Employment Specialist

JOB OVERVIEW:

IRC in Denver’s Economic Empowerment Program seeks to support clients’ immediate needs for economic stability, while ensuring that near-term demands do not overshadow longer-term economic health. The Employment Specialist assists clients in setting employment and career goals, coaches them toward those goals, assists in securing jobs that will advance their efforts to achieve economic self-reliance, and helps connect clients to supports to pursue career pathways.

The IRC in Denver is recruiting a new Employment Specialist to focus primarily on higher-need, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) clients. Working directly with clients and in close collaboration with Employment Specialists and other direct service staff across the IRC in Denver team, the Employment Specialist learns about clients’ work needs as well as the skills, expertise and assets they offer to prospective employers. The Employment Specialist cultivates a network of potential employers, learns about their workforce needs, identifies areas of alignment within the client population, and facilitates client participation in all phases of the hiring process. The Employment Specialist maintains ongoing relationships with both clients and employers, assisting in troubleshooting when challenges arise, promoting opportunities for job upgrades and advancement, and advocating for fair treatment of clients by their employers when warranted. The Employment Specialist will also participate in the intake, employment assessment and service planning process, including providing career counseling support as needed. 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Employment Services

• Employing a coaching approach, including motivational interviewing techniques, in client interactions.
• Participating in the client intake, assessment, service planning and goal-setting processes.
• Enhancing clients’ work readiness by offering weekly job club support and providing one-on-one coaching and job readiness support, together with colleagues from the education team.
• Providing employment-related coaching and promoting client engagement in activities that further job readiness, job retention, career laddering post-employment, and ongoing career development.
• Advocating for benefits, higher pay and advancement opportunities for clients.
• Re-engaging clients with positive 90-day job retention and longer-term clients to support job upgrades and career advancement through CAREERS and other services and supports.
• Coordinating services with the broader IRC in Denver team to ensure a holistic approach to moving individuals and entire families forward.

Employer Engagement

• Representing the IRC and the IRC’s clients professionally to the local business community. 
• Researching and identifying local industries and employers who stand to benefit from employing refugees and similar populations and may be amenable to hiring them.
• Building working relationships with potential employers through outreach, education, and events.
• Maintaining relationships with clients and employers and assisting with questions or issues that may arise in the course of the client’s employment.
• Maintaining contact with employers through site visits, appreciation events, and other means.
• Liaising between employers and with other Employment Specialists and team members to ensure successful employment placements for clients.
• Responding to incoming inquiries from employers regarding employment opportunities.

Quality and Compliance

• Documenting case notes, entering program data, and preparing required reports in an accurate and timely manner.
• Ensuring that services are delivered in accordance with relevant quality assurance standards.
• Abiding by the standards of case management and delivery expectation set forth by the IRC, the Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP), the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and other donors as applicable.
• Meeting monthly individual goals and outcomes under Matching Grant, the Colorado Alliance for Refugee Empowerment and Success (CARES) Reach Program, and other agreements. 

Other

• Participating in training and professional development relevant to the role.
• Attending meetings as appropriate and requested by CRSP and/or other state and local partners.
• Other duties as assigned.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Position Reports to: Early Employment Supervisor

Position Directly Supervises: N/A; may supervise interns and volunteers engaged in job development and related services.

JOB REQUIREMENTS: 

• Undergraduate degree is preferred, or equivalent combination of work and lived experience.
• Minimum of 2 years relevant work experience in human services field is ideal.
• Experience with the U.S. job search process and the ability to effectively coach clients through the nuances of seeking employment.
• Previous experience working with job development preferred.
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written, is required.
• Fluency in Arabic, Spanish, Dari, or other languages and cultures of the local refugee population is strongly preferred.
• Experience in working with refugees or in refugee resettlement is highly desirable.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective, professional presentation skills.
• Proficient in general office software programs, e.g., MS Office suite, email, internet applications and relational databases (familiarity with Efforts to Outcomes particularly valuable).
• Proven ability to work as a team member in a cross-cultural environment.
• Detail oriented with excellent organizational skills, ability to multi-task and complete work in a fast-paced environment.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle with current insurance, and the ability to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area strongly preferred.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• The IRC in Denver strives to offer a positive working environment, with intentional efforts to ensure that it is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible for all. 
• Work is conducted typically conducted in a standard office work environment with considerable time spent in the community, primarily in neighborhoods where clients live and at local care providers. At present, remote work modifications are in place due to ensure staff and client safety given public health guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• This role entails frequent travel in and around the Denver metro area to transport clients, facilitate service delivery and represent the IRC with clients and community partners.
• Hours outside of typical office hours are regularly required.
• Must be able to safely life 35 lbs.

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.  Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.