workforce services specialist

BASIC PURPOSE:

Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities involving the management of career assessment/counseling, interviewing applicants to determine needs for job skills, placement, training, unemployment insurance eligibility, and other social services under a case management system. This includes providing services to public and private employers to refer qualified and trained applicants and providing unemployment compensation services. Specialized and critical tasks will be assigned to qualified veteran staff for the provision of priority employment services to eligible veterans and disabled veterans as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Typical functions:

The functions within this job family will vary by level, but may include the following:

· Provides vocational counseling, promotes placement and other employment services to job applicants; provides priority services to disabled veterans, veterans and other special needs applicant groups.

· Establishes claims for Unemployment Insurance benefits, which may include providing an interpretation of the benefit provisions of multi-state unemployment insurance laws to claimants and employers, analyzing claims for accurate and complete information, fact-finding, and maintaining Unemployment Insurance files.

· Analyzes job orders from employers to ensure conformity with applicable laws and regulations; evaluates to select and refer qualified applicants; compiles and records the results of job referrals on an ongoing basis to determine the status of job openings and comply with statistical requirements.

· Performs personnel functions to Interview and evaluate applicant’s application for employment; provides case management; maintains files of applications, claimants, and employer recruiting activity.

· Communicates with management, employers, applicants, claimants, and coworkers, concerning job orders, referrals, and unemployment insurance benefits; prepares clear and concise oral or written reports as needed.

· Administers tests; interprets applicant test scores and assists individuals in matching test results to occupational goals, training needs and necessary social services.

· Maintains accurate and current records and files for common usage among numerous collaborative employment supportive agencies.

· Markets agency services to businesses and community organizations

· Prepares and presents job clubs, job search workshops, and other employability services to applicants, employers, and other community based organizations.

LEVEL DESCRIPTORS:

The Employment Services job family consists of four levels which are distinguished based on the complexity of the specific assignment and the level of expertise required for the delivery of workforce one-stop services.

LEVEL I Code: W10A Salary Band: F

This is the basic level of this job family where employees perform beginning level professional work in employment supportive activities, which may include employment services, unemployment compensation, and veteran’s services, and assessing training and social service needs. This involves routine professional work under close supervision in a training status to build skills in providing required services under a case management system. Employees will be assigned tasks which involve interviewing public and private employers, applicants, claimants and veterans; analyzing and evaluating applications for employment, unemployment compensation, training, social services and counseling; providing information for public welfare, social services and other related community resources.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities at this level include knowledge of current economic and social problems; of human relations; of community and social service providers; of the principles of interviewing; of social assistance requirements; of veterans preference requirements; and of applicable laws, rules and policies. Ability is required to deal effectively and courteously with people; and to exercise good judgment in evaluating eligibility requirements.

Education and Experience Requirements at this level require three years of experience in employment services, career or vocational guidance and counseling, personnel, recruitment, training, customer services or social services related work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting thirty semester hours from an accredited college or university for each year of the required work experience.

LEVEL II Code: W10B Salary Band: H

This is the career level where employees are assigned responsibility for the completion of a full range of professional work in completing various employment supportive activities to assess needs and determine eligibility for specific programs and services. This includes managing a caseload requiring broad and specialized knowledge of all work force one-stop service programs. In addition, employees at this level may contact public and private employers to obtain employment opportunities for applicants and disabled veterans which includes job placement and development of job training opportunities; fact finding for unemployment compensation; limited adjudication and other supportive social services. This will include a degree of independence in completing work assignments and making decisions concerning various employment supportive activities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level I plus knowledge of one-stop work force initiatives. Ability is required to exercise good management in evaluating case management situations; to make decisions; and to present ideas and facts effectively and accurately.

Education and Experience requirements at this level include those identified in Level I plus one additional year of qualifying experience.

NOTE: Positions funded by U.S. Department of Labor Veterans grants must meet grant requirements.

LEVEL III Code: W10C Salary Band: I

This is the specialist level of this job family where incumbents are routinely assigned responsibilities for advanced level work in employment supportive activities and one-stop coordination functions. They can be assigned lead workers or backup supervisors to Level I or Level II employees. This will include a high degree of independence in completing work assignments and making decisions concerning various employment supportive activities. Responsibilities may include providing training on unemployment insurance functions; employment services; veteran services; or social services requirements; and reviewing assigned work of others. Adjudication responsibilities may be assigned in the unemployment insurance function. Staff assigned as Veterans representatives should be familiar with Veterans Employment programs to include the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs training programs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level II plus knowledge of the U.S. Department of Labor one-stop workforce initiative as it pertains to the collaboration of numerous partners providing employment supportive core services to enhance Oklahoma’s workforce; of laws and regulations of public employment service, unemployment compensation, job training, and social services programs. Ability is required to interpret state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to veterans programs, social services, and employment and training activities; and to understand economic trends, social service programs, and psychology, and to anticipate, identify and resolve problems.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level II plus one additional year of qualifying experience.

LEVEL IV Code: W10D Salary Band: K

This is the leadership level where employees provide supervision or leadership in the completion of various assigned activities. This may include responsibilities for specialized planning, organizing and directing a program of employer relations or unemployment insurance that includes adjudication, a major project of a one-stop workforce center or a case management area which includes employment services, veterans services, local education and/or training, and social services accessibility. Responsibilities may also be assigned for supervision of a staff of professional and paraprofessional workforce service specialists who provide a wide variety of employment supportive services to applicants, claimants, veterans and employers, or for providing consultation and assistance to persons in other professional fields. It may also include senior level veterans employment representatives who supervise basic level veterans staff in a large office or workforce one-stop area.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include those identified in Level III plus knowledge of employment practices and problems; and of occupations and industries. Ability is also required to evaluate situations and choose an appropriate course of action; and to prepare clear and concise written reports.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level III plus one additional year of qualifying experience.

selective qualifications:

Some positions may require that applicants be a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces and eligible for veterans’ preference under Title 74 O.S. Supp Section 840.15.

In accordance with Title 38, U.S. Code Section 4103A, some positions must be filled with qualified disabled veterans in the following order of preference: FIRST: Qualified Disabled Veteran; SECOND: Qualified Veteran.

The Employment Security Commission is responsible for screening all eligibles to insure that appointees are selectively qualified based upon the order of preference as required by Title 38, U.S. Code Section 4103A.