WorkFirst Career Coach (WSS4): Pierce



WorkFirst Career Coach (WSS4): Pierce

Salary

$51,384.00 - $69,072.00 Annually

Location

Pierce County – Tacoma, WA

Job Type

Full Time - Permanent

Job Number

2023-16428

Department

Employment Security Department

Division

Employment Connections

Opening Date

01/19/2024

Closing Date

2/2/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary Information

The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description



We have a great opportunity for a dynamic, customer-focused Career Coach for the WorkFirst program in the WorkSource Pierce Office in Tacoma.  Our ideal candidate believes that great customer service starts with listening to understand, approaches their work with kindness and compassion, and has a commitment to valuing diverse perspectives.

About the Employment Connections Division:

 

Employment Connections (EC) is made up of three Lines of Business: WorkSource, Central Operations System Support, and Washington Service Corps (WSC). EC administers the Labor Exchange (LEX), Migrant Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW), Veterans Services, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), and WorkFirst programs for job seekers and employers in Washington and provides job seekers with referrals to partners providing Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) adult, youth, and dislocated worker training and support services.


Duties

As a Career Coach, you will support WorkFirst clients who need case management or intensive skill development services. Your phenomenal computer and communication skills will be relied upon as you explain program participation requirements and complete enrollments. You will work with our customers to navigate training and career paths in order to obtain their employment goals. Because you will interact with people needing varying levels or areas of support, listening to understand, empathizing, and the ability to be adaptable with how you communicate are all crucial skills in building trusting relationships with customers who may be facing difficult or vulnerable situations.

 

Some of what you will do: 

  • Conduct individual interviews to articulate program services and activities, identify components applicable to customer need, and develop recommendations for continuous engagement. 

 

  • Manage caseload, provide case management, facilitate appropriate support services and/or make referrals.

 

  • Determine customer’s eligibility and which program is most appropriate to their needs and enroll and explain the program’s participation requirements. 

 

  • Ensure the customer understands and follows all employment and training directives, expectations, and performance standards.

 

  • Answer phone calls and direct to the appropriate program teams and provide timely response to customers through email, phone, and face-to-face interactions. 

 

 

  • Administer a variety of assessments as well as both formal and informal career tools, review and explain the results, and incorporate that information into employment plans in conjunction with relevant labor market information to present to the customer. 

 

 

Please click here to request a complete detailed description of the position and its duties.

 

Qualifications

  • One year as a WorkSource Specialist 3 or equivalent class within the Employment Security Department, or another state’s Employment Security agency 

 

  • OR  A Bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience in workforce development, social or human resource services, public relations, or public contact work, such as: education, social services, public relations, human resource services, unemployment insurance, benefits programs, insurance claims, law enforcement and banking OR a combination of education and/or relevant experience. 

 

  • OR A combination of education and/or relevant experience that totals seven (7) or more years.

  

Additional Requirement of Employment:

  • Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claim & Benefit Information Review.

 

Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy. 

 

Please submit your Cover Letter, and Resume with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.  

Supplemental Information

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. Our values are Belonging, Love, Equity, Stewardship, and Access. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.
 

Opportunity for All
We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
 

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program.  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
 

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Caleb Baldwin or at 253-306-2999 or the Talent Acquisition Team, Washington Relay Service 711. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.
 

This recruitment may be used to fill additional agency-wide positions in accordance with Article 4 of the WFSE Collective Bargaining Agreement.

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note:  If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the
Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.


Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).  New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.  For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).  This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.


As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165. 

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, are entitled to three (3) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 12-31-2022

01
Are you a current or former State of Washington employee?
  • Yes
  • No
02
I understand that to be considered for this position I must include a resume and letter of interest with this applicant packet.
  • Yes
  • No
03
Select any of the following that best describes your WorkSource Specialist experience gained at ESD or in another state's employment security agency.
  • 1 year or more as a WSS3 or equivalent class within ESD.
  • 1 year or more as a WSS3 equivalent class in another state's ES agency.
  • None of the above.
04
Select the Microsoft programs in which you have an intermediate to advanced skill level, generally attained through a minimum of 2-3 years of experience of use on the job.
  • Excel
  • Outlook
  • PowerPoint
  • Word
  • Teams
05
Describe your work experience providing assistance to clients and/or customers regarding inquiries, complaints, or problems and how it relates to this position. If this does not apply to you, type N/A
06
What experience do you have working with marginalized, low-income populations? What are some barriers that these individuals face?
07
Describe your experience with facilitating workshops, meetings, and classes. If this does not apply to you, type N/A
08
Describe your experience with conducting case management and managing a case load. If this does not apply to you, type N/A
09
How did you hear about this career opportunity (select all that apply)?
  • Washington State's career website: www.careers.wa.gov
  • Washington State WorkSource Center or website (WorkSourceWA.com)
  • Washington State employee
  • Employment Security Department's job web page: www.esd.wa.gov
  • Monster
  • College/university career fair or website
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • VERG
  • Diversity.com
  • Handshake
  • Other

Required Question

Agency
State of Washington
Address
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View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504
Phone
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