-Residential Services, providing therapeutic residential services, including foster care, to youth under 18;
-Homeless Support Services, providing outreach, overnight shelter, case management, employment and housing for homeless youth and young adults in East King County; and
-Youth and Family Services, providing counseling, substance abuse treatment, prevention and parenting programs in East King County.
Friends of Youth is currently seeking a Temporary Youth Employment Specialist. This position is full time temporary - December 5, 2011 and ending March 30, 2012.
The Employment Specialist is responsible for creating job opportunities and increasing the employability of homeless young adults. The Employment Specialist develops relationships with employers, assists clients with job readiness, builds soft skills, performs job searches and assists in obtaining and securing internships and employment. In addition, the Employment Specialist works to reduce employment barriers by building and maintaining strong relationships with employers and acting as a liaison between employers and clients.
Job Development
Develop and create new innovative opportunities for youth training, placement and subsidized/unsubsidized employment including but not limited to standard employment, apprenticeships, internships, and volunteerism.
Research, identify and solicit commitments from possible sources of employment.
Provide presentations and participate in negotiations to create employment opportunities for homeless young adults.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with community employment resources and the business community.
Work directly with employers to identify hiring needs, discuss educational requirements for various positions and develop training programs.
Serve as an intermediary performance manager to provide on-going support and problem-solving with employers.
Be current on employment trends and training.
Client Support Services
Screen individuals for employment readiness, occupational/career assessments, evaluate transferable skills, placement services, job coaching, post-employment support, identify and address employment barriers, provide on-going client support services
Provide clients with soft skills training, short term training, identifying and developing transferable skills, and maintains continuity and consistent service flow meeting the needs and requirements for all clients, employers and grantors.
Assist employed clients with career advancement opportunities working toward increasing their earning potential.
Provide employment related resources to the clients such as job fairs, internet sites, job postings, short term training, etc.
Data Collection, Recordkeeping and Reporting
Maintain updated and accurate client files.
Track retention services for 12 months following job placement.
Maintain detailed documentation and recordkeeping to meet all contract and grant requirements, outcomes, and audits.
Submit reports and billing information to the Director of Homeless Services as required by contracts and Friends of Youth.
Ensure all requirements of the Youth Employment Program are met.
Qualifications
Bachelor's/Master's degree and a minimum of 3 years equivalent work experience.
Knowledge and prior experience required in job development, job marketing and job placement.
Prior experience addressing youth, young adult and family homelessness issues.
Prior experience with case management.
Must be able to establish rapport with at-risk young adults.
Must have a working knowledge of diverse local, state, and federal funding mechanisms, planning processes, and trends related to employment services and homeless and special needs housing and services.
Demonstrated experience providing evidence-based and promising employment practices, including collaboration with mainstream employment and education systems such as WorkSource, WorkFirst, Community Based Organizations, government entities, and/or community colleges.
Ability to maintain professionalism in controversial, complex and public situations.
Excellent interpersonal, writing and organizational skills
Self-starter with ability to work both independently and on collaborative teams.
Access to reliable transportation is required and must possess a valid Washington State driver's license and other supportive documentation as required.
Solid computer skills using Windows-based word processing and spreadsheet programs.
Must demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural differences and a commitment to the value of cultural competency.
To apply- send resume and cover letter to email address listed above.
- Location: Redmond
- Compensation: DOE
- This is at a non-profit organization.
- Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
- Please, no phone calls about this job!
- Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
