Overview

The Lead Employment Case Specialist works with and helps the employment case specialists assist refugees, immigrants, non-native English-speaking clients enrolled in site employment programming in preparing for jobs and achieving employment outcomes. The Lead Employment Specialist maintains a small caseload of clients, assigns cases within the team and coordinates the day-to-day activities within the employment program, with an emphasis on meeting the needs of clients while fulfilling contractual obligations. Working closely with the Manager of Career Services, the Lead Employment Specialist ensures proper and timely case documentation and is responsible for contributing to reports as assigned.

This position is currently temporary and scheduled to conclude on September 30, 2025.

Responsibilities

• Supervise 1-3 Employment Specialists; provide regular feedback and evaluation according to IINE policies and procedures, provide weekly check-ins with each staff member.
• Coordinate the day-to-day activities of the Employment team in coordination with Career Services Manager, ensuring the highest priority cases and tasks are completed.
• Provide and supervise comprehensive employment services to IINE clients including career planning, goal setting, resume development, program enrollment, job placement, job follow up, and job support services.
• Monitor labor market, solicit employers through telephone, mail, and personal contact, maintain knowledge of the needs and requirements of employers, educate employers to the needs and abilities of client population, and screen worksites for safe, non-exploitative work conditions.
• Work with employers to identify, create and develop a wide range of suitable employment opportunities for clients.
• Understand the needs of clients relating to credentialing, re-credentialing, training, and further education; maintain resources and resource materials.
• Assist with intake and assessment as needed.
• Work with clients to develop career plans. Facilitate access to education, training, test preparation courses, and credential reviews as needed.
• Coordinate with case managers to access financial resources to support individuals seeking employment.
• Ensure clients receive job counseling, job coaching, and group job search workshops as needed.
• Assist in the management and implementation of workforce training programs such as Work Orientation Workshops.
• Maintain weekly case records in accordance with Institute guidelines and funding requirements on all services provided. Ensure that the team completes case notes and case documentation timely and accurately.
• Contribute to reports monthly. Assistance with administrative work, such as report writing, data tracking, etc. is required.
• Attend staff meetings, weekly Client-focused meeting, and all other meetings and training as assigned.
• Provide ongoing support and training to employment specialists and interns.
• Perform all other duties assigned by supervisor.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Proficiency in additional languages strongly preferred, particularly Creole, Dari, Pashto, Arabic, Swahili, Ukrainian, Spanish, or French.
• Interest in international, refugee, and asylee issues
• A command of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work with clients needing a range of support services.
• Excellent organizational, verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Access to reliable transportation.
• Extremely well organized, detail oriented, flexible, and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• High-levels of discretion and professionalism in dealing with confidential information.
• Ability to work independently and as a team.
• Ability to work under pressure and remain calm and composed under stressful situations.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, clients, service providers and others.
• Ability to evaluate/interpret information and make good and independent judgements or decisions.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, Counseling, Education, or related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of related experience in job development and employer engagement required.
• Minimum of one year experience managing staff preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year of adult teaching experience, preferably with immigrant populations preferred.
• Experience working with immigrant populations preferred.

Work Environment Conditions

• Occasional travel to IINE offices.
• Exposure to bright, overhead office lighting, use of office technology such as laptops, printers, mail machines, and other in-office equipment.
• Occasional travel to client homes and surrounding towns.
• Seldomly night and weekends events and work.

Physical Demands

• Occasional lifting, pushing, and pulling materials (boxes, equipment) of 50 pounds or more.
• Continuous sitting (or standing) at a desk for long periods of time.
• Occasional driving to and from IINE offices as needed.