Business & Employment Specialist 1

We are excited to announce an opening for a Business and Employment Specialist 1. This position is with the Oregon Employment Department, Workforce Operations Division. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

• There is one, permanent, full-time position located in Newport, Oregon.
• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified applicants to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.
• This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

TO APPLY:

• Complete the online application, including the supplemental questions, and attach a cover letter.
• The cover letter must be no longer than two pages and address how you meet the Desired Attributes listed below the Minimum Qualifications section. Please name the Cover Letter file: Cover Letter EMP17-0129oc.
  
• Failure to attach the required cover letter will result in the elimination of your application.

The Employment Department is a large state agency with a mission to Support Business and Promote Employment. We accomplish this by accurately administering the Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits program; recruiting and referring applicants to job openings and assisting job seekers in their employment searches (Workforce Operations Division); developing and distributing workforce and economic information (Workforce and Economic Research); and adjudicating citizen and business disputes with agencies (Office of Administrative Hearings).

The department employs approximately 1200 employees in field offices located throughout the State with the Central Office located in Salem.

The Workforce Operations Division (“OPS”) section maintains the Oregon Employment Department’s labor exchange activities. OPS Programs collaborate with many workforce partner agencies, including Oregon Community Colleges and Workforce Development Department (CCWD), and Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) service providers. Together with these organizations we are part of WorkSource Oregon (WSO). The OPS Program supports all WSO staff as they perform their work across the state. Our two main customer groups are employers and job seekers. We provide a public labor exchange where employers can find the workers they need and job seekers can gain employment. The OPS Program also serves special customer groups with specific programs. Several of these groups are Veterans who served in the US military, people with disabilities, and migrant and seasonal farm workers. The OPS Program actively endeavors to extend employment services to all of Oregon’s ethnic and cultural groups. Other major programs administered by WOD include: Claimant Reemployment; Reemployment & Eligibility Assessment; Self Employment Assistance; Trade Adjustment Assistance; Work Opportunity Tax Credit; Foreign Labor Certification; and Temporary Agricultural Labor Certification.

The Oregon Employment Department strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. The Department fosters fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, color, religion, gender, disability, physical stature, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status or political affiliation .

Duties & Responsibilities
The primary purpose of this position is to provide services to employers seeking qualified and skilled workers. Develop positive working relationships with businesses to meet their needs for recruitment, and selection and referral of job seekers for job listings. Notify qualified job seekers of available job openings. Provide services to Oregonians by conducting guidance and training on work search and developing the skills of individuals to assist them in becoming marketable to employers.

Exploratory Service Duties:

• Greet and query/probe customers about their reason for coming into the center. Inform customers of available services, propose options, and guide customers toward appropriate services.
• Provide a customized one-on-one conversation to customers needing to register with the labor exchange system, or interested in pursuing training or other opportunities.
• Provide registration information for customers; Review, assist with, or conduct basic registration; Gather necessary information to determine customer needs. Determine and document next steps. Communicate next steps to customer and schedule appropriate services.
• Provide referrals to community resources and supportive service agencies for needed services and /or technical assistance as appropriate.
• Interview a high volume of job seekers and collect detailed occupational information about previous jobs. Determine job seeker’s transferable skills, interests, and employment goals. Identify barriers to successful job search and explore possible solutions to remove the barriers. Evaluate job seeker’s referral requests and work credentials.
• Coordinate and communicate with Unemployment Insurance (UI) program staff to ensure correct information is provided to claimant customers. Advise claimants of potential eligibility problems/issues to their claim. Record refusal of job referrals and report potential issues to UI as appropriate.
• Keep public areas clean and organized, including updated Labor Market Information and other workforce-related material in public self-service areas.
• Provide progressive assessments for customers as-needed to inform provision of services on an ongoing basis to other WSO staff.

