Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1949 to welcome Holocaust survivors and returning World War II veterans looking to rebuild their lives in Kansas City. Today, JVS welcomes refugees and immigrants from around the world who are fleeing persecution in search of safety and opportunity. JVS embraces, encourages and empowers our newest neighbors in their journey to self-sufficiency. Offering an extensive array of services in community integration, health & wellness, and workforce development, JVS is Kansas City's premier immigrant-and-refugee-serving organization.

JVS offers a number of benefits to employees: health, vision and dental insurance, short-term disability, 403b plan including 3% employer contribution, paid holiday, sick and vacation time, and opportunities for professional development.

Job Placement– Interview program participants to develop an Individual Employment Plan. Provide group and/or individual job seeking skills training including teaching of skills and developing strategies for obtaining a job with each program participant. Provide participants with individualized job leads and develop job readiness skills including developing resumes, writing cover letters and establishing e-mail addresses; develop interview skills. Assist participants in filling out necessary paperwork. Conducting soft skill trainings to help clients address conflicts in a work setting.

Retention Services – Determine the appropriate retention services that will be used with participants to obtain a positive employment outcome and retention of employment for a minimum of 90 days. Instruct participant in job duties and expectations, demonstrating how to do the job, retraining and coaching as needed. Be attentive to the physical and mental welfare of persons served while in agency facility or while meeting with the person in the community. Work with employers and assist in making accommodation suggestions that will aid the individual to maintain successful employment.

Case Management –Case management in employment services differs from case management in many settings because it is work focused. The case management function is designed as an ongoing activity that monitors progress toward short-term goals, maintains contact, supports meaningful engagement, and fosters progress toward competitive and integrated employment as a key long-term goal related to an employment plan. Resolution of underlying barriers to clients is discussed and addressed including transportation problems, communication, decision-making skills, and goal setting. Ongoing employment counseling during job readiness training, employment planning, and retention support up to 90 days. Provide accurate and timely data entry of all actions plans, progress notes, and other documentation in a timely manner.

Communication – Maintain accurate documentation by using electronic case management systems on a regular basis to ensure accurate and timely data entry and program outcome reports. Communicate with referral sources regularly regarding the progress of each participant. Refer participants to other services at JVS and community agencies when deemed necessary. Represent the agency and its consumers to the community, to the public and to private agencies by serving on committees and attending community events. Maintain professional rapport with a broad range of persons served, guests, co-workers, other agencies and organizations. Mediate and resolve cultural, religious, and disability issues affecting employment.

Job Development/Employer Engagement – Become familiar with the job market in the Kansas City area and employment opportunities, sharing information with persons served and other staff members as needed. Promote individual program participants and JVS programs to employers throughout the community using JVS materials. Educate prospective employers about the various populations served by JVS, including job accommodations and JVS services. Provide on-site job analysis, consultation and recommendations for work site and job modifications when appropriate. Assist employers to identify, modify and/or eliminate barriers to the employment and advancement of persons served. Cultivate relationships with local employers to promote hiring of JVS clients. Establish and maintain relationships with employers utilizing a sector-based strategy.

Accountability – Follow agency health and safety procedures. Participate in agency-wide projects or as a team member on various teams/task forces as needed. Increase professional growth through educational and training endeavors in related areas. Uphold confidentiality standards as outlined in JVS’s personnel policies manual. Perform additional duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree. Combination of experience and education may be substituted for four-year degree.
  • Knowledge of employment and/or specific client populations

Preferred, but not mandatory bi-lingual and able to speak the language of the clients served

  • Ability to work with minimal guidance and direction from supervisor.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to work with diverse groups and individuals, including participants, referral sources, community resources, employers, and family members of participants.
  • A team player with co-workers and other outside sources. Willingness to participate in employer development activities, job fairs, trainings, school fairs and organizational activities.
  • Sufficient computer skills for data entry and word processing.
  • Must possess a valid driver’s license, valid auto insurance coverage, and ability to operate a motor vehicle. Employment Case Manager must be willing to transport participants throughout the KC Metro area when necessary.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Much of the work is typically performed in an interior temperature controlled office work environment. Some work may be performed at community sites such as other agency offices, schools, libraries and other public meeting places. Employees may experience exposure to temperature extremes when in training situations, in car and while traveling to contacts outside of the agency facility.

Work environment is usually busy with occasional periods of moderate stress. Addressing participant’s personal problems may increase stress in confrontational situations.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Job Development/Employer Engagement – Become familiar with job market trends and community employment opportunities, sharing information with persons served and other staff members as needed. Promote individual program participants and JVS programs to employers throughout the community using JVS materials and on-site personal interviews with employers. Educate and/or train prospective employers about the various populations served by JVS, including job accommodations and JVS services. Provide on-site job analysis, consultation and recommendations for work site and job modifications when appropriate. Assist employers to identify, modify and/or eliminate barriers to the employment and advancement of persons served. Cultivate relationships with workforce development boards, regional and local employers to promote hiring of JVS clients.

