Lead Employment Specialist in Fresno, California at VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SPECIALISTS INC

Lead Employment Specialist – Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP)

Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists, Inc. (VRSI)

Location: Fresno, CA | Reports to: Regional Lead | Schedule: Full-time

About VRSI
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists, Inc. (VRSI) serves military veterans through the U.S. Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP). VRSI operates offices across the United States and is committed to providing courteous, high-quality, and professional services. VRSI assists eligible veterans, service members, and other individuals in reaching their full vocational potential. Services include career counseling, training, vocational evaluation, and direct employment services.

Position Overview
The Lead Employment Specialist plays a key role in the daily delivery of services that assist veterans who are homeless or at risk of losing their housing to secure and maintain employment. This position requires a dedicated professional who can manage office operations. The Lead ensures that the office complies with company policies and the policies of the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL VETS), and that the office meets its grant goals. The Lead directly supervises office staff and develops strong relationships with employers to increase veteran hiring.

Key Responsibilities

Case Management

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of veterans' skills, experience, barriers to employment, and job readiness.
• Develop individualized employment plans that outline veterans' career goals, action steps, and timelines.
• Reach the individual assessed, qualified, placement, and retention goals required by the grant.
• Provide training on resume writing, job search strategies, interview preparation, and professional conduct.
• Organize and facilitate job readiness workshops and training sessions.
• Offer one-on-one career counseling to help veterans explore career options and make informed decisions.
• Provide ongoing support and follow-up to ensure veterans are progressing towards their employment goals.
• Build and maintain relationships with local employers to identify job opportunities suitable for veterans.
• Assist veterans in applying for jobs, preparing for interviews, and negotiating employment terms.

Office Management

• Supervise the Employment Specialists, and ensure compliance with company policy, DOL VETS policies, and all grant requirements, including eligibility, job placements, training, and expenditures.
• Manage staff schedules, attendance, and time off, and approve timesheets and mileage and travel reimbursements.
• Monitor the office's quarterly performance, and ensure Employment Specialists meet grant goals for veterans assessed, qualified, placed in employment, and retained in employment.
• Train new staff, ensure all staff complete required training, and conduct and document weekly office meetings.
• Follow VRSI's written procedures and grant limits for expenditures on behalf of veterans, keep supporting documentation in the case file, and reconcile purchases and supplies against invoices each month.
• Maintain office equipment, keys, and supplies, and protect confidential information through secure password practices.

Program Coordination and Reporting

• Maintain accurate and current client records, case notes, and employment outcomes.
• Prepare and submit regular reports on program activities, outcomes, and grant compliance.

Community Collaboration

• Collaborate with community partners, including American Job Centers, VA homeless programs, local homeless service networks, and veteran service organizations, to coordinate services and resources for veterans, and maintain the office outreach plan.
• Represent VRSI and the HVRP at community meetings, job fairs, employer panels, and networking events to connect veterans with services and potential employers.
• Ensure outreach staff are trained and outreach events are documented, and oversee the office's social media presence and annual press release.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, counseling, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 1 year of experience in a leadership role, employment services, or a related field. Experience working with veterans or individuals experiencing homelessness is highly preferred. Case management experience is a plus.
• Driving: A valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and use of a personal vehicle, because regular driving between offices and within the community is an essential function of this role. Mileage is reimbursed at the current federal rate.

Please upload a cover letter of approximately two paragraphs describing your interest in this position and how your experience has prepared you to serve veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of the challenges faced by homeless veterans.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency with job search platforms, career assessment tools, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to build and maintain professional relationships with staff, clients, employers, and community partners.
• Ability to work respectfully with individuals from all backgrounds.
• Preferred: knowledge of motivational interviewing (a collaborative approach that strengthens an individual's motivation to change) or trauma-informed care (an approach that recognizes the effects of trauma).

Compensation and Benefits

• Hourly Rate: $26–$32 based on experience
• Paid Company Holidays
• Sick Time
• Paid Time Off
• Healthcare
• 401K
• Mileage: Reimbursed at the current federal rate

Travel, Work Environment and Physical Demands

• This position is based in Fresno and requires regular travel to the Bakersfield and Stockton offices, about 1 hour and 45 minutes and 2 hours each way, plus local travel within the community. Travel time between work locations is paid work time, and mileage is reimbursed at the current federal rate.
• This position is office-based with regular community travel, and it involves routine use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and copiers. It regularly requires sitting, standing, walking, and use of the hands and arms, and the ability to lift and move up to 20 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

VRSI will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act and applicable local laws.

VRSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need an accommodation during the application process, please contact Human Resources.