COMPENSATION: $21.01 to $32.83 per hour depending on education/experience plus excellent benefits. This is a full-time position.

*** This position is on-site and based in our DTLA office and may require rotational shifts at Downtown Central Library***

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

PACE is local community nonprofit organization founded in 1976 to provide job training and placement services for the Asian Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles. PACE has since expanded into a variety of service areas, all tailored to meet the growing and changing needs of the multi-ethnic communities in Los Angeles County. Now, in addition to job training and employment services, significant PACE programs encompass: Business Development; Early Childhood Education (Head Start); Financial Education and Asset Building; Housing and Rehabilitation Services; Weatherization and Energy-conservation programs; and Affordable Housing Development. PACE serves more than 40,000 people each year with our wide scope of services with approximately 350+ staff. PACE is recognized as a leader in addressing problems of poverty and economic inequity in ethnic minority communities and has a reputation of being responsive to community needs and is known for creating innovative solutions to the myriads of challenges faced by our clients. https://pacela.org/

PROGRAM SUMMARY

PACE’s Downtown/Pico Union WorkSource Center offers job seekers and employers integrated and comprehensive services including counseling, job training, and placement. PACE partners with community based organizations, government agencies, colleges, schools, unions, and employers of all sizes. PACE connects job seekers to employers /trainers and provides access to Veteran transition services, a career resource library, workshops, virtual and on-site interviews with local employers, job leads, resource referrals, counseling on welfare-to-work opportunities, and access to computers and other office equipment. https://pacela.org/our-work/employment/

JOB SUMMARY

We are looking for an enthusiastic and service-oriented Employment Specialist II to join our team. Under the direction of the Senior Workforce Development Specialist of the Downtown/Pico-Union WorkSource Center, the Employment Specialist II, also referred to as Workforce Development Specialist II will be responsible for performing a wide range of services for the program and the WorkSource Center. This includes assisting individuals to find employment opportunities, conducting orientation, providing customer service, determining eligibility, assessment duties, specialized data entry, receipt/inputting of City or Grantor MIS information and documents, case management, job development, and job placement/retention. The position will also collect, organize, and report information pertaining to participant activities and any activities related to employment and training programs. Position is mainly based at PACE's main office in downtown LA with rotational shifts operated at the Downtown Central Public Library Portal as required.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

As a key representative at the Downtown/Pico-Union Worksource Center , the Employment Specialist II is responsible for the initial assistance to job seekers. The position will perform a range of professional duties related to the implementation of the WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funded program, including: recruiting potential customers, conducting group and one-on-one WIOA orientation, determining customers’ eligibility for WIOA services, attending City of LA meetings, providing relevant information to customers and staff, referring customers to other resources and partner agencies if needed, keeping record and accurate paperwork for all eligible customers files, submitting weekly reports of eligible customers, outreach, case management, job development, job placement/retention, and performing other duties in order to ensure goals and standards are met.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION INCLUDE:

• Provide all customers access to Universal services that do not require registration such as self-service and/or informational activities.

• Inform all interested customers about the information and services available at or through the WorkSource Centers.

• Inform customers about the self-directed information and referral services available at the WorkSource Center, other WorkSource Centers and through 211, and ensure that customers understand the guidelines for using the tools available at the Downtown/Pico-Union WorkSource Center.

• Inform customers about general programs eligibility and guidelines, also collaborators’ program requirements, overall responsibilities of the customer and of the WorkSource Center and collaborators, general timeframes, steps involved in becoming a registered customer, and the overall goals of the program(s).

• Provide and document that customers have received an orientation to all services that provides them with a clear understanding of the full scope of services available at the Downtown/Pico-Union and the other WorkSource Centers, including, but not limited to, Job Resource Center, training, retraining, supportive services, job development, re-employment/job placement, and post exit follow-up.

• Refer customer to Downtown/Pico-Union WorkSource Center Staff Assisted Services.

• Provide each customer with a copy of the complaint procedures, a list of supportive services available, and a statement of the program’s goals and objectives. Staff will also inform customers that they will be contacted for post exit follow-up, and that they must sign a release, and provide contact information.

