Job Description

Job Location: Long Island City - Long Island City, NY 11101
Position Type: Full-Time Non-Exempt
Salary Range: $30.22 - $36.82 Hourly

Title: Employment Specialist
Unit: Employment Services
Reports to: Program Manager, Placement Services
Status: Full-Time; Regular; Non-Exempt
Salary Range: $30.22 to $36.82 per hour (Approximately $55,000 to $67,000 Annually)
Location: 29-76 Northern Blvd., Long Island City, NY, 11101
Days/Hours: Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm
Organization Overview:
The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for over 57 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nation’s preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.
Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with close to $90 million in annual budget with just under 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society. The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 14,000 people a year.. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.

Position Summary:
Under the direction of Program Manager, Placement Services, the Employment Specialist (ES) is responsible for assisting individuals in finding, securing, and maintaining employment. This role involves providing career counseling, job search assistance, and support services to both job seekers and employers. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of labor market trends, creating job leads for participants’ and have excellent communication skills, with the ability to achieve departmental goals.
Core Competencies:
Mission and Fit:
Embodies Fortune’s mission and values and will be an effective member of the team in furthering both. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune’s core value that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.
Attention to Detail:
The ES must demonstrate competency to develop systems and processes to organize and keep track of placement, case management efforts, employer research and work progress; is routinely conscientious, thorough, accurate and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; and recognizes trends, detects inconsistencies, and determines essential details. Ability to multi-task is preferable.
Multitasking:
The ES must have the ability to meet various demands simultaneously and effectively. Will have the ability to offer intense concentration on complex tasks. The ES will be able to rotate concentration to prioritize most critical and pressing demands first and can determine when the need arises to seek guidance and support with prioritizing from leadership.
Collaboration:
The ES must collaborate and coordinate with one another to provide care and support to those who need higher levels of supervision and/or more support in developing the soft skills required in order to maintain employment, anchoring support from the supervisor when necessary, before someone is placed. Additionally, the ES will need to collaborate with the Business Services Coordinator to effectively place individuals for employment with employer partners engaged through their direct outreach efforts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct one-on-one employment counseling sessions with program participants as needed to assess their skills, interest and employment goals and support any barriers to employment. Develop personalized job search strategies and career development plans;
- Assist participants with editing their resumes, cover letters, and interview techniques. Support with on-site and off-site job/resource fairs;
- Build and maintain relationships with local employers to identify job openings and employment opportunities. Create employer engagement events to increase new employment opportunities and placements. Promote program services to organizations and businesses to foster employer partnerships;
- Match participants with appropriate job openings based on their skills and qualifications. Support clients throughout the hiring process, providing guidance and advocacy as needed. Support EES case managers with obtaining post-placement retention verification;
- Track and evaluate the process and outcomes. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of participants and employers’ interactions in our database. Generate reports and provide regular updates on placement activity, performance metrics, and market trends. Establish and maintain strong relationships with participants by providing support, guidance, and feedback throughout the placement process. Monitor participants’ progress in their new jobs and provide post-placement support to ensure retention. Address any barriers to employment and connect clients with relevant resources;
- Maintain accurate records of participants’ interactions, job placements, and outcomes. Prepare reports and statistics on employment services provided. Document all engagement in Case Worthy to ensure all parties involved are aware in real-time of participant activities, and support is provided where appropriate. Maintain regular phone, email, and in-person communication within account base document all pertinent discussions, milestones, events, and incidents in real-time;
- Stay informed about labor market trends, job search techniques, and employment resources. Participate in internal and external training and professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge. Educate employers on the socioeconomic advantages of hiring from Fortune’s pool of candidates; be able to cite recent departmental employment statistics and competitive advantages of hiring from The Fortune Society;
- Attend workforce networking events and training workshops to remain informed;
- Model safe and positive workplace behavior and work readiness skills (teamwork, conflict resolution, positive attitude, timeliness, etc.);
- Utilize trauma-informed practices to support participants; establish constructive relationships with participants as a positive role model;
- Participate in collaborative meetings with Employment Services’ teams to assess participant progress and further develop their individualized plans for placement. Ensure that relevant information is shared with the team to aid in service planning;
- Participate in regular, ongoing professional development opportunities including trainings, skill practice, and receiving ongoing coaching and feedback;
- Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications
- Associate’s degree in business/Sociology/Social Work/Criminal Justice/Public Administration or other life/professional experience equivalent to an associate’s degree;
- A minimum of one – two years of experience working in social service, criminal justice or workforce programming;
- Bilingual in Spanish a plus;
- Skilled communicator who is able to liaise interdepartmentally as well as with community partners, employers and stakeholders;
- Knowledge of up-to-date labor market trends and resources a plus;
- Ability to work a flexible schedule;
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Excel, Outlook and Office 365;
- Ability to work independently and on a team;
- Must be willing to work in a fast-paced environment with varying demands and achieve set goals;
- Experience and/or desire to work with a diverse population.
We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission. Relevant personal experience is a plus.
Travel Requirements: Travel throughout New York City is required.
Physical Demands:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.