Employment Specialist II at Lutheran Services Florida

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.

LSF is looking for a talented ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Employment Specialist II who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.

Purpose and Impact:

The Employment Specialist II is responsible for assisting and ensuring effective resettlement, social integration, and self-sufficiency by delivering comprehensive employment services to refugees and entrants in the targeted service area.  

Essential Functions: 

• Reviews and complete intake forms with demographic information.  
• Completes initial assessment in order to develop a service plan.  
• Updates plan regularly to document changes.  
• Develop an employability plan and a self-sufficiency plan in conjunction with client.  
• Assesses and assists clients who are hard to place or needing special services in reaching self-sufficiency.  
• Develops referral to additional services as necessary.  
• Issue referrals for support services to service providers according to their special needs. 
• Completes a household budget to determine necessary wages for self-sufficiency achievement.  
• Provide counseling and one-on-one orientation regarding guidelines and responsibilities of the program.  
• Updates case files at least once a month to show progress and implementation of the employability plan. 
• Provides training to program staff as necessary. 
• Responsible for writing case notes in the WTS system if client is a TANF participant.  
• Assist all clients, including hard to place clients, in job application, interviews, onboarding and work adjustment.  
• Employee is expected to achieve 100% of allocated individual goals as mandated by the funding source and LSF on a monthly basis.   
• Ensure that 85% of RCA clients are placed in full time employment within 4 months of intake. 
• Responsible to provide assigned staff with job placement forms for data entry and placed in the client’s case file for documentation. 
• Responsible to provide assigned staff with 10/30/60/90 day’s follow-up after placement.  
• Responsible to provide posts employment counseling and follow up to ensure that clients placed on jobs will remain employed at 90 day follow up.  
• Responsible that all documenting goal accomplishments is submitted to the designated staff in a timely manner for data entry and billing purposes. 
• Ensure that participants comply with rules and regulations of the program and that compliance is documented. i.e. community services, timesheets, pay stubs, determine and impose sanctions, lifting pre-sanctions and sanctions, preparation of vouchers for support or transitional services, and ultimately case closure, etc.  
• Responsible for attending DCF and WTS trainings and meetings, seminars, etc. 
• Makes program presentations to employers and other organizations as necessary. 
• Act as Acting Manager when manager is out of office. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned. 

Other Functions 

• Provides indirect supervision of ESI and PA.  
• Assist Manager in enforcement and attainment of program goals. 
• Assist with Employment Preparation Sessions as needed.  
• Share job leads with other Employment Specialists. 
• Must possess a clean/valid Florida Driver License, reliable transportation and proof of insurance (transcript of driving record will be requested from the Department of Motor Vehicle at the time of hire). 

Physical Requirements: 

Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds.  Reasonable accommodation may be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.  Regular sitting, working at computer keyboard and desk.  Occasional bending, stooping and lifting.  Must be able to drive to different locations. 

Education: 

High School/GED Diploma required.

Experience: 

At least two years experience delivering employment services to refugees and immigrants in a social service environment 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of refugee cultures, backgrounds, languages and resources helpful. 
• Computer skills to produce and interpret graphs, charts, spreadsheets and other mathematical reports. 
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; make recommendations and develop implementation strategies. 
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. 
• Ability to interpret agency, federal and state laws pertaining to the program. 
• Ability to speak before groups of individuals and to lead employees and volunteers. 
• Ability to plan and direct activities to write goals and objectives. 
• Ability to utilize agency resources and technology to appropriately answer questions and provides guidance to staff and parents.  
• Ability to train and provide presentations to large and small groups.  
• Ability to collaborate with and have working knowledge of local community resources. 
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.  
• Sustained concentration and attention to detail and accuracy.  
• Ability to prioritize and manage workload and deadlines.  
• Must be able to work a flexible work schedule. 
• Bilingual.

Other: 

Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs. 

Principal Accountabilities: 

• Reports to Manager 
• Must be a team player with monitors as well as other clerical staff. 
• Accurate, complete and timely submission of required reports and documentation to DCF & LSF. 
• Effective working relationship with clients (providers). 
• Adherence to LSF policies and procedures. 

Why work for LSF?

LSF offers 60 programs across the state of Florida serving a wide range of populations in need. Mission Driven staff members become part of the LSF community while transforming the lives of those in need. Our staff additionally find growth opportunities as they explore areas of interest within the organization. 

Amazing benefits package including:

• Medical, dental and vision
• Teladoc (24/7 access to doctors)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term disability
• Employer paid life insurance (1X salary), AD&D
• Health and dependent care FSA
• 13 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday
• Generous PTO policy
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match
• Tuition reimbursement

Lutheran Services Florida embraces diversity, equity and inclusion in all business practices. LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.