Lead Workforce Specialist (Bilingual Spanish)- Living Solutions

Lead Workforce Specialist (Bilingual Spanish)- Living Solutions

Department: Employment and Economic Development

Reports to: Employment Program Manager

Compensation: $17.06/hour ($35,494.37); Medical, dental, AD & D, short and long term disability insurance, personal leave and paid holidays

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Location: Rockwood/West Gresham very close to MAX

SUMMARY: Recruit, screen and provide assessment for all potential program participants. Provide job preparation, training, job coaching, and support services to clients. Develop jobs for clients, and match clients with appropriate positions. Collaborate with other Living Solutions workforce specialists to manage total program caseload of 65-135 clients.

CRITICAL PERFORMANCE FACTORS: 1. Work with other program staff and the Program Manager to ensure that the contract goals are met. 2. Collaborate with other staff to recruit, screen and enroll the target number of clients. 3. Provide accurate assessment and effective work plans to enable clients to overcome barriers and gain employment. 4. Provide support to clients as they progress through their work plans. 5. Work with local employers to develop appropriate positions in health and human services, and match clients with appropriate positions. 6. Provide on-site or telephone job coaching, as necessary. 7. Work with clients to ensure high rate of client retention, collaborating with other staff as needed. 8. Perform follow up contacts with employers after client job placement to both verify continued employment and offer problem solving/job coaching as appropriate and requested by employers. 9. Collaborate with other staff to reach quantitative goals in client placement 10. Maintain consistent documentation of daily activities including attendance logs, time sheets, employer contacts, work site agreements, progress and evaluation reports. 11. Demonstrate acceptance and respect for diverse program participants; handling sensitive situations with an open, courteous approach; maintain an objective and professional relationship with clients.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include some or all of the following. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. Recruitment * Recruit program participants from various community and social service agencies, as well as general advertising. * Do referral and outreach by networking with workforce development programs, social service agencies and others in the community. Screening and Assessment * Assess client strengths, needs and deficits in gaining and keeping employment * Assess family's level of functioning and, with permission from the client, make referral to appropriate agencies and services, i.e., mental health, parenting, domestic violence support group, etc * Develop individual employment plans for each client, addressing strengths, needs, deficits and goals. * Assist clients as they progress through their work plans * Advocate for program participants to secure needed services and resources for which they are eligible. * Assist clients to successfully take steps needed to make changes in their life styles, particularly as this relates to achieving economic self-sufficiency. * Assist clients to recognize their strengths, address deficits and access needed resources. * Assess needs of clients and coordinate delivery of services, both within Human Solutions and from other service providers when appropriate * Encourage clients to assess relationships and to develop appropriate personal support systems. * Provide on-site or telephone Job Coaching / Training as needed and appropriate * Monitor health and safety issues as they relate to employment. * Keep in touch with each client during their enrollment in Living Solutions * Clearly document the client's progress in case notes * Inform the Program Manager if any clients are not making appropriate progress

JOB RETENTION * Actively work with employers after client placement to ascertain job performance. * Maintain client contact and continued participation in program activities with regular assessment and job retention services. * Continue to review and develop employment plans, program activity and provide related services to ensure that a job placement is successful. * Contact employers to collect employment/retention data to substantiate performance outcomes. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This job has no supervisory responsibilities

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge and /or ability required.

ABILITY TO: * Communicate clearly with program participants * Apply practices and techniques that will enable people with low income achieve greater self- sufficiency. * Empower and support clients in life choices and change. * Understand and follow complex written and oral instructions, rules and procedures, ability to work independently and to be a vital and contributing part of a team. * Develop and maintain productive working relationships within Human Solutions, with public and private agencies, the general public and clients. * Be sensitive to the needs of both employers and clients. * Be culturally sensitive to diverse client populations. * Prepare and maintain clear, accurate, complete and timely records and reports.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: * Bachelor's Degree in social service/social sciences field with at least six (6) months experience providing workforce development services; or any combination of education and work experience in social services, employment development and case management totaling four years. * Bilingual Spanish and English skills required * Experience with job training and job development * Experience with crisis intervention, community networking and resource development.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS Current Oregon Driver's License and current automobile insurance.

TO APPLY Send resume, cover letter and three professional references (letters not needed, simply the names and contact information of people who can comment on your professional skills and abilities) to Juan Serratos, Employment Programs Manager. Email is preferred method: [email protected] but hard copies are also accepted. Human Solutions, 12350 SE Powell, Portland OR 97236. No phone calls please.