Position Title: Employment Specialist 

Program: HVRP

Reports to: Assistant Director

Location: Washington, DC 

Work Arrangement: *Hybrid

Hours: Flexible to meet participant needs: Monday-Friday (7 am-7 pm); Some evenings, holidays, and weekends may be required to support operations and respond to emergencies. (subject to change based on operational needs) 

Status: 1.0 FTE, ? Non-Exempt (Hourly), Temporary; Ends 06/30/2027

Who we are: Friendship Place is a nonprofit organization, serving the Washington, DC region, empowering individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness to rebuild their lives with the involvement of the community. Friendship Place offers the most effective model for addressing homelessness, with innovative, customized programs that have positive, demonstrable results and a lasting impact on the community and beyond. Our programs are person-focused - individualized to meet the needs and goals of individuals, families, youth/young adults and Veterans experiencing homelessness. We provide outreach, hospitality, health care, case management, housing, job placement services, and advocacy.

Our Core Values: Friendship Place is a Person-First Organization that promotes transparency and ethical practices among our team and those we serve. All individuals in our organization are expected to perform their job duties in a manner consistent with our core values.

Position Summary: The position provides job development services to assist individuals and families in obtaining employment within the Rental Subsidy and Services Program. This position includes providing direct employment support to participants; building and maintaining partnerships with local employers; developing and hosting job fairs; attending job fairs; and supporting case managers by providing job leads and other employment resources.

Essential Functions of Successful Job Performance

• Provide employment-related services and individualized job readiness support to participants, including job search assistance, resume development, interview preparation, employment applications, and job placement support.
• Assist participants in identifying career goals, employment barriers, strengths, and opportunities to support long-term economic stability and self-sufficiency.
• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with workforce development agencies, employers, vocational programs, job readiness organizations, and community partners to expand employment opportunities for participants.
• Coordinate closely with internal job readiness and employment program staff to ensure continuity of services and participant success.
• Develop, prepare, and distribute a weekly employment newsletter highlighting job openings, hiring events, training opportunities, workforce resources, and community employment supports.
• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate a minimum of 12 annual job fairs, employer recruitment events, workshops, or informational sessions designed to connect participants with employment and career development opportunities.
• Maintain consistent communication and collaboration with case managers, housing specialists, and multidisciplinary team members to support participant progress and service coordination.
• Participate actively in multidisciplinary meetings, supervision, case consultations, and team discussions to support participant outcomes and program effectiveness.
• Collect, track, and maintain accurate participant, service, and program data utilizing Excel and other tracking systems to support reporting, outcomes measurement, and compliance requirements.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and professional documentation of participant interactions, employment progress, referrals, and outcomes in accordance with program standards and funding requirements.
• Demonstrate empathy, flexibility, professionalism, and responsiveness in addressing participant needs while maintaining appropriate boundaries and promoting participant independence.
• Provide oversight, mentorship, and task supervision to assigned employment interns and volunteers to support program goals and professional development.
• Attend and participate in required trainings, professional development opportunities, conferences, and continuing education to maintain knowledge of workforce trends, employment resources, and best practices.
• Perform field-based work, including participant engagement, employer outreach, community networking, and service coordination, with up to 80% of work time spent in the community.
• Communicate professionally and effectively in both written and verbal interactions with participants, employers, community partners, and internal staff to support collaboration and service delivery.
• Demonstrate integrity, cultural responsiveness, and commitment to equity, inclusion, and organizational mission in a fast-paced, participant-centered environment.
• Maintain compliance with all required trainings, certifications, organizational policies, and background clearances.
• Perform all other duties, projects, and responsibilities as assigned to support program operations and organizational needs.

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Essential Competencies and Work Expectations for All Staff

Communication: Employee must:

• Demonstrate strong intra- and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively express ideas and needs. This includes the ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with clients, colleagues, and supervisors.
• Demonstrate active listening, emotional awareness, and the ability to adapt their communication style to different individuals and situations.
• Demonstrate exceptional communication responsiveness and professionalism, including timely responses to emails, phone calls, messages, and other forms of communication within established organizational timeframes.
• Understand that timely communication is an essential function of the position, and failure to maintain consistent communication may impact performance expectations.

