Employment Specialist

SUMMARY:

Provides employment services to refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, Cuban-Haitian entrants, and foreign-born victims of trafficking. Duties will be performed at the Catholic Charities Pastoral Center and in the field at partner agencies, external organizations, businesses, and client homes primarily during regular work hours, some evening and weekend hours required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Conducts assessments of experience, skills, and barriers to employment with clients.
• Assists clients with preliminary employment services including but not limited to opening a bank account, applying for a state ID, completing job applications, creating resumes, attending interviews, and securing employment.
• Assists clients in removing barriers to employment including not limited to transportation, childcare, and English language proficiency.
• Provides job coaching and follow-up services to ensure success of job placement, including completing household budgets with clients.
• Distributes checks for cash assistance to clients on timely manner.
• Assists employment team in providing job readiness and financial literacy classes or new arrival clients.
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with potential and existing employment partners including employers, organizations providing skill building opportunities, and temporary agencies.
• Documents all services and activities and ensure client files are accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Reviews program guidelines and updates and participates in training to ensure that services meet the expectations and requirements outlined by the funding.
• Operates an agency vehicle to provide transportation for clients to job interviews and other appointments.
• Actively participates in monthly supervision, bi-weekly team meetings, and monthly department trainings.
• Conforms and abides by all regulations, policies, work procedures and instructions.
• Maintains confidentiality and appropriately handles sensitive information in compliance with federal and state laws.
• Provides interpretation services for clients as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience

• High school diploma or GED with 2 or more years of related experience OR associate degree, preferably in social work.
• Experience working with refugees or across cultures preferred.
• Experience working with employers preferred.

Additional Skills or Requirements

• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in one or more refugee language (Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Dari, Arabic, Burmese, Somali, Ukrainian, Russian, or Kurdish) with a preference for Spanish.
• Ability to facilitate intercultural communication and to create an inclusive environment.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, curtesy, and tact in dealing with the public and staff.
• Ability to handle confidential information with extreme professionalism.
• Attention to detail and adherence to deadlines.
• Ability to plan and organize work.
• Ability to follow tasks through to completion.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work well as a team and independently with minimal direction.
• Ability to go up and down steps, load and unload car seats, and lift up to 20 lbs.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to learn databases, and other systems, including Salesforce.
• Current driver’s license required. Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle and provide own transportation.

HOW TO APPLY:

Qualified candidates should send a resume and a cover letter detailing interest, desired salary, and available start date.

Catholic Charities of Tennessee is an equal opportunity employer. Catholic Charities does not discriminate in regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Satisfactory completion of a background and reference check is required.

BENEFITS

• Ten (10) vacation days.
• Twelve (12) personal days.
• Eighteen (18) paid holidays.
• 403B plan with company match.
• Pension plan.
• Health insurance, vision, and dental coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Voluntary benefits.