CITYFHEPS ACCOUNT AND PLACEMENT SPECIALIST

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

Career Services provides Cash Assistance participants and low-income New York City residents with opportunities to strengthen workforce readiness, develop marketable skills, and establish pathways toward sustainable employment and economic mobility. Career Services works closely with clients to identify opportunities aligned with their skills, needs, and career goals and supports their advancement toward long-term career success.

Career Services is comprised of four (4) integrated units that work collaboratively to carry out its mission:

• Provider, Client and Business Services
• Education and Youth Services
• Systems Innovation and Engagement
• Contracts, Budgets and Special Projects CityFHEPS Career & Education Bridge (CEB) is a program that connects work-eligible, non-Cash Assistance CityFHEPS households with employment, education, training, and workforce services to help increase earned income, promote self-sufficiency, and reduce long-term reliance on rental assistance. CityFHEPS is a rental assistance program that helps eligible individuals and families obtain and maintain housing by paying a portion of monthly rent throughout New York for up to five years.

CEB tracks participant engagement, progress, exemptions, and outcomes, with participation considered as part of the good-cause assessment for CityFHEPS renewals beyond the fifth year. Under the direction of the Director of the CityFHEPS Career & Education Bridge (CityFHEPS-CEB) Initiative, the Community Coordinator will support the implementation of workforce and education strategies designed to increase employment and career advancement opportunities for CityFHEPS participants through employer engagement, education and training partnerships, participant support, and account management.

Career Services is recruiting for three (3) Community Coordinators to function as CityFHEPS Account and Placement Specialists who will:

• Develop, cultivate, and maintain strategic partnerships with employers, educational institutions, workforce development organizations, and community-based organizations to secure employment, education, and training opportunities for CityFHEPS participants.
• Proactively identify, develop, and create new employer and training partner relationships through field outreach activities including site visits, cold calling, labor market research, networking, business engagement, and direct outreach efforts to expand employment and training pipelines for participants.
• Conduct ongoing labor market and industry research to identify emerging employment trends, workforce opportunities, high-growth sectors, and training resources that align with participant needs and program goals.
• Obtain and manage job orders and training opportunities by developing employer and training provider accounts and maintaining an active portfolio of business and community relationships.
• Conduct client assessments and monitor participant engagement and progress through community development and workforce initiatives designed to support successful transitions toward employment, education, and training enrollment.
• Respond to employer staffing requests by identifying, screening, and referring qualified candidates to employment opportunities, education programs, and training initiatives.
• Plan, coordinate, and schedule employer interviews, hiring events, recruitment activities, participant appointments, and education and training enrollment opportunities to support successful placement outcomes.
• Prepare reports, evaluate outcomes, and assess program performance to measure effectiveness and support continuous improvement efforts and achievement of initiative goals.
• Provide referrals to additional Career Services employment, education, training, and supportive service programs based on participant assessments, goals, and identified needs.
• Maintain ongoing communication and relationship management with assigned employers and training partner accounts to monitor placements, obtain feedback, identify expansion opportunities, and support long-term engagement.
• Ensure participant employment, education, and training activity is accurately documented and timely entered applicable HRA systems, databases, and reporting tools.
• Collaborate with internal Career Services units and external stakeholders to ensure coordinated service delivery and achievement of program performance outcomes.
• Perform related duties and special projects as assigned by the Director of the CityFHEPS Career & Education Bridge (CityFHEPS-CEB) Initiative.

Hours/Schedule: 9:00am-17:00pm (Flexible)

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

Preferred Skills

• Excellent Interpersonal skills and proven ability to engage people in conversation
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Comfortable providing feedback to team members
• Ability to prioritize and effectively manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced work environment
• Self-motivated individual who takes initiative and can learn quickly
• Intermediate to expert proficiency in Microsoft office
• Positive attitude and solutions-focused and driven

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services offers competitive salaries and the following benefits: Generous Pension Plans (The New York Employees' Retirement System).

401(k) and Roth 457 Retirement Savings Programs. U.S. Savings Bonds Flexible Spending Program. Health Benefits, Dental, Vision Coverage, Prescription Drug Program. Training and Professional Development Opportunity for Scholarship; College Savings Program. Paid Holidays and Generous Annual Leave.