Position Title: Employment Services Specialist

Employer: Workforce Initiative Association

Work Location: In-Person, Canton, Ohio or New Philadelphia, Ohio

Employment Type: Regular, Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $20.09/hour; $39,175/annually (based on 37.50 work week|1950 hours per year)

About the Role

Are you a customer service-oriented individual looking for an opportunity to help others? Join our RESEA team as an Employment Services Specialist and be part of a group that values your expertise, invests in your growth, and gives you the tools to make a real difference in your community.

We're looking for someone organized, efficient in time management, strong verbal and written communication, detail oriented, and genuinely committed to helping others — someone who brings a professional, positive attitude to every interaction.

About RESEA

The Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program is a federally funded initiative that provides intensive reemployment assistance to unemployment insurance (UI) recipients who are likely to exhaust their benefits before finding new work. Through RESEA, job seekers are connected to a wide range of reemployment services — including co-enrollment in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) dislocated worker program and other services as appropriate — with the goal of returning to work as quickly as possible.

RESEA is designed to improve UI recipients' employment outcomes and reduce the average duration of benefit receipt, while also strengthening program integrity by helping detect and prevent improper payments to ineligible individuals. The program serves as a key entry point connecting UI job seekers to the broader workforce system, aligning with WIOA's vision of integrated services and improved employment outcomes, including earnings.

Job Summary

The Employment Services Specialist supports our RESEA program by guiding unemployment claimants through reemployment services and eligibility activities. In this role, you will conduct outreach and appointments with selected claimants, assess their skills and job readiness, help them build a plan to return to work, and connect them with the resources they need to succeed — all while accurately documenting participation in state-mandated systems. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Conduct outreach to and schedule appointments with selected unemployment claimants for in-person and/or virtual RESEA appointments; record attendance and supplemental activities using the appropriate state-mandated system.
• Provide follow-up to participants to ensure supplemental activities are completed.
• Develop or revise a mutually agreed-upon employability plan with each claimant to access employment and training opportunities and address barriers to successful job search outcomes.
• Conduct job seeker assessments to determine personal and work history, and evaluate skills, aptitude, physical limitations, job interests, and readiness for employment.
• Provide labor market and career information tailored to each claimant's specific needs.
• Utilize OhioMeansJobs.com to help match job seekers with employers based on individual needs and requirements.
• Provides guidance/assistance to customers regarding various activities such as registration to OhioMeansJobs.com, creating, posting and/or uploading resumes, as well as completing a career profile assessment in the system. 
• Assists with data entry of customer information into the organization’s various customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

Education and/or Experience

• Minimum high school diploma; Associate's degree preferred.
• Minimum one year of customer service experience.
• Strong job search skills; experience in job recruiting, job placement, or human resources preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal, written, and presentation form with both      individuals and groups.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality with job seekers, employers, partners, and staff.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Knowledge of local community resources and services preferred.
• Accuracy in data entry skills.
• Proficiency with personal computers and relevant software/web applications
• Valid Ohio driver's license.

About Workforce Initiative Association (WIA):

WIA's mission is to provide workforce development programs that serve area businesses and prepare adults and youth for worthwhile and sustainable employment, especially recognizing those economically disadvantaged individuals and others in special need, through the US Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act federally funded programs. WIA also operates the OhioMeansJobs Centers in Stark and Tuscarawas Counties; a partnership of community organizations providing employment, training, and education resources. The centers are located in Canton and New Philadelphia. WIA staff fulfill roles that directly assist job seeker and business customers with their workforce needs.

What We Offer:

• Participation in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS).
• Full-time staff have access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits; competitive sick/vacation leave; and company paid life insurance.
• Standard full-time work week of 37.50 hours (1950 hours per year).
• Compensation $20.09/hr. ($39,175 annually)

Ready to help others build better futures? Apply today and join a team that is making a real impact!