement support.
• Assist participants in identifying career goals, employment barriers, strengths, and opportunities to support long-term economic stability and self-sufficiency.
• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with workforce development agencies, employers, vocational programs, job readiness organizations, and community partners to expand employment opportunities for participants.
• Coordinate closely with internal job readiness and employment program staff to ensure continuity of services and participant success.
• Develop, prepare, and distribute a weekly employment newsletter highlighting job openings, hiring events, training opportunities, workforce resources, and community employment supports.
• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate a minimum of 12 annual job fairs, employer recruitment events, workshops, or informational sessions designed to connect participants with employment and career development opportunities.
• Maintain consistent communication and collaboration with case managers, housing specialists, and multidisciplinary team members to support participant progress and service coordination.
• Participate actively in multidisciplinary meetings, supervision, case consultations, and team discussions to support participant outcomes and program effectiveness.
• Collect, track, and maintain accurate participant, service, and program data utilizing Excel and other tracking systems to support reporting, outcomes measurement, and compliance requirements.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and professional documentation of participant interactions, employment progress, referrals, and outcomes in accordance with program standards and funding requirements.
• Demonstrate empathy, flexibility, professionalism, and responsiveness in addressing participant needs while maintaining appropriate boundaries and promoting participant independence.
• Provide oversight, mentorship, and task supervision to assigned employment interns and volunteers to support program goals and professional development.
• Attend and participate in required trainings, professional development opportunities, conferences, and continuing education to maintain knowledge of workforce trends, employment resources, and best practices.
• Perform field-based work, including participant engagement, employer outreach, community networking, and service coordination, with up to 80% of work time spent in the community.
• Communicate…