Employment Specialist

3 Weeks ago • All levels

Job Summary

Job Description

The Employment Specialist position focuses on helping newly arrived refugees find jobs. This role involves outreach, assessing clients, enrolling them in programs, and creating employment plans. The specialist provides job readiness training, helps with job searches, and facilitates placements. They also work with community engagement, volunteers, and workforce partners. Key responsibilities include tracking client progress, ensuring program compliance, and providing support like financial assistance and referrals. The specialist also assists with training volunteers and interns. This position requires strong organizational and communication skills, along with a passion for helping refugees achieve economic stability.

Must have:

Experience in case management or job counseling.
Undergraduate degree in related field or equivalent experience.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and online databases.
Experience with US job search process.
High-level ability to speak and write in English.
Professional and customer service-oriented manner.
Proven administrative skills and detail-oriented.
Valid driver's license and reliable vehicle.
Pass background checks, including DMV.

Good to have:

Demonstrate WRS values consistently.
Bilingual in written and spoken refugee language.
Ability to work with diverse backgrounds.
Strong time management and prioritization skills.
Ability to manage multiple demands and deadlines.
Problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated ability to coach clients effectively.
Ability to use strength-based and individualized case management.

Perks:

Competitive benefits package.
Employee discount program.

6 skills required

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Job Details

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten? Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor?

If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.

At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world. We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering.

If you’re looking for a purpose-driven career in which you can grow your talents, while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable, we want you to join us today.

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe. Since then, for 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish.

Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, community strengthening and resilience, and refugee & immigrant services and advocacy.

This position is reliant upon funding and may be subject to modification or termination based on resource availability.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Employment Specialist position is part of the Economic Empowerment Department, with a focus on rapid stabilization and employment placement and retention services for newly arrived refugees. This position plays a key role in supporting refugee and immigrant clients as they navigate the U.S. job market. This position is responsible for outreach, intake, assessment, and enrollment of clients into employment programs. The specialist works closely with participants to develop individualized employment and self-sufficiency plans, provide job readiness training, and facilitate job searches and placements. Additionally, the role involves coordinating with the community engagement team, employment volunteers, workforce development partners, tracking client progress, and ensuring compliance with program requirements. The Employment Specialist maintains accurate case records, supports reporting for state and federal monitoring, and provides direct support such as financial assistance, transportation, and referrals to community resources. They also assist in training volunteers and interns and contribute to program improvement efforts. This position requires strong organizational, communication, and case management skills, along with a passion for empowering refugees and immigrants toward long-term economic stability.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Outreach & Client Engagement
Conduct outreach in Greater Sacramento, promoting employment and career pathway programs.
Provide orientation to potential clients on program offerings.

Intake, Assessment & Enrollment
Assess program eligibility and ensure understanding of requirements.
Refer clients to relevant programs for additional support.
Enroll clients, complete intake assessments, and maintain records in WRS systems.
Ensure compliance with enrollment documentation and state/federal monitoring.

Employment Readiness & Career Development
Screen clients for education, work history, strengths, and employment barriers.
Develop employment and self-sufficiency plans with measurable goals.
Coordinate job readiness workshops, resume preparation, and interview skills training.
Support job search efforts, applications, and referrals to workforce resources.

Service Coordination & Client Support
Track progress, provide coaching, and connect clients to financial/material assistance.
Maintain referral relationships with education, job training, and workforce organizations.
Facilitate job placements and retention, ensuring program compliance. Coordinate interpreters and other support services as needed.

Record Management & Reporting
Maintain accurate case files, track job placements, and report client progress.
Ensure compliance with grant documentation and funding requirements.
Conduct case file reviews and employment exit surveys for program improvement.

Administrative & Transportation Support
Train and oversee volunteers/interns supporting employment services.
Use personal vehicle to transport clients/materials as needed.
Participate in staff meetings and professional development.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Mature and personal Christian faith
Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Evangelicals For the Health of The Nation document
Demonstrated experience in case management or job counseling
Undergraduate degree in human services, social work, or related field of study is preferred; or equivalent work experience.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and online databases.
Demonstrated experience with the US job search process and the ability to effectively coach clients through the nuanced process of securing employment
Demonstrated high-level ability to speak and write in English
Conduct self in a professional, customer service-oriented manner
Proven administrative skills, detail-oriented, ability to maintain records and reports accurately
Valid driver's license, access to a reliable vehicle, and clean driving record.
Keep valid Defensive Driving Training certification.
Able to pass background checks, including DMV, on a yearly basis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Ability to demonstrate WRS values consistently: Competence, Integrity, Excellence; Initiative, Learning, Growth; Respect, Teamwork, Connection; Compassion, Courage, Wholeheartedness
Bilingual in written and spoken refugee language (Dari, Pashto, Farsi, Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian) are highly desirable
Ability to work effectively and sensitively with people of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds
Relational skills, interact well with participants, volunteers, and team members, creating a welcoming and interactive space for all involved
Self-starter with demonstrated ability to achieve results
Strong time management and prioritization skills; knows how to organize their schedule to complete the most pressing tasks in time
Ability to manage multiple demands and deadlines with flexibility
Problem-solving skills; find possible solutions before bringing them to the supervisor
Demonstrated ability to coach clients effectively
Ability to use strength-based and individualized case management

$27 - $29.50 an hour

World Relief offers a competitive benefits package and employee discount program for full-time and part-time employees.

World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health.

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Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.