Employment Specialist

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY:

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that is fighting for change that lasts, right here in the U.S. and across the globe. We bring sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. The organization is approximately 75 years old and has worked in over 100 countries around the world since its founding.

In the United States, we come alongside local churches, community organizations and hundreds of individual volunteers to support newly arriving refugee and other immigrant families. Today, we are proud to partner with over 6,000 local churches, and 95,000 volunteers globally to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten?  Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor?

If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.

The Employment Specialist position is part of the Economic Empowerment Department, with a focus on rapid stabilization and employment placement and retention services for newly arrived refugees. This position is responsible for employment-related case management, work, and assisting clients in developing holistic self-sufficiency plans and coaching, specifically guiding participants toward integration and eliminating barriers to employment. This position collaborates with the Education Coordinator to ensure clients benefit from Job Readiness Training and collaborates closely with the Workforce Development Specialist to find job placements for clients and to provide onboarding and retention support. This position works directly with clients, employers, and other community service providers, including the Department of Human Services.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Coordinate outreach initiatives in the Greater Sacramento area with information regarding employment support opportunities, including World Relief’s Career Advancement Course and employment programs;
• Ensure the potential clients are provided with Program orientation.

• During the absence of the Admin and Enrollment Coordinator, monitor the program interest form on a daily basis and contact the clients within 48 hours;
• Assess the potential client's program eligibility and provide feedback;
• Ensure the potential clients understand the program requirements before enrollment;
• Refer the potential client to different programs for additional support.

• During the absence of the Admin and Enrollment Coordinator follow the program enrollment process and enroll the clients in the program, including, but not limited to: -Completing client assessments and intakes for employment programs; -Update and maintain WRS systems with client enrollment information (Dynamics, Teams, case notes, case files); -Assist with case and file compliance for state and federal monitoring;
• Complete the enrollment process, including completing and signing the enrollment paperwork according to the program requirements;

• Screen prospective program participants for educational and work history.
• Help participants identify a career path and refer them to the program after first employment.
• Help participants identify strengths/capabilities and challenges/barriers to employment success.
• During the self-sufficiency assist participants in developing measurable outcome goals and a strategic plan for reaching employment.

• Develop a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, time-bound) employment goal for each employable participant. 
• Develop holistic self-sufficiency plans with clients, including budgets and timelines, to create a collaborative action plan to address barriers to employment and to achieve short-term goals.
• Track client progress to coach and support their attainment of established goals, address challenges, and ensure that available resources and referrals are utilized.
• Ensure participants are compliant with all program requirements.
• Provide direct program services, including critical material or financial support, transportation, and child care; provide referrals to external community and social support services as available and needed.
• Help expand and maintain referral relationships within the local educational, job training, and workforce communities to ensure increased access to employment opportunities.
• Maintain an active caseload seeking employment placement assistance, helping program participants develop a job search plan that has self-defined, time-specific goals for obtaining/retaining employment.
• Expand job-related tools, tips, and other resources to maximize employment opportunities.
• Process service-related expenditure requests according to established policies/procedures. 

• Coordinate with manager and other Economic Empowerment staff for client reports and case closures to update World Relief Sacramento systems and reporting; Ensure data is accurate for state and federal reporting purposes
• Coordinate skills workshops related to employment readiness, resume preparation, computer labs, interviews, and job-seeking/keeping skills as directed.
• Coordinate the client's previous education and work experience with the Workforce Development Specialist – Early Employment on a weekly basis.
• Coordinate the client’s job application with the Workforce Development Specialist – Early employment for follow-up.
• Communicate with other teams to ensure close coordination in service delivery.
• Coordinate interpreters or interpretation services for client meetings as needed 

• Conduct a weekly job search with the clients by looking at the job board and companies' direct websites. 
• Assist in performing walk-in job searches with the clients.
• Visit Job Centers with the client until the client is employed.
• Provide a list of jobs that the client is interested in and qualified for. Assist clients with job applications. 

• Process direct assistance to program participants and maintain records of finances, including expenses initiated and closed out.

• Participate in periodic case file reviews.
• Administer employment exit surveys to monitor job placement outcomes and to identify opportunities for program improvement.
• Cooperate with the Program Manager on internal documentation to ensure full compliance with funding source requirements.
• Enter client’s data into Microsoft Dynamics and the internal department tracker in a timely manner, including job application, job placement, and job retention. 
• Satisfying documentation and reporting requirements in accordance with grant standards;
• Ensure the Internal Department clients tracker and Microsoft Dynamics are up to date. 
• Maintain accurate case files and client notes for program participants in Dynamics and SharePoint.
• Perform weekly/monthly reports to the management team.

