Employment Specialist I - Part-Time

About the role

Help people build careers, stability, and brighter futures. Central City Concern is seeking a compassionate, resourceful, and mission-driven Employment Specialist I to support individuals impacted by homelessness, poverty, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders as they pursue meaningful employment. In this role, you will partner with clients throughout their employment journey, helping them identify career goals, overcome barriers, secure employment, and maintain long-term success in work, housing, and recovery.

Why This Role Matters: At CCC, employment is more than a job. It is a pathway to stability, self-sufficiency, and personal transformation. As an Employment Specialist, you will play a direct role in helping individuals build confidence, develop workforce skills, connect to opportunities, and achieve lasting success.

Location: Employment Access Center - 2 NW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97209

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized employment coaching, career exploration, and job retention support.
• Help clients develop employment plans, career maps, resumes, cover letters, and interview skills.
• Connect clients to community resources that address barriers such as housing, transportation, behavioral health, and basic needs.
• Build relationships with employers and match clients to appropriate employment opportunities.
• Monitor client progress, document services, and maintain accurate records within case management systems.
• Collaborate closely with CCC programs, housing teams, and community partners to provide coordinated support.
• Provide employment services aligned with CCC and contractually required program standards including development of a comprehensive case plan that identifies employment and training goals, monitoring client progress toward said goals, and provision of services that support their plan.
• Maintain high-quality documentation within CCC’s Apricot Case Management system and other systems as required by funders such as iTrac and iMatchSkills.
• Carefully monitor services obtained, financial supports, and employment status for clients on their caseload, including provision of short-term retention services.
• Work with clients to complete Career Maps and provide client assessments to determine skills and abilities.