Career Service Duties:

• Conduct assessments of skill levels, aptitudes, abilities, skills gaps, career interests, employment barriers, and supportive service needs to form a diagnostic evaluation of the customer’s situation in order to provide appropriate services.
• Provide progressive assessments for customers as-needed to inform provision of services on an ongoing basis to other WSO staff. Provide progressive assessments as-needed to inform provision of services on an ongoing basis.
• Align career planning efforts with LMI and local sector strategies to help the customer make informed decisions related to their career planning activities.
• Teach customers the job search process so they have current information on how to search for employment using multiple websites as resources. Assist with application processes, documentation, and effective interviewing techniques. Gain and maintain familiarity with local employment needs in order to provide relevant job search support and assistance to jobseekers.
• Assess customer intent to work/motivation, work history, employer-required licenses, credentials and hard skills, and essential skills/soft skills. Validate skills using the approved process to verify the customer is qualified for a job referral based on employer requirements prior to referral so that the most qualified candidates are referred to the employer.
• Understand the local talent pool available for referrals, and manage the “pool” of available work-ready jobseekers prioritizing based on business needs and investment strategies outlined in the local plan.

Training Service Duties:

• As needed, develop an Individual Employment Plan (IEP) with customers accessing Training Services.
• Make work-based opportunities available to customers in accordance with local area plans and investment strategies. Pursue OJT opportunities with employers and make appropriate OJT-related referrals for work-ready jobseekers.
• Research opportunities and develop relationships with local apprenticeship programs and training centers to make the apprenticeship training model available to customers.
• Conduct staff-assisted talent development workshops to teach essential skills for work readiness.
• Refer customers to attend talent development workshops and activities so they have the materials and skills to be successful during job interviews.
• Assist jobseekers with accessing online skill development tools and in-person training. Engage as needed in monitoring and testing to measure customer progress.

Business Service Duties:

• Offer comprehensive business services through WSO centers that are aligned with local sector strategies and investment priorities.
• Provide services to employers including posting vacant positions in the local labor exchange system via automated mechanisms, self-service features, or staff-assisted services. Maintain current knowledge of and be responsive to local business and workforce needs, understand how these align with local sector strategies, and follow protocols to access recruitment processes and other services in order to meet the stated workforce needs of business.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of and actively promote employment incentives (e.g.; WOTC, OJT) to business in order for them to make informed hiring decisions.
• Develop positive working relationships with businesses to meet their needs for recruitment, selection and referral of job seekers for job listings. Notify qualified job seekers of available job openings. Contact businesses to facilitate the delivery of services by WSO providers. Collaborate with partner agencies to assist the businesses in receiving appropriate training/ assessment support. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of available business incentives in order to effectively market them to businesses.
• Coordinate and assist with the planning and implementation of job fairs.
• Represent WSO at workforce partner, economic development, or employer planning meetings. Make presentations to community, business, and partner groups.
• Perform other duties within classification as requested to ensure seamless customer service delivery.

Working Conditions:

Requires prolonged sitting or standing, frequently at a reception desk and/or workstation. May assist customers in the resource room by walking around and guiding them through websites which can require bending and stooping over for extended periods.

Frequent use of common office technology, including phones, computers, printers, copy machines, shredders, etc. Office may be fast-paced, sometimes noisy environment that requires the ability to work with multiple distractions and interruptions. Receive and direct people or telephone callers who may be irate and/or verbally abusive. Work generally occurs between 8AM – 5PM, Monday through Friday. May require statewide travel occasionally for training or other service delivery purposes.

Qualifications, Required & Requested Skills
Minimum Qualifications

• Two years of full-time heavy public-contact experience asking people for information, making notes, and deciding an action based on the information. Examples of qualifying experience are eligibility interviewer, application examiner, employment and claims aide, examination proctor, information clerk, insurance aide, public counter intake person, or retail industry if it involved the above stated experience. OR
  
• Two years of education or experience. Listed below are examples of acceptable experience. 45-quarter (30-semester) college-level credits in Human Resources, Vocational or Career Counseling, Social Services, Psychology, Education, Business or Public Administration, Communication or related field substitute for one year of experience.

