Employment Specialist
Church World Service, Inc.

Church World Service

Position Title: Employment Specialist

Reports To: Employment Services Manager

Team: Immigration & Refugee Program (IRP)

Location: Durham, North Carolina

Grade: 4

Status: • Non-Exempt • Exempt

• Bargaining Unit • Non-Bargaining Unit

Primary Purpose:

The Employment Specialist offers support and employment services to refugees to help them reach financial self-sufficiency in the United States.

Essential Duties:

• Welcome and orient refugees to the community.

• Empower refugees to formulate realistic yet ambitious employability plans.

• Assist refugees to implement their employability plans.

• Provide individualized job development and job placement services to program participants. Develop plan of action and counsel clients in areas such as job interview skills, expected behavior on the job, and workplace hygiene.

• Identify job opportunities suitable for clients, assist in filling out applications, set up interviews with potential employers, accompany clients to interviews, and follow up with employers until decisions are made. Negotiate job advancements when warranted.

• Document all contacts and services in client case files and maintain case note logs. In addition to documenting all services, record clients’ employment-related progress in case file, including compliance, job offers, all placements, job retention, public assistance usage, follow-up on placements, and possibilities of upgrades. Complete all required reports. Documentation demands are rigorous.

• Work with clients to remove barriers to employment and realize the goal of family self-sufficiency. Connect clients to in-house support and make referrals to external service providers. Identify support services that may assist clients in becoming self-sufficient, such as ESL, transportation, immigration services, and child care.

• Assist clients with identifying training and apprenticeship programs related to their career goals and make referrals.

• Offer interpretation and translation services to refugee clients, as well as transportation to interviews and appointments as necessary. (Compensation is paid by CWS for mileage when using personal vehicle.)

• Advocate on behalf of refugees, and refugee-serving voluntary agencies.

• Attend trainings and conferences as requested by supervisor.

• Keep informed about refugee and immigrant issues, and available services to refugees, using current information to better identify and serve refugee clients.

• Represent the program at meetings and speaking engagements relevant to the responsibilities of the position.

• Perform all duties in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.

• Undertake other duties as assigned.

• Work varied hours, including some early morning, night and weekend work.

• Must have valid driver’s license and suitable vehicle for transporting clients.

Qualifications:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience: Two years of previous work experience and experience in refugee resettlement or other direct social services preferred. Cultural sensitivity is essential.

Competencies: Excellent cross cultural and diplomatic skills are required. The ideal candidate will be able to navigate complex situations with multiple players, while respecting the dignity and autonomy of refugee clients.