Employment Specialist

Job Description

New Leash seeks the services of an Employment Specialist with knowledge in human resources. Must have the ability to create paid internships and full time job opportunities for clients who have been justice-involved. The Employment Specialist will facilitate career readiness workshops in the George W. Hill Correctional Facility located in Delaware County, PA. In addition the Employment Specialist will research, identify and solicit commitments from potential second chance employers.

Experience and Qualifications

• Service Oriented: A strong desire to help other people is essential.
• Active Listening: You must give clients your full attention whenever meeting with them.
• Verbal Communication: Your clients will be depending on you to convey information to them, and other service providers in a clear and concise manner that they can understand.
• Knowledge of the Spanish language is a plus.
• Interpersonal skills: Strong social skills are essential to connect with people who have had past trauma and unstable environments to make them feel comfortable and confident in the Employment Specialist’s ability.
• Must be eligible to work within a prison environment. Two background checks and fingerprinting are required.
• Candidates with lived experience will be strongly considered.

Education

A Bachelor’s degree is preferred, a degree in Human Services is a plus. Other degrees and certifications may qualify if they are associated with practical skills in the field of job development.

Essential Duties

• Facilitate Career Readiness groups which includes human resources information
• Facilitate and develop career skills one-on-one
• Assist with creating written career goals
• Identify when participant is ready for employment
• Coordinate paid internship fair for programs
• Match participants with internship sites
• Educate participants on employment tax paperwork
• Ensure participants’ New Leash payroll paperwork is complete and submitted
• Support the participants through the whole employment process
• Conduct assessment to find out participant’s intentions and interests
• Meet with potential employers
• Provide the participants employment leads
• Identify job fairs and engage participants to attend, attend with participants as needed
• Assist in cover letter and resume-writing
• Inform participants on proper attire for interviews and source second hand stores if needed
• Ensure transportation is provided
• Practice interview skills with participants
• Maintain and support the paid internship sites
• If participants are not hired, give feedback on why this happened and make changes in the plan to get another job
• Communicate and work collaboratively with Social Services Advocates
• Ensure that all milestones, employment, and career goals are documented in software system daily
• Have flexibility for working hours which may include evenings, weekends or holidays. Also including, but not limited to, answering emergency calls

Additional responsibilities as required