Desired Attributes

• Experience providing recruitment assistance to businesses including selection and referral of best qualified candidates
• Experience or skills in sales or marketing services to business customers
• Experience in interviewing high volume of customers to obtain information to facilitate labor exchange
• Developing relationships with employers and community partners; establish and maintain effective relationships by gaining trust and respect
• Solutions-based problem solving for customers; use solid judgment, rigorous logic and methods; probe sources for answers; identify hidden problems; looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at the first answer; offers new and unique ideas.
• Multi-task while maintaining focus while working in an open-office environment
• Prioritize tasks and organize work; understands what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal; creates focus; uses time effectively and efficiently
• Proficient with keying (by touch) information and/or data elements into a computer program
• Ability to thrive in a fast paced environment with frequent distractions
• Ability to transition between several complex issues throughout the day
• Oregon’s National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) a plus

TO APPLY:

• Complete the online application, including the supplemental questions, and attach a cover letter.
• The cover letter must be no longer than two pages and address how you meet the Desired Attributes listed above. Please name the Cover Letter file: Cover Letter EMP17-0129oc.
  
• Failure to attach the required cover letter will result in the elimination of your application.

Additional Information
How to Apply

• To apply for this position, follow the “Apply” link above and complete the Oregon employment application online. Please use name you want us to address you by.
• All application materials must be received by the closing date and time posted on this announcement.

Criminal Records Check

Employment is contingent on the outcome of a criminal records check which may require fingerprints (FBI). Any history of criminal activity will be reviewed and could result in the withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment.

Work Authorization

The Oregon Employment Department does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States.

Veterans’ Preference

Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans’ preference. To receive preference you MUST attach appropriate documentation as outlined by the Department of Administrative Services at the following website: http://www.oregon.gov/jobs/Pages/Veterans.aspx or you may call the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs at 1-800-692-9666.

Protect Your Confidential Information

To protect your confidential information, please redact (black out) your social security number on all documents before attaching them to your application.

Email Address

You must have a valid email address to apply for jobs with the Oregon Employment Department. All communication regarding your application and status will be done by email.

Questions and Application Support:

• For questions about the job announcement, call 503-947-3006.
• For technical help with your login or online application issues, call 1-855-524-5627 from 6:30a to 5:30p PT M-F by leaving a voicemail. It may take up to 24 hours to receive a response.

Special Information

• Note : All application materials will be reviewed for communication at a professional level with attention to proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Only candidates who meet the qualifications for this position and with work experience most closely meeting the requested skills (desired attributes) of this position will be invited to an interview.
  
• Be sure to attach all required documentation listed above. Failure to attach the required documentation may result in your application being removed from further consideration.
• The compensation on all announcements may change without notice.
• Job posting reference number EMP17-0129oc.
  

The Oregon Employment Department is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity

Core benefits

Medical, vision and dental insurance

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans for the employee and qualified family members
• $5,000 in employee basic life insurance

Retirement benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP)
• Employer paid defined benefit and defined contribution programs

**Effective November 1, 2016, SEIU represented employees who are Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) participating members will have their base salary increased by 6.95%. Upon becoming a PERS participating member, SEIU employees pay the employee 6% contribution to PERS.

Paid leaves and other benefits

• Sick leave earned at the rate of 8 hours per a month with no maximum accumulation
• Vacation leave earned at a minimum rate of 8 hours per month with accrual rate increases at 5-year increments
• 24 hours personal leave earned each fiscal year
• Ten paid holidays a year

The state also provides access to an innovative Employee Assistance Program that offers work-life counseling, along with homeowner, legal and family resources.

Optional benefits

• Term life (employee, spouse or domestic partner, and dependents
• Long-term and short-term disability
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
• Flexible spending accounts
• Option to enroll in the Oregon Savings Growth Plan, a deferred compensation program offering a wide variety of investment options.

The following information describes typical benefits available for employees. Actual benefits received may differ by position or branch of government or be prorated for other than full time work.