• Train and oversee volunteers and interns to assist with employment services as needed
• Use personal, insured vehicles to transport clients and materials as needed throughout the service delivery area.
• Train and oversee volunteers and interns to assist with employment services as needed
• Participate in staff meetings and other staff development opportunities;
• Other duties as assigned.

• Ability to demonstrate WRS values consistently: Competence, Integrity, Excellence; Initiative, Learning, Growth; Respect, Teamwork, Connection; Compassion, Courage, Wholeheartedness
• Ability to work effectively and sensitively with people of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds
• Relational skills, interact well with participants, volunteers, and team members, creating a welcoming and interactive space for all involved
• Conduct self in a professional, customer service-oriented manner
• Proven administrative skills
• Self-starter with demonstrated ability to achieve results
• Strong time management and prioritization skills; knows how to organize their schedule to complete the most pressing tasks in time
• Detail-oriented with the ability to maintain records and reports accurately
• Ability to manage multiple demands and deadlines with flexibility
• Problem-solving skills; find possible solutions before bringing them to the supervisor
• Demonstrated ability  to coach clients effectively
• Ability to use strength-based and individualized case management 
• Bilingual in written and spoken refugee language (Dari, Pashto, Farsi, Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian) are highly desirable

• Mature and personal Christian faith
• Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
• Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
• Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Evangelicals For the Health of The Nation document
• Experience in case management, job counseling, or human resources is preferred 
• Undergraduate degree in human services, social work, or related field of study is preferred; or equivalent work experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and online databases.
• Demonstrated experience with the US job search process and the ability to effectively coach clients through the nuanced process of securing employment
• The ability to proficiently speak and write in English
• Valid driver's license, access to a reliable vehicle, and clean driving record.
• Keep valid Defensive Driving Training certification.
• Able to pass background checks, including DMV, on a yearly basis. 

World Relief offers a competitive benefits package (25 hours + per week):

- Medical, Dental, Vision

- Offer 16 company Paid Holidays + 4 additional Personal days per year!

- Paid Sick and Vacation Time

- Paid Parental Leave (12 weeks for qualified employees)

- FSAs: Medical & Dependent Care, & Commuter Funding

- Supplemental Life Insurance (employee, spouse, and children)

- Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Accident insurance policies

- Legal Shield Insurance

World Relief pays 100% for eligible employees:

- Group Term Life (employee, spouse, and children)

- Long Term & Short-term Disability

- Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)

- Long Distance Travel Insurance

- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

World Relief - Retirement:

- 401K & Roth

- WR matches up to 4%, then an additional quarter percent up to 10%

- Eligibility: Full Time (40 hours per week) is eligible after 3 months of employment. Part time is eligible after 1000 hours in a year. 

World Relief Discounts (Immediately Eligible):

- Verizon

- Pet Insurance through Nationwide

- Home and Auto insurance through Liberty Mutual

- Working Advantage Discount Program

- Active & Fit Gym Membership

World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

·         While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations

·         The ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-15 pounds.

·         Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read application information.

·         The employee frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

·         General office setting. World Relief also offers hybrid and remote schedules for limited positions.

·         Great lengths of time working on computer, reading from computer screen, entering information, standing at copier or fax machine, and some time on the phone or in virtual meetings may be required.

·         Year-end archiving activities involve repeated lifting and bending.

·         Physical, emotional and intellectual demands

·         Equipment used: Employee computer (desktop or laptop), printer, and copier.

·         All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Individuals may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation. This position description is not all-inclusive and is always under review.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V.

For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Legal Background in the United States

World Relief is both an equal opportunity employer and a faith-based religious organization. World Relief strictly prohibits and does not tolerate unlawful discrimination against employees on the basis of person’s race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law, which does not conflict with the protections afforded World Relief as a faith-based employer.  

In addition, physical or mental limitations will not be a factor in the application of World Relief's employment policies or employee practices, except for those situations in which occupational requirement make consideration of such factors necessary.

Pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 702 (42 U.S.C. 2000e 1(a) World Relief has the right to, and does, hire only candidates who agree with World Relief’s Statement of Faith.