Workforce Development Specialist

Position Summary

The Workforce Development Specialist will provide direct delivery of services to customers from application through job placement and follow-up.  In the role as a career advisor the Workforce Development Specialist will work with customers to develop and execute employment and training plans, utilizing appropriate resources and support services per program guidelines. Fundamental responsibilities include career assessment, exploration and career plan development and support, and assisting enrollees to successfully develop workplace skills resulting in sustainable employment.

The Workforce Development Specialist will also conduct outreach with potential employers, identify their workforce needs, and identify job placement and career opportunities for Workforce customers.  The Specialist will coordinate these visits with other workforce staff and ensure that all employment leads are followed up on. This position is also responsible for developing On-The-Job Training (“OJT”) and Work Experience opportunities, as well as assisting customers in one-on-one or group sessions with career exploration, mock interviewing, resume and cover letter reviews, and job placement possibilities.

Essential Functions

The Workforce Development Specialist will perform the following functions while serving clients, partners, and government agencies in an honest, professional, ethical, effective and efficient manner as a representative of EMDC.

• Completes job seeker applications and evaluates employment needs and goals of applicants; provides employment-focused career advising services including assessment of skills, needs for resources and challenges prior to making decisions to enroll job seekers into programming in consultation with management.
• Designs and manages career plans for customers, including financial planning/projections support services or training and job placement.
• Assists customers overcome barriers and evaluates services to ensure that training, employment, education, and program performance goals are being met.
• Documents the results of services and maintains contact with participants through completion of services, entering employment and for 12-months following program exit.
• Delivers, coordinates, and facilitates direct career service programming, including work readiness, and other career services to program participants including those eligible for youth, adults and dislocated workers which may include individuals with behavioral health concerns, justice-involved, New Mainers, individuals with disabilities and other barriers to entering the workforce.
• Facilitates group presentations; leads large and small groups, informational sessions, focus groups, or other special events to deliver employability skills.
• Creates partnerships with local colleges and universities, adult education, DHHS, Vocational Rehab, and high schools, and participates in community meetings for the purpose of participant outreach and recruitment.
• Develops relationships with and inform employers about workforce resources available to them, including OJT, Work Experience, and Apprenticeship, and develops work experiences and work sites for participant placement and cultivates employer relationships;
• Develops employment leads and opportunities for workforce customers and prepare customers to effectively pursue and apply for employment.
• Maintains excellent documentation and attention to detail while utilizing the Maine Job Link system to record required data for program accountability and monitoring needs.

Job Requirements

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong personal; counseling and mentoring skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work well with customers, co-workers, and supervisors.
• Knowledge of working with organizations and individuals in the non-profit sector.
• Ability to deliver presentations and facilitate conversations with small groups of customers and businesses.
• Valid driver’s license required with regular access to own a reliable vehicle.
• Understanding of the local labor market including opportunities, pay structures, and application requirements.

Core Position Competencies

• Computer Skills: Skilled in the use of computers, adapts to new technology, learns new programs quickly, and uses computers to improve productivity.
• Customer service: Handles customer/client questions and complaints, communicates with customers/clients, handles service problems politely and efficiently, is available for customers/clients, follows procedures to solve customer/client problems, understands company products and services, and maintains a pleasant and professional image.
• Dependability: Meets commitments, works independently, accepts accountability, handles change, sets personal standards, stays focused under pressure, and meets attendance/punctuality requirements.
• Integrity/Ethics: Deals with others in a straightforward and honest manner, is accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, supports company values, and the ability engage in challenging conversations.
• Teamwork: Meets all team deadlines and responsibilities, listens to others and values opinions, helps team leader to meet goals, welcomes newcomers and promotes a team atmosphere.
• Personal Organization: Keeps information organized and accessible, maintains clean/functional work space, works systematically/efficiently, and manages time well.
• Productivity: Manages a fair workload, prioritizes tasks, develops good work procedures, manages time well, and handles information flow.
• Quality: Is attentive to detail and accuracy, is committed to excellence, looks for improvements continuously, monitors quality levels, finds root cause of quality problems, owns/acts on quality problems.

Education/Experience

Some college and related experience are required.

A degree in education, social work, human services, public administration, or a related field is preferred.  Prior experience working with individuals or small businesses is preferred.

Working Conditions

General business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, though exempt positions will typically require work to be performed outside general business hours. Work is generally performed in an indoor, professional office environment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or listen and to use a keyboard for typing. The employee is often required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must travel to different locations and must be able to provide their own transportation.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.