Employment Specialist, Center for Employment Opportunities, Oakland, CA

Employment Specialist

Posted on: May 10, 2013
Posted by: Center for Employment Opportunities

DESCRIPTION

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is a nationally recognized, dynamic nonprofit organization dedicated to providing immediate, effective and comprehensive employment services to men and women with recent criminal convictions. Having made more than 12,000 full-time, unsubsidized job-placements in the last 12 years in New York City, CEO began establishing offices in Upstate New York - Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Rochester; Tulsa, Oklahoma - that will provide life skills, paid transitional work and full-time work opportunities for people returning from state prison to those areas.

Having been proven to reduce recidivism through a random assignment evaluation, CEO has been expanding into several jurisdictions in California. CEO's first expansion site, Oakland, was launched in August 2011 as a pilot project called Golden State Works (GSW). This pilot project is operated through a partnership between CEO and Volunteers of America Bay Area (VOA) and has implemented all aspects of the CEO model in Oakland. Of note, CEO's growth in California will be assisted by the San Francisco-based non-profit REDF, an organization committed to scaling social enterprises (www.redf.org).

CEO is currently looking for a Employment Specialist (ES) who will assist participants in finding employment in the private sector. Leveraging the work experience participants gain on the CEO work crews, the Employment Specialist will identify/create job opportunities for participants and match qualified participants with these employment opportunities. He/She will be responsible for developing relationships with employers, successfully placing participants into these jobs and providing on-going support to both the employer and the participant.

This position will report to the Participant Services Manager. This position requires someone that can work flexible hours, has experience in sales, marketing and, preferably workforce development though private sector sales experience will be given preference. The ideal candidate will not only be able to work with participants, but will also be able to work with private sector employers in the Bay Area.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop relationships with local employers that are willing to hire CEO participants; build network of employers to ensure long term success
• Make job placements and provide post-placement support to clients and employers
• Meet monthly placement goals
• Consistently and accurately document, in real time, all participant and employer contact, activities and outcomes into a computerized case management system
• Participate in employer recruitment events, job fairs and networking events
• Conduct targeted job search campaigns to place clients
• Participate as a member of a service team by attending case conferencing meetings, liaison with Parole and/or Probation, attend community meetings and training sessions
• Maintain contact with participants, monitor progress, report and refer to team member as necessary; evaluate participant's job start readiness

OTHER KEY TASKS

• Monitor clients' attendance and program participation in order to provide encouragement of corrective measures when needed
• Consistently and accurately document all participant and employer contact into a computerized case management system
• Performs other job-related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• The Successful applicant will have a Bachelor's degree and experience in one or more of the following areas: (1) Sales/marketing (2) Employment Services (3) Case Manager in social services field

PROFICIENCY QUALIFICATIONS

• Sales Ability – Ability to influence others to change position or to convince them to hire individuals with criminal convictions.
• Negotiation Skills – Works effectively to reach outcomes that gain the support and acceptance of all involved parties.
• Persistence – Ability to continue a course of action in the face of adversity.
• Energetic – Brings and sustains considerable stamina and vigor to all aspects of the work.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your cover letter and resume to the address below; please indicate the title of the positon for which you are applying in the subject line of your email AND your salary requirements. Failure to follow this request will result in your application being overlooked.

Attn: Bill Heiser
Director of California Operations
Center for Employment Opportunities
1212 Broadway, Suite 1700
Oakland, California 94612
Email: hr@ceoworks.org

We invite you to visit us at www.ceoworks.org to learn more about our history of successfully helping the formerly incarcerated find employment in the private sector. CEO is an Equal Opportunity Employer