Employment Counselor

What You'll Be Doing

Consider joining #TeamWake, where you can make a difference in the community while working for an employer that values you! Comprehensive benefits and wellness programs are the rewards that go beyond the paycheck, including a 5% employer contribution to NC 401(k); on-site Employee Health Centers; employee assistance programs; and medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options. The County also offers a generous paid leave program, furthering its commitment to supporting employees and their families, both inside and outside of work. Do you want to help families in Wake County thrive? Work First is North Carolina's plan to help families stay off of welfare or transition from welfare into jobs. We are seeking an exceptional Employment Counselor to be a member of the Work First Employment Services Team. The Employment Counselor empowers the client’s movement towards self-sufficiency through counseling and advocacy. Employment location can be at either the Eastern Regional Center in Zebulon, the Northern Regional Center in Wake Forest, Southern Regional Center in Fuquay-Varina, or the Swinburne location in Raleigh. Primary duties will be:

• Providing intensive case management, basic family counseling, reporting, monitoring, and preparing family centered assessments
• Assessing a family's needs thoroughly, educating participants on life-changing decisions, disseminating employment information, and eliminating barriers
• Coordinating for the provision of supportive services for families in temporary financial crisis, with the goal of economic self-sufficiency
• Attending to needs of walk-in participants and phone calls from the public
• Arranging vocational testing, short-term training leading to employment, and childcare and transportation as needed; making referrals to community resources and conducting site visits to homes, schools and jobs
• Developing the Mutual Responsibility Agreement and utilizing various state reports to monitor compliance with federal and state regulations

 

About Our Team

Work First is North Carolina's plan to help families stay off welfare or move off welfare and into jobs. Work First is built upon the belief that all people have a responsibility to their families and community to work and provide for their children.

The Basics (Required Education and Experience)

• Bachelor's degree
• Two years of job-related experience
• Equivalent education and experience are accepted

Beyond the Basics (Preferred Education and Experience)

• Employment counseling experience
• One (1) year or more of Work First Program employment counseling experience in a State or County Department of Social Services or one (1) year of case management and income eligibility experience within a Wake County Health and Human Services Economic Self-Sufficiency program and NCFAST experience
• Bilingual (Spanish /English) preferred
• Experience with counseling clients in crisis situations

How Will We Know You're 'The One'?

• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to handle frequent client contact
• Ability to convey information both orally and written, to individuals or groups in a clear and concise manner
• Knowledge of Work First Employment Services
• Proficiency in NCFAST
• Excellent interviewing and assessment skills, with ability to counsel clients in crisis situations
• Knowledge of community resources
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable in an environment with frequent changes