FLSA: Non-Exempt

Benefits: Eligible

Hours Per Week: 40/Full-time

Met Council is America’s largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy. We fight poverty through comprehensive social services and by treating each client with compassion, integrity, and respect. Our programs are staffed by experts who help over 325,000 clients each year and advocate on behalf of all needy New Yorkers. Our services include 100% affordable housing at 21 locations, family violence program, Holocaust survivor assistance, geriatric social work, crisis intervention and the largest free kosher food distribution program in the world. Our network of 120 food pantries, affordable housing sites, and JCCs provide services directly in neighborhoods across New York City.

Position Summary:

The role of the Career Specialist at the Chesed Center is to work effectively with clients of all backgrounds impacted by poverty. This includes answering phone calls, meeting with and assessing clients for career services, registering clients for courses, following up with them and referring to appropriate outside career resources where needed. The Career Specialist will also be responsible for working with course instructors and clients to ensure that courses are scheduled and that clients are informed of course schedules.

Principal Responsibilities:

As part of the Chesed Center team, this staff member will be directly working with clients. While working directly with clients the Career Specialist should be able to:

• Assess client needs.
• Answer Chesed Center calls and formulate individualized career plans with each client.
• Conduct in-person and remote client registrations and input information into EMR.
• Obtain appropriate documentation.
• Provide information and referrals to clients regarding resources in the community when needed.
• Conduct regular follow ups with clients and collaterals to ensure appropriate and effective referrals.
• Recognize and adhere to professional roles and boundaries, able to assess client’s capacity to carry out mutually decided upon, realistic career goals.
• Maintain ongoing contact log notes and related documentation.
• Work effectively with partner agencies including legal services.
• Attend trainings and seminars regarding topics related to Chesed Center work.
• Represent agency in meetings as needed.
• Participate in community events and distributions as needed.
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity to all clients.
• Comply with demands of funding grant and assist in preparing grant reports.
• Participate in individual supervision, weekly group meetings and monthly Social Service Department meetings.
• Work collaboratively with Chesed Center team and cover when staff is out, as needed.
• Manage a caseload of clients.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Competencies:

• Strong communication skills
• Strong knowledge of the insular Jewish communities in Brooklyn
• Strong knowledge of career and education and other available resources and referrals
• Attention to detail
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task
• Ability to perform public speaking
• Ability to assess safety of clients and create safety plans as needed
• Capable of serving persons under stress while still providing empathic responses
• Make timely, informed decisions that take into account fact goal constraints
• Manage own time, priorities, and resources to achieve goals
• Use Social Work ethics to support client and system needs
• Ability to work within a fast-paced work environment and make appropriate decisions
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team
• Able to easily adapt to changes and flexibility in schedule
• Superior interpersonal skills

Skill and Education:

• Knowledge of career resources and government entitlements and resources
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or related field (preferred)
• Social services/career work experience
• Excellent computer literacy and word processing skills
• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel

Language Skills:

• Fluent in Yiddish or Hebrew

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to function effectively within a crisis environment and make appropriate and safe decisions

Work Environment:

• Must be able to work in a busy environment with a sensitive population
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity especially to insular, immigrant and minority groups

Special Requirements:

This position is based at a Brooklyn satellite office with occasional meetings/training at the main location in Manhattan. Client home visits and participating in outdoor events in Brooklyn may be required on occasion.

Compensation: $50,000 to $60,000 per year.

Benefits: Major medical, dental, and vision insurance; pre-tax commuter benefits; FSA; 403(b); plus holidays