Workforce Development Specialist

3rd Street Youth Center & Clinic is a community-based agency providing youth in the Bayview Hunters Point with medical and behavioral health services that encourage them to make decisions that support their health, safety, and development. 3rd Street Youth Center & Clinic also manages a number of successful Transitional Age Youth (TAY) housing stabilization programs and one of the city's few Youth Access Points.

We are looking for a Workforce Development Specialist to carry out the services of the 3rd Street Youth Center & Clinic"s Rising Up Program by assisting clients to obtain and maintain education & employment that is consistent with their vocational goals.

Rising Up is a public/private partnership launched by Mayor London Breed in support of the broader city-wide goal of reducing homelessness for youth ages 18-25 by 50% by 2023, ultimately assuring that homelessness for young people is rare, brief, and one-time.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Engages clients and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment
• Assists clients in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order for clients to make good decisions about employment opportunities. Refers clients to benefits counseling, as needed. Helps clients report earnings, as needed.
• Assesses clients' vocational functioning on an ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With the client's permission, provides education and support to family members. Discusses client's preference for disclosure of psychiatric status to employers.
• Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on their caseload.
• Conducts a minimum of six employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe supports offered by the program and describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist clients in maintaining employment. Writes job support plans with clients and incorporates input from the mental health team. Adjusts plan according to clients' needs and preferences.
• Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact by the employment specialist with the employer.
• Provides outreach services as necessary to clients when they appear to disengage from the service. Uses a variety of methods to provide outreach.
• Provides timely interventions. Returns phone calls and reacts to situations in a timely manner. For example, returning client phone calls within 24 hours. Goes to see employers about job loss or job problems within 24 hours. Following up on job leads within 48 hours. Meets with clients within one week prior to job starts and within three days after job starts.
• Participates in weekly meetings with the Rising Up team and communicates individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services into overall service plan.
• Participates in face-to-face meetings with vocational rehabilitation counselors at least once a month to coordinate services for clients.
• Develops an individual employment (and/or education) plan with clients. Incorporates input from mental health team and family members, with permission.
• Spends 25% or more of scheduled work hours in the community. For example, meets clients at community locations such as home, workplace, coffee shop, meeting with potential employers, library, One-Stop, or takes clients to apply for jobs, investigate local GED or colleges, etc.
• Provides supported education, using principles similar to supported employment, for clients who express interest in education to advance their employment goals.
• Responsible for a minimum of 100 number or job starts per year or maintaining at least 70% employment on caseload.

About you:

• Education and experience equivalent to undergraduate degree in mental health, social services, or business.
• Experience working with people dealing with housing insecurity, experience providing employment services, and knowledge of the work world are preferred.
• Ability to work as an effective team player is essential.

General info:

• This position is a salaried, exempt, and full-time role.
• This position is located in our main office in the Bayview/Hunter's Point neighborhood in San Francisco.
• This position reports to the Rising Up Program Manager

Compensation and benefits:

• This position has an annual salary of $62,400.
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, 403b, generous time off (vacation, sick, and holidays), and more!

EEOC statement:

3rd Street is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, partnership status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital, parental or familial status, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, or any other legally protected basis. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance we will consider for employment qualified candidates with arrest and conviction records.