Workforce Support Navigator

Position Summary:

Workforce Support Specialist will primarily work in concert with EMDC Workforce Services team members and community partners under the direction/supervision of the Jail Diversion and Recovery Program Manager. They will assist individuals impacted by employment barriers, Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or who have been justice involved connect with education, training and employment. Workforce Support Specialists offer encouragement and emotional support, facilitate connections to information, and provide a supportive role in assisting with referrals to community resources. In addition, Workforce Support Specialists will help those impacted in accessing other needed resources, such as shelter, food and transportation–necessary to reintegrate into life, work and community.

Essential Functions:

• Coordinate and conduct outreach and information sessions to expand awareness of funding opportunities and access to employment and training services.

• Conduct presentations to inform potential participants of services and procedures.
• Provide support to help participants stay engaged in their employment and training plan and meeting individual goals and objectives including transition to employment.
• Establish and maintain contact with each participant to assess his/her situation and determine need for retraining, job readiness or placement, or other support services.
• Assist service provider case managers, navigators and others with client follow up, group workshops and other grant-related activities.
• Assist participants in their job search by providing job readiness activities: resume development, interviewing preparation, employer research and job seeker support groups.
• Maintain scheduled hours at Career Centers in each region and Community Partner locations including recovery centers, drug treatment courts, recovery residences, county jails and Maine corrections facilities, educational institutions, community action program sites and adult education locations.
• Participate in ongoing training activities specific to the project and the work of Peer Connector/relief worker.
• Establish and maintain close reciprocal relationships with designated partner agencies and organizations to encourage referrals, assist with eligibility documentation and support participant progress.
• Report activities, compile data and outline progress in the format provided by project oversight personnel, and attend community and other meetings as needed to provide outreach, education or referral.
• May perform initial interviews with applicants to gather eligibility information. Help participants understand the rules/regulations and navigation of the workforce services system.
• Advocate for participants to help resolve obstacles to retraining and job placement services.
• Communicate with supervisors or other program service staff about individual participant worker’s needs, concerns, progress, or challenges in accessing services.
• Perform tasks and duties, worker outreach and advocacy activities assigned and approved by project oversight personnel to fulfill the goals of peer support project and meet the readjustment and reemployment needs of participants.

Job Requirements:

High school diploma or equivalent required. Some college preferred. Is receiving or has received services and/or supports related to employment barriers, OUD, justice involvement, and is willing to self-identify on this basis with peers and in the community. May be receiving or has received services and supports related to a history of substance use, is in active recovery, and willing to self-identify on this basis with peers and in the community.

Core Competencies:

Computer skills: Skilled in the use of computers, adapts to new technology, learns new programs quickly, uses computers to improve productivity.

• Customer service: Handles customer/client questions and complaints, communicates with customers/clients, handles service problems politely and efficiently, always available for customers/clients, follows procedure to solve customer/client problems, understands company products and services, maintains pleasant and professional image.
• Dependability: Meets commitments, works independently, accepts accountability, handles change, sets personal standards, stays focused under pressure, and meets attendance/punctuality requirements.
• Integrity/Ethics: Deals with others in a straightforward and honest manner, is accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, supports company values, conveys good news and bad.
• Teamwork: Meets all team deadlines and responsibilities, listens to others and values opinions, helps team leader to meet goals, welcomes newcomers and promotes a team atmosphere.

Position Competencies:

• Job Knowledge: Understands duties and responsibilities, has necessary job knowledge, has necessary technical skills, understands company mission/values, keeps job knowledge current, is in command of critical issues.
• Personal Organization: Keeps information organized and accessible, maintains clean/functional work space, works systematically/efficiently, and manages time well.
• Productivity: Manages a fair workload, prioritizes tasks, develops good work procedures, manages time well, and handles information flow.
• Quality: Is attentive to detail and accuracy, is committed to excellence, looks for improvements continuously, monitors quality levels, finds root cause of quality problems, owns/acts on quality problems.

Working Conditions:

General business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, though exempt positions will typically require work to be performed outside general business hours. Work is generally performed in an indoor, professional office environment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or listen, and regularly required to use a keyboard for typing. The employee is often required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The employee must travel to different locations and must be able to provide own transportation.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.