Workforce Development Specialist

Job Title: Workforce Development Specialist - Lead

Supervisor: Employment Center Manager

Status: Exempt

Hiring Salary Range:

About UMOM New Day Centers: Founded in 1964, UMOM is Arizona's largest provider of services for families experiencing homelessness. Our mission is to restore hope, rebuild lives, and end homelessness. With an annual operating budget of $22 million dollars, UMOM provides shelter, supportive services, and housing programs to families and single women experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County. UMOM serves over 15,000 unique individuals across all our services annually, including families receiving support at the Family Housing Hub.

Position Description: We are seeking a professional, charismatic, and motivated individual to join the UMOM team as a Workforce Development Specialist-Lead. At UMOM we believe that housing + income ends homelessness. The Workforce Development Specialist-Lead is responsible for implementing UMOM's employment and job training strategies to assist clients via groups and in 1:1 appointments in obtaining and retaining sustainable income to support ending their experience of homelessness. The WDS-Lead will support case managers and the Workforce team in providing direct employment services and accessing resources; facilitation of Job Readiness Workshops, appoint high acuity clients to 1:1 appointments within the Workforce team, and engage in assigned community engagement opportunities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Employment Services

• Serves as an ambassador of UMOM's workforce development strategy by supporting the regular implementation of employment services by program case managers, including training and supporting case managers to establish a time-sensitive employment/income plan that is integrated with a client's housing plan.
• Thoroughly assesses client's unique need while identifying and strategizing around barriers to long-term success.
• Assists clients in co-creating an employment plan to be able to achieve sustainable income based on their unique needs and circumstances and regularly meet to discuss and review progress.
• Meets regularly and consistently with clients to hold structured, intentional conversations focused on the skill-building necessary to obtain and retain employment.
• Facilitates employment readiness workshops such as resume writing, mock interviewing, and financial literacy for UMOM clients.
• Attend program case conferences to support case managers in addressing the unique needs of clients experiencing employment-related issues.
• Provides leadership, aligning efforts across departments to support UMOM's strategy of housing + income = ending homelessness.
• Assists the workforce department in employment driven projects.

Employer and External Stakeholder Engagement

• Provides retention services for clients who obtain employment at regular appointed intervals to address potential issues in maintaining employment.
• Coordinates and facilitates weekly and bi-monthly hiring events, including prioritizing employers that are the most appropriate fit for UMOM's clients.
• Establishes and nurtures relationships with public and private employers to develop direct job placement opportunities for participants.
• Supports Program Leadership by representing UMOM in community engagement opportunities and other collaborative spaces.

Documentation and Reporting

• Documents all client contact in UMOM's internal database, Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) within 72 hours.
• Creates and maintains training curriculum and instructional material.
• Supports program staff in the completion of accurate employment documentation in ETO, addressing discrepancies ongoing.

Qualifications and Competency Requirements:

Experience and Education

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum 4 years of experience working with at-risk populations and/or case management required
• Demonstrated knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care and Motivational Interviewing required
• Experience in and passion for workforce development, employment services, and vocational training preferred
• Knowledge of non-profit sector; experience working with underserved or disadvantaged populations preferred
• Knowledge of the local publicly funded workforce development system is a plus

Computer Skills

• Computer literacy required, including data entry, web navigation, typing and text editing, and the ability to learn operations in new software systems
• Proficiency with Windows operating system, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

Compliance

• Valid Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card or the ability to obtain one
• Valid AZ driver's license and a driving record that falls within UMOM's policy
• 50/100 level of car insurance coverage (mileage reimbursement available)

Additional Attributes

• Willingness to embrace and actively support the unique culture and values of UMOM
• Ability to focus on the tasks and details relevant to the position and the organization, while also switching quickly between tasks
• Ability to exercise excellent independent judgment and take ownership of decisions
• Ability to think on a broad, systems-level relative to the scope of the position
• Ability to work independently and self-manage to achieve goals while being a strong team player
• Ability to organize, meet deadlines, and delegate appropriately
• Ability to cope with and embrace change, risk, and uncertainty
• Ability to develop strong relationships within a fast-paced, collaborative setting that values diverse opinions; enthusiasm for helping drive change as UMOM becomes a more data-driven organization

Work Schedule: The typical schedule for this position is Monday-Friday, normal business hours, with flexibility for occasional nights and weekends to support the needs of the position and the organization.

Other: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.