Employment Services Specialist Ii (Open And Promotional)

The Human Services Agency (HSA) of the County of San Mateo is seeking a qualified candidate for the Employment Services Specialist II position. There is currently one vacancy located in Employment Services. This recruitment may also be used to fill future vacancies.
Under general supervision, the Employment Services Specialist II will provide a variety of employment services to clients including assessment, counseling, and case management. Employment Services Specialist II will exercise independent judgment in assessing and counseling clients regarding training and employment in accordance with established County policies and procedures and program regulations.
Examples of duties may include, but not limited to, the following:

• Learn and implement technical program rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Assist in developing knowledge of employment and job placement opportunities.
• Provide assistance in interpretation of data and reports, analyze and identify trends and assist in developing recommendations.
• Utilize a variety of vocational assessment materials, inventories and information to analyze and interpret client skills, abilities, aptitudes, values, and personal traits to develop service plans that strengthen entry/re-entry into the labor market.
• Train new staff on key aspects of operations, including key tools and technology that assist in applying program policy.
• Write a variety of documents including case notes, letters, contracts, reports, and required forms.
• Assist in collecting and disseminating quality assurance data, identify error trends and assist in developing training curriculum.
• Arrange and schedule training and educational programs for clients.
• Provide and document individual and group vocational counseling and referral services.
• Work with supervisors to develop and conduct individual on-the-job training for new employees having difficulty applying policies and procedures.
• Train ongoing staff and supervisors on new or updated policy/procedures.
• Establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with clients, schools, employers, other agencies, and community organizations.
• Develop successful training programs and materials using adult learning theory.
• Interpret policy to plan and update program training.
• Assist and teach staff how to navigate program policy and procedure handbooks.
• Assist and support clients in making career decisions, setting training and employment goals and identifying and implementing strategies to achieve goals.
• Create graphs, charts, and summary reports to communicate the findings to various stakeholders.
• Draft and administer training contracts.
• Develop and write individualized employment plans with clients; consult with other staff and agencies, schools and employers.
• Conduct community outreach and recruitment activities.
• Shadow staff and units trained in order to better understand the day-to-day processes and how to best apply state/federal/local regulations in order to continuously improve future training.
• Screen clients for eligibility for a broad range of employment related service strategies to guide individuals into the labor market.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify for an ESS II is two years of professional experience providing a variety of employment services to clients including assessment, counseling and case management.
Knowledge of:
Principles, practices and techniques of career and vocational assessment and counseling, including interviewing and problem solving techniques; community resources and referral services; employment practices and strategies and local labor market trends; educational and employment training schools, programs and services; applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations, and County and program policies and guidelines; computer applications related to the work and office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.
Skill/Ability to:
Assess and counsel job seeking clients effectively and assist them in employment problem solving and decision making; develop individualized, practical and effective employment training plans; establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, employers, schools, County staff and others; plan and conduct individual and group vocational exercises and workshops; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; understand, explain and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; exercise sound independent judgment within established policies and guidelines and maintain accurate records and files and prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term, and SEIU or AFSCME represented extra help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click on the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
~ TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE ~
Final Filing Date: Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PST
Application Screening: Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Panel Interviews: Wednesday, June 28, 2023