Workforce Development Specialist

Job Title: Workforce Development Specialist

Supervisor: Employment Center Manager

Classification: Exempt

Hiring Salary Range: $46,800 - $49,800 per year

About UMOM New Day Centers: Founded in 1964, UMOM is Arizona's largest provider of services for families experiencing homelessness. Our mission is to end family homelessness by restoring hope and rebuilding lives. With an annual operating budget of $20 million dollars, UMOM provides shelter, supportive services, and housing programs to families and individuals experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County. UMOM serves over 15,000 unique individuals across all our services annually, including those families receiving support at the Family Housing Hub, Maricopa County's family coordinated entry system.

Position Description: At UMOM we believe that housing + income ends homelessness. The Workforce Development Specialist 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 will support case managers by providing referrals to the Job Readiness Series and accessing resources. WDS will participate in the facilitation of Job Readiness Workshops and will identify and schedule 1:1 appointment for high acuity clients in attendance with the appropriate Workforce Specialist.

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.
• Identify high acuity clients in the Job Readiness Workshop Series and schedule a 1:1 appointment for them with their program-specific Workforce Development Program Specialist.

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.

Documentation and Reporting

• Documents all clients 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.
• Other duties as assigned by Leadership and/or Executives.

Qualifications and Competency Requirements:

Experience and Education

• High School or GED Diploma, required
• Bachelor's degree, strongly preferred
• Minimum 3 years of experience working with at-risk populations and/or case management required
• Demonstrated knowledge of Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Care preferred
• 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
• Ability to clear the Central Registry Screening from the Department of Child Safety & Adult Protective Services.
• Ability to comply with and pass all required background check and drug screening requirements, including but not limited to pre-employment and random drug screening as required/requested.
• Valid AZ Driver's License and a driving record that falls within UMOM's policy
• 50/100 level of car insurance coverage.
• This is a Safety Sensitive position.

Physical activities and working conditions

The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative, but not exhaustive, of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• This position is typically performed in an interior, environmentally controlled office setting. The duties of the job require extended periods of time being stationary and manipulating a computer (keyboard, monitor, mouse), and other standard office equipment including, but not limited to printer, fax, calculator, copier, telephone and associated computer/technology peripherals.

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, prioritize 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 as needed 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.

Background Screens

This position requires the selected candidate to have the ability to obtain, maintain and possess a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Class One Fingerprint Clearance Card (FPCC). If the selected candidate does not currently possess an FPCC, UMOM will cover the cost of obtaining a card.

In addition, all UMOM employees must pass a Central Registry Background Check (CBC) through the Department of Child Safety (DCS) and Adult Protective Services (APS).

Drug Screening

All new hires must successfully pass the required drug screening.