Accountability: Employee must:

• Demonstrate a high level of accountability, including ownership of responsibilities, meeting deadlines, following through on commitments, and accepting constructive feedback.
• Be committed to Growth and Development and strive to build knowledge, skills, and best practices.
• Maintain consistent attendance, dependability, and reliability as a critical function of the role.
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic, including integrity, honesty, professionalism, confidentiality, and accountability for actions. 
• Work successfully in a team environment as well as independently.

Respectful Workplace: Employee must:

• Treats all individuals with dignity, professionalism, and respect, including coworkers, supervisors, participants, vendors, and community partners.
• Demonstrates emotional professionalism, including the ability to communicate professionally during conflict or challenging situations.
• Contributes to a positive, respectful, and collaborative work environment, free from hostility, intimidation, gossip, disruptive conduct, or unprofessional interactions 

Education/Experience:

• HS Diploma/GED Required, and three (3) years of relevant work experience, OR
• Associate’s degree in a relevant field, AND Two (2) years of relevant work experience in case management, human services, or housing services, OR
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, psychology, sociology, public administration, or a related field, AND Two (2) years of experience in case management, customer service, community resources provider, or similar setting preferred.
• Two (2) years of lived experience may substitute for 1 year of relevant work experience.
• Experience in housing first model, rental subsidy programs, and trauma-informed care preferred
• Must have or be able to obtain a First Aid/CPR/AED certification that includes a hands-on skills testing module. Friendship Place will provide First Aid/CPR/AED training.

Essential Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong attention to detail
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills; ability to be flexible and implement innovative solutions that help participants achieve success.
• Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced dynamic environment.
• Model professional behavior and maintain boundaries and participant confidentiality.
• Ability to work with clients of all ages and from diverse backgrounds.
• Bi-lingual Service Delivery, a plus

Working conditions: Position will spend time between office/desk settings, traveling to meet with participants across the service area, and attend meetings/engagements with key stakeholders. Travel time for a position may consist of up to 50% of time.

Physical and Environmental Requirements: Position requires split time between an office setting and traveling to engagements via car or public transportation. Employees must be able to sit for extended periods of time with repetitive motion and positions. Employees must be able to operate a motorized vehicle. Some lifting may be required (up to 20-25lbs). 

Background checks: This position is subject to successful completion of background investigations as required by contract and applicable law, which may include but are not limited to state and federal criminal history checks, child/adult protective services registry checks, and other required program-specific or funding-source clearances. Verification of education, previous employment and reference assessments are required. Continued employment is contingent upon maintaining required clearances throughout employment. 

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

Direct & Indirect Reports: None

Specific Requirements: This position requires frequent travel throughout the service area, including same-day and scheduled client visits in community-based settings. Due to the nature and geographic scope of the role, employees must maintain access to a reliable personal vehicle at all times during employment to ensure timely response to client needs, consistent service delivery, and same-day, time-sensitive travel across multiple locations

A valid driver’s license, current automobile insurance, and an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) must be on file as a condition of employment. Mileage incurred while using a personal vehicle for approved work-related travel will be reimbursed at the applicable GSA rate. 

Application Deadline: This job is open until filled or until the hiring manager determines they can no longer accept applications.

Compensation: The hiring hourly pay rate is between $27.94 and $30.53 per hour. The starting salary is based on a step system. A candidate’s starting pay is determined based on meeting the basic position requirements and their current completed education, credentials, and work experience. Please note: The step system is set and not open to pay negotiation.

Benefits: We offer an excellent benefits package including low-cost health insurance, health reimbursement, flexible spending accounts, employer-paid dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, 403B defined contribution plan matching, employee assistance programs, professional development, employee resource groups, paid holidays, vacation and sick leave during 1st year of employment, and much more!

Location: Washington, D.C.

Interview Process: Phone screening, panel-style interview, final interview.

Equal Opportunity Statement: We support all qualified individuals within our workforce without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, personal appearance, familial status, family responsibilities, political affiliations, matriculation, credit, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Friend Place is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in its employment, services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact human resources at humanresources@friendshipplace

How to Apply: Interested applicants should submit their applications through the organization's website. All of our current career openings can be found by visiting: https://friendshipplace.org/who-we-are/careers/