People Strategy, Equity, and Culture

Employment Specialist

  • Title: Employment Specialist
  • Class: Academic Professional
  • Exempt Status: Exempt
  • Level: 3

Nature and Scope of Work

The Employment Specialist is responsible for providing specialized employment services in support of an assigned program(s) whose ultimate goal is to provide training and support to clients of various backgrounds and skill levels. Incumbents in this classification are typically assigned to an area of specialization within a total employment services program. Specialization may include training clients in work force skills, job development, job referral, job placement, or employee retention. Incumbents have independent decision making authority and work with little or no supervision.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Employment Specialist is distinguished from the Student Employment Specialist in that the Employment Specialist focuses on employment services for an identified program and has a client base who may not be enrolled in a PCC program. The Student Employment Specialist focuses on campus-based employment services to PCC students.

Principal Accountabilities (includes some or all of the following)

  1. Plans and assesses current work skills training needs. Develops curriculum and training materials. Facilitates life skills and job search skills classes. Evaluates results and initiates changes to curriculum as needed. Provides individual support and encouragement to clients.
  2. Provides active case management services to an assigned client load. Provides client assessment, develops service plans, typically requiring the coordination of multiple community services. Monitors client progress. Counsels and guides clients in developing career and/or employment goals. Advocates for students with other college services.
  3. Matchs job seeking clients and employers using a variety of professional job placement skills. May participate in the interview process. Facilitates completion of paperwork. Conducts work site visits to employers to ensure successful client placement.
  4. Provides retention services to ensure client success and employer satisfaction. Explores with the employer, client, and other community resources available alternatives for addressing client barriers and focusing on job retention. Mediates or problem-solves client/employer issues. Advocates for and negotiates client performance plans. Facilitates disability and cultural awareness training with employers and site employees.
  5. Develops and fosters professional relationships with employers, placement agencies, and temporary agencies to ensure consistent contact for job leads within the community.
  6. Designs and develops employment service marketing programs. Makes presentations to businesses within the community to promote employment services programs and develops new jobs for clients.
  7. Maintains case files. Writes detailed case notes. Tracks program/grant required statistics and summarizes in report form.
  8. Synthesizes information from diverse services and acts on information appropriately for each participant and grant.
  9. May provide interpretation assistance for non-English speaking clients. May provide interpretation support when called upon by other college departments as work load and supervisor approval allow.
  10. Performs related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work is typically performed in an office environment. Incumbents regularly drive to business sites which requires the use of a personal vehicle. Occasional evening and weekend hours is required.

Physical Requirements

Physical exertion is not a normal requirement of this job.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Social Science, Communications, or related field. Experience performing the duties of this job may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Demonstrated experience working with college students, clients who have barriers in achieving self sufficiency, developmentally or physically disabled adults, or at-risk populations. Demonstrated experience within area of specialization of position applied for. Experience in case management in a social service or educational setting. Fluency in a second language may be required depending on position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:
  • Knowledge of current labor market trends.
  • Knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity laws and other local, state, and federal laws pertaining to employment.
  • Knowledge of effective training techniques and adult learning theory.
  • Knowledge of local, state, and federal rules and regulations impacting assigned program.
  • Knowledge of community resources for appropriate referrals.
Skills in:
  • Skill in operating a computer and various supporting software packages.
  • Skill in effective group facilitation.
  • Skill at defusing angry and sometimes hostile clients.
Ability to:
  • Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects or to change priorities quickly and frequently.
  • Ability to work with an ethnically and culturally diverse population.
  • Ability to apply problem solving techniques to complex employee issues.
  • Ability to operate a variety of office equipment.
  • Ability to effectively communicate in oral and written form.

Reviewed: 12/2018

  • Established: 9/1997