• Provide Labor Market Information (LMI) using such sources as O’Net and CalJOBS.

• Provide customers program performance information and program cost information for Eligible Training Providers identified on the Eligible Training Providers List (ETPL).

• Provide information and assistance to customers regarding filing claims for unemployment (UIB) compensation.

• Determine the eligibility of prospective customers with respect to all program regulations and established guidelines.

• Conduct one-on-one or group orientations as needed.

• Schedule GAIN (Greater Avenues for Independence) participant referrals to conduct in-person orientation, intake, eligibility and assessment for a potential Transitional Subsidized Employment (TSE) assignment.

• Refer all eligible participants to short-term prevocational services (Blueprint training) after completing eligibility and assessment.

• Contact potential local private, non-profit, and public organizations for job openings, and assist new employers complete the Southbay WIB application to become an approved TSE site.

• Refer qualified participants to job interviews for a TSE assignment.

• Follow-up with participants/employers for job interview results.

• Complete paperwork and submit to GAIN to report start, and end, of participant’s TSE assignment.

• Submit to GAIN a request for support services for participants starting a TSE assignment.

• Complete payroll paperwork and submit to SBWIB for participants starting a TSE assignment.

• Collect timesheets for participants on a TSE assignment on a bi-weekly basis and submit to SBWIB to process payroll.

• Distribute checks on a bi-weekly basis to participants on a TSE assignment.

• Assist participants with unsubsidized employment.

• Follow-up with participants in unsubsidized employment, collect check stubs, complete paperwork, and submit to SBWIB for participant work allowance stipend.

• Enter data into the I-TRAIN system to report participants’ activities, such as client assessment, registration, enrollment, TSE participation, unsubsidized employment, and retention.

• Maintain case notes in the participants’ file and file relevant program forms/documentation and make the files available to Program Monitors conducting program review.

• Enter data into the CalJobs system to report WIOA co-enrolled activities, such as orientation, assessment, short-term prevocational services, TSE participation, unsubsidized employment, and retention.

• Enter case notes for WIOA co-enrolled activities in participants’ electronic CalJobs file and upload documentation for co-enrolled activities.

• Complete the LA County Harassment training on a bi-annual basis.

• Attend weekly staff meetings.

• Attend quarterly SBWIB meetings.

• Submit monthly performance reports.

• Participate and attend fair events, recruitment events, assigned meetings, etc as needed to promote agency’s program services with the community. In addition, actively support and participate in activities related to the Center’s performance.

• Assist with outreach efforts to job seeker community and businesses by attending job fairs, community events, forums, etc.

• Assure the prompt and smooth referral of all eligible customers to intensive/training services.

• Communicate problems/irregularities in an eligibility/recruitment process in a timely matter.

• Maintain electronic Case Notes in the CalJOBS System of interaction with customer on a daily basis.

• Complete trainings provided by the City of Los Angeles EWDD

• Perform and reach program goals with 90% of total program year eligibility

• Case management

• Job development, job placement and retention

• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of a High School Diploma (or GED equivalent) is required. Associate’s or Bachelor's Degree is preferred.

• This position requires a person with professional experience in social services programs.

• Must have excellent interpersonal skills, be a team player and be able to work with diverse populations to provide in-person and over-the-phone program services.

• Excellent customer service skills

• Strong organizational skills

• Be proficient in a Windows PC environment and Microsoft Office.

• Possess excellent communication and written skills, as well as telephone and people skills.

• Must have excellent time management and organizational skills to effectively manage a caseload.

• Bilingual skills preferred

• Must be available to work evening and weekend hours as needed.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in customer service, assessment, eligibility determination, case management and/or counseling

• Experience in Workforce or employment programs is highly desirable but not required

• Some supervision experience is highly desirable.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must pass a employment and professional reference check

• Must possess Driver’s License and the use of an automobile with adequate insurance coverage

• COVID vaccination required; must have two-dose series of Pfizer or Moderna or a single-dose of Johnson & Johnson. Those that need a medical or religious exemption must reach out separately.

• Local travel may be required

APPLICATION PROCESS:

• Please upload resume and complete online application

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions have been filled.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.