JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Retention Specialist
FLSA: Non-exempt
Division: Services
Reports to: Program Director
Location: Glendale, NY
SALARY: $45,000- $50,000
SUMMARY:
The Retention Specialist provides employment focused counseling, case management along with a major focus on pre and post-employment follow up services. The retention specialist models appropriate skills, behaviors and attitudes that support participants’ ability to become employed and independent through the employment services program, which is designed to assist SNAP eligible shelter clients with all levels of barriers to employment prepare for, obtain and maintain employment. The specialist will focus on 3 major milestones to measure program outcomes and success. The target milestones are 30/90/180-day retention. The retention specialist has a diverse role that requires active involvement with other team members of the employment and shelter staff to ensure that participants successfully achieve employment goals.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conducts and reviews assessments of skills and work behaviors and develops individual retention plans to address identified needs of participants
- Actively prepares participants for world of work through necessary post-employment skills training based on the needs, interests and abilities of the participants
- Coordinates the participants’ job development and placement goals with the employment service team
- May be relied upon to recruit participants for program and takes responsibility for intake, screening and eligibility determination of participants.
- Develops relevant relationships and communicates effectively with schools, community partners, VESID, employers, and participants’ families to help with retaining employment
- Helps participants in time of crisis to obtain necessary services that support independence, including counseling, case management and housing assistance.
- Maintains case records in an appropriate manner and complies with all regulations related to reporting and documentation requirements.
- Upon job placement, provides travel training, on-the-job training, and orientation to the job site, counseling, social skills development, workplace safety instruction, advocacy and any other required support to the participants
- Provide worksite or home visits to provide follow up, collect employment verification and or provide employment support to ensure retains employment
- Provides ongoing individual counseling to participants focused on goals established in individual employment plans
- Provides specific training and counseling to participants in social skills related to job placement
- Completes reports depicting accurate 30 and 90-day employment retention outcomes and goals
- Must be able to accurately track and distribute post-employment incentives and Metro Cards
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s Degree preferred, preferably in field of workforce development, social services, human services, counseling or sales
- Must be able to secure employment verification documentation for data tracking
- Fluent in Spanish highly preferred
- 2 years of workforce development, employment retention services and or sales experience preferred
- Ability to establish and maintain relationships with participants’ families, colleagues, and employers
- May require some evening or weekend hours
- Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms
- Ability to organize work and to make evaluations and recommendations regarding client services
- Valid NYS Driver’s License is a plus
AGENCY PROFILE & EMPLOYEE EXPECTATIONS:
Westhab is a prominent community development organization, providing housing and supportive services for more than 10,000 of the most vulnerable members of our community each year. We are staffed by an extraordinary group of hard working professionals that are fully committed to our mission – Building Communities. Changing Lives. Working at Westhab is not easy. Our expectations for all staff are high. We believe that the people and the communities that we have the privilege to serve deserve our very best every day. We are a results-driven organization that focuses on empowerment and impact. If you want to apply for this opportunity, it should only be because you feel ready for the challenges and expectations that come with joining this kind of team. (EOE)
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA):
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ensures safe and healthful working conditions to workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. Westhab complies with all applicable OSHA standards, rules and regulations in addition to keeping our workplaces free of serious recognized hazards.