Employment Specialist

Join a team where your professional growth directly impacts vulnerable families across New York City by providing crucial housing services and eviction prevention legal support that helps clients achieve permanent, stable housing.

At NAICA, we’re committed to being an employer of choice by attracting top talent, fostering an engaging work environment, and providing the support you need to advance your career while making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

Title: Employment Specialist

Location: New York Metropolitan Area

Reports to: Director of Social Services

Pay Range: $24.72 - $24.72 per hour (effectively $45,000 - $45,000 per year)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Status: Full-time (35 hour per week)

Role Summary: The successful candidate will assess residents’ interests, employment history, and aptitudes to develop tailored employment plans through vocational and educational counseling, referrals for skills development, job readiness preparation, training, and employment placement programs, leading to full-time or part-time unsubsidized employment. The Employment Specialist will collaborate with colleagues to address the vocational and educational needs of their caseload, contributing to program success while aligning with NAICA’s core purpose, values, and vision.

Primary Job Responsibilities/Duties: 

The Employment Specialist is responsible for, but not limited to: 

• Provide counseling and assistance to clients to achieve employment and housing goals.

• Coordinate client employment training while optimizing cost containment to expedite their return to work.

• Monitor and document client progress to ensure goals and objectives are met.

• Consult with clients to discuss options and goals, developing plans for accessing necessary services.

• Connect clients to external resources to support employment opportunities.

• Utilize assessment tools (CARES, Vocational Profile) to identify support service needs and make appropriate referrals.

• Orient clients to the shelter program, including requirements and consequences.

• Develop and maintain clients’ Independent Living Plans (ILP) and Psychosocial records via CARES.

• Assist non-working clients in obtaining Public Assistance.

• Track and monitor client progress or lack thereof through documentation in CARES.

• Facilitate group or individual sessions to motivate and empower clients in their planning and goal setting.

• Conduct weekly or bi-weekly meetings with clients, or as needed.

• Refer clients for job development and subsequent employment opportunities when appropriate.

• Direct clients to resources to support their goal attainment.

• Provide after-care services to address issues, challenges, and successes, enhancing long-term self-sufficiency.

• Maintain client files, including conversations, warnings, progress reports, and documentation of all incidents via CARES.

• Report critical incidents immediately to the Director of Social Services.

• Collaborate with Housing Specialists and Case Managers to assess client readiness fo