Establish and maintain relationships with employers utilizing a sector-based strategy. Update agency employer database with accurate contact information. Recruit employers to participate in Employer Engagement Council (EEC), Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP). Develops new resources and/or re-kindle existing resources to create new work sites and employment opportunities. Collaborate with other existing workforce development programs to promote best practices in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion

Job Placement– Interview program participants with an intake survey to develop an Individual Employment Plan. Provide classroom and/or individual job seeking skills training including teaching of skills and developing strategies for obtaining a job with each program participant. Provide participants with individualized job leads and develop job readiness skills including developing resumes, writing cover letters and establishing e-mail addresses; develop interview skills. Assist participants in filling out necessary paperwork. Conducting soft skill training s to help clients address conflicts in a work setting.

Retention Services – Determine the appropriate retention services that will be used with participants to obtain a positive employment outcome and retention of employment for a minimum of 90 days. Instruct participant in job duties and expectations, demonstrating how to do the job, retraining and coaching as needed. Be attentive to the physical and mental welfare of persons served while in agency facility or while meeting with the person in the community. Work with employers and assist in making accommodation suggestions that will aid the individual to maintain successful employment.

Case Management -Case management in employment services differs from case management in many settings because it is work focused. The case management function is designed as an ongoing activity that monitors progress toward short-term goals, maintains contact, supports meaningful engagement, and fosters progress toward competitive and integrated employment as a key long-term goal related to an employment plan. Resolution of underlying barriers to clients is discussed and addressed including transportation problems, lack of affordable housing, decision-making skills, and goal setting. Case management also includes:

Assistance with food, gas, shelter/lodging and transportation as deemed necessary to obtain employment. Conduct a variety of assessments to identify barriers to employment. Ongoing employment counseling during job readiness training, employment planning, and retention support up to 90 days. Provide accurate and timely data entry of all actions plans, progress notes, and other documentation in a timely manner.

Communication – Maintain accurate documentation by using the electronic case management system on a regular basis to ensure accurate and timely data entry and program outcome reports. Communicate with referral sources regularly regarding the program of each participant. Refer participants to other community agencies or services when deemed necessary. Represent the agency and its consumers to the community, to the public and to private agencies by serving on committees, attending community events, advising agencies on how they can interrelate with JVS. Maintain professional rapport with a broad range of persons served, guests, co-workers, other agencies and organizations. Mediate and resolve cultural, religious, and disability issues affecting employment. Communicate with JVS Employment Specialists who work with other populations to collaborate and problem solve.

Accountability – Monitor and implement program compliance with CARF standards and other governing/funding sources. Participate in program reviews to meet CARF regulations. Follow agency health and safety procedures. Participate in agency-wide projects or as a team member on various teams/task forces as needed. Increase professional growth through educational and training endeavors in related areas. Uphold confidentiality standards as outlined in JVS’s personnel policies manual. Perform additional duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree. Combination of experience and education may be substituted for four-year degree. Knowledge of employment and/or specific client populations

Knowledge of employment and community resources and community based organizations Bi-lingual and able to speak the language of the clients served preferred but not mandatory. Knowledge of occupations, job skills, and labor trends

Ability to work with minimal guidance and direction from supervisor.

Strong organizational and time management skills.

Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to work with diverse groups and individuals, including participants, referral sources, community resources, employers, and family members of participants.

A team player with co-workers and other outside sources. Willingness to participate in employer development activities, job fairs, trainings, school fairs and organizational activities.

Sufficient computer skills for data entry and word processing.

Must possess a valid driver’s license, valid auto insurance coverage, and ability to operate a moto vehicle Employment Specialist must be willing to transport participants throughout the KC Metro area when necessary.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Much of the work is typically performed in an interior temperature controlled office work environment. Some work may be performed at community sites such as other agency offices, schools, libraries and other public meeting places. Employees may experience exposure to temperature extremes when in training situations, in car and while traveling to contacts outside of the agency facility.

Work environment is usually busy with occasional periods of moderate stress. Addressing participant’s personal problems may increase stress in confrontational situations.

Work schedule may require occasional evening or weekend hours to meet needs of the client and organizational activities.

Salary Range: $35,550 – $43,380 per year

A note to Potential Candidates:

Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary individuals and BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single qualification listed in the job description. Here at JVS we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may come from a background less traditional to our field of work and that is okay. JVS strongly encourages you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every qualification described.

Please submit your resume to [email protected]