Workforce Specialist

Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois' first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 122,900 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment.

We are now hiring for a full-time Workforce Specialist to join our Calumet Team with our Illinois Youth Investment Program .

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Conduct outreach to recruit potential participants for the various programs at the youth construction programs.
2. Perform employment and other assessments and vocational explorations.
3. Develop, implement, and monitor Individual Employment Plans that outline participant's employment or training objectives.
4. Develop essential employability skills.
5. Coordinate and communicate with referral sources, community agencies, and providers.
6. Provide referrals to internal and external supportive services to address identified needs and reduce employment barriers.
7. Facilitate employment readiness training using the proprietary HOPE Curriculum and other tools along with job search assistance to help clients become job ready. Provide work support and referrals.
8. Facilitate instructional planning, including, but not limited to, providing written lesson plans and preparation in accordance with the objectives of the National Certification for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) instructional program, establishing positive learning expectation standards for all participants, and evaluating participants’ progress and maintaining current and accurate records of participants’ achievements.
9. Implement instructional methods, including, but not limited to, applying contemporary principles of learning theory and teaching methodology.
10. Maintain accurate attendance records.
11. Data entry to Illinois Work Net.
12. Initiate appropriate conferences with participants to ensure on-track performance in the program with a successful completion.
13. Conduct situational assessments and vocational explorations.
14. Provide employment guidance and create individual employment plans that outline participant's employment objectives.
15. Conduct Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) and other applicable skills testing as required by the funder.
16. Provide referrals to workforce services, employment readiness, educational, and other supportive services to address identified needs and reduce employment barriers.
17. Assist with employment readiness training and job search assistance to help clients become job ready.
18. Handle emergency and crisis situations with participants.
19. Work within contract, grant, and program requirements including meeting timelines and reporting requirements.
20. Utilize a team approach and work with other program staff in the planning and implementation of services.
21. Take increasing responsibility for own professional development, utilizing supervision and other developmental opportunities within and outside the agency to enhance skills and understanding.
22. Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s Degree or greater in Education, Math, Social Science, or a related field required.
2. Experience in providing math instruction skills preferred.
3. At least three years of demonstrated experience in facilitating classroom instruction preferred.
4. Works effectively with diverse staff and service populations.
5. Accountable for providing exceptional customer service.
6. Must have exceptional organizational skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

1. While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel, and crouch.
2. The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.
3. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

SALARY:

Compensation is commensurate with years of related experience, position requirements, and candidate qualifications. The average salary for the position is $46,123.

Metropolitan Family Services offers a very generous benefits package to our professionals:

1. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Coverage: HMO, Traditional PPO, or PPO w/ HSA contributions.
2. Dental and Vision Insurance Options.
3. 12 paid Holidays.
4. Paid Time Off (PTO).
5. Parental Leave.
6. Bereavement Leave.
7. 401K Plan.
8. Training and Professional Development Plan with E-Learning.
9. Wellness Initiative Program.
10. Employee Assistance Network.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.