Employment Specialist

The Career Network is an innovative program that uses the evidence-based practice of supported employment to help program participants achieve their employment goals.

We provide services to both CUCS supported housing programs and to individuals with special needs living in the community at large.  We work with individuals with various special needs including a history of severe and persistent mental illness, substance use, HIV/AIDS and/or a history of homelessness.  Our services are person-centered, using a strengths-based, harm reduction model.  We work collaboratively as a team of social workers to develop clinical and workforce development interventions to help our participants thrive as they try out challenges in the world of work.  The program seeks to assist participants in their recovery path with the goal of assisting them toward living a full and satisfying life in the community.

Responsibilities: 

The Employment Specialist is a professional at CUCS’ supported employment program, the CUCS Career Network.  This position is principally responsible for direct recipient services and group services. Responsibilities include provision of supplemental services and supports such as outreach program participants and assessment, job coaching, entitlements counseling, and resource development.

The Employment Specialist is expected to possess the following skills and qualifications, including but not limited to:

• A strong knowledge of employment resources and have a wide range of skills, which are applied to the responsibilities of the position. 
• Expected to have a demonstrated ability in the provision of employment services to designated populations. 
• Exhibit a substantive level of autonomy and appropriately model good practice with participants.

The Employment Specialist has significant responsibility for problem solving and for actively offering input and feedback for programmatic issues as well as providing support to other team members.  The Employment Specialist may be assigned additional responsibility for particular tasks, functions or groups. Working in the community is an essential responsibility with the expectation being that time spent in the community will ultimately lead to creation of job opportunities for program participants. Employment Specialist is responsible for assisting in achieving site employment goals.

This position is located at 133 Pitt Street NY, NY

Title

 Minimum Qualifications

Employment Specialist 1

· Master’s degree in social work, mental health counseling, rehabilitation counseling, public administration, public health, human services, psychology, or related field required

· Relevant pre or post master’s or internship experience preferred.

OR

· A bachelor’s degree

· 2 years experience in social services, vocational counseling, career counseling, human resources, or relevant work   

Preferred: 

· Experience in workforce development, job placement, or employability training

· Experience working with individuals with mental health diagnosis

Employment Specialist 2

2 years as an ES 1

OR

· Master’s degree in social work, mental health counseling, rehabilitation counseling, public administration, public health, human services, psychology, or related field required

· Relevant pre or post master’s or internship experience preferred.

· 2 years experience in social services, vocational counseling, career counseling, human resources, or relevant work

OR

· A bachelor’s degree

· 4 years experience in social services, vocational counseling,  career counseling, human resources, or relevant work

Preferred: 

· Experience in workforce development, job placement, or employability training

· Experience working with individuals with mental health diagnoses

• A. Certification/License

  LMSW, LMHC preferred

  B. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  1. Demonstrated ability in delivering client services to specialized populations.

  2. Computer proficiency, and working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite programs.

  3. Ability to communicate (both orally and in writing) in a manner that is clear, organized, informative, tailored to the audience, and meets its intended purpose.

  4. Strong teamwork, collaboration, organizational, and time management skills.

  5. Bilingual Spanish/English preferred