Career Specialist I or II (TANF) - Cherokee Nation

Works with individuals of all backgrounds and barriers to assist them with job training and career needs through an approved written plan.  Negotiates with employers and training sites to provide suitable opportunities to participants, provides adequate supportive service, referral, and follow-up services throughout participation; resolves problems arising between participants and employers/ training sites; counsels participants, and performs related work as required.

Counsels and guides clients through an application process to determine program eligibility for program services.  Interacts with various external/internal agencies, programs, and/or services to perform the role of “advocate” for the client/participant and for purposes of creating effective formalized partnerships for optimal program services.  Utilizes Career Services Client Database to enter and maintain client/program participant information and ensures information is accurate, complete, and up to date.  Utilizes record management systems to add and maintain client/program participant documents electronically.  Maintains hard copy documents as needed for each client/program participant in a separate file of record for that individual and ensures that information is accurate, complete, and up to date.  Monitors job sites, training sites, and participants' progress to ensure compliance with program requirements, written plans, and applicable laws.  Serves as a representative of Cherokee Nation at various workshops, conferences, and meetings as assigned.  Establishes effective relationships with employers to develop training and work sites for program participants as needed.  Coordinates OJT activities as needed including any agreements.  Coordinates vocational training activities as needed including any training agreements.  Prepares reports as required including but not limited to individual client reports, official reports, as well as monthly reports to the supervisor.  Transports program participants as needed via a Cherokee Nation vehicle including tribal and GSA vehicles.  Ensures financial payments to program participants when required and in accordance with policies and procedures.  Works with individuals of all backgrounds and barriers and strives to serve clients in the best efficient and effective manner possible.  Assists program participants with developing a written plan to meet the participant’s employment and/or training needs and to help guide them toward self-sufficiency.  Provides follow-up to client services to ensure client needs are being met and in accordance with policies and procedures.  Maintains current information of area labor force needs to provide applicants with meaningful career counseling.  When applicable aids clients in the supportive service process ensuring needs are met promptly. Maintains, tracks, inventories and reconciles the Pay Cards as distributed to them as custodians following all policies and procedures.  Works within prescribed guidelines and internal policies.  Ensures the application process is complete and written director approval has been obtained for each client before the client being placed on any program and before the client receiving any program funds.  Attends training to expand knowledge in serving clients including specialized and client-specific training.  Seeks out and identifies current resources and services to expand upon existing program services that will benefit clients and program outcomes.  Conducts in-home appointment visits when needed.  Provide counseling referrals and advice to support the academic, personal, and social development of families to mobilize inner capacities and environmental resources to improve self-sufficiency.  Counsel and aids families requiring assistance to become self-sufficient, through determining the nature and degree of barriers.  Assists consumers in increasing their knowledge in particular fields and helping them focus on current requirements of employers and specific responsibilities, duties, and skills.

SPECIFICALLY FOR TANF PROGRAM CAREER SPECIALISTS

Performs complex and specialized TANF eligibility and grant determination assignments in accordance with the four purpose areas as established by Public Law 104-193, which are:

1. End dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, increasing participant’s employability, and promote self-sufficiency.
2. Provide assistance (or other forms of support) to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or the homes of relatives.
3. Educate to prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
4. Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

Assists with the development and implementation of a comprehensive guide for program services. (This is specific to the Re-Entry Program)

Other duties may be assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

No supervisory responsibility is required.

CAREER SPECIALIST I

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT

Bachelor's degree from four-year College or University; or six years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT

No additional experience.

CAREER SPECIALIST II

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT

Bachelor's degree from four-year College or University; or six years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT

An additional one year related experience is required on one or more of the following areas: interviewing clients to determine pertinent information relative to assistance requested; gathering pertinent date for entry into database; writing individual education/employment plans; working with post-secondary institutions admissions and financial aid offices; teaching secondary education or vocational classes; providing guidance and direction related to personal, academic, employment and/or financial matters; identifying barriers to employment referring individuals to various services and or agencies for assistance; interpreting federal, state and local regulation and/or policies; establishing and maintaining files.

COMPUTER SKILLS

An individual should have knowledge of Database, Internet, Spreadsheet, and Word Processing software.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license with a driving history verified through a motor vehicle report that meets requirements for Cherokee Nation underwriting rating.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

The employee must not be and will not be under sanction by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) or by the General Services Administration (GSA) or listed on the OIG’s Cumulative Sanction Report, or the GSA’s List of Excluded Providers, or listed on the OIG’s List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).  Must meet and maintain pre-employment and periodic background investigation and adjudication for child care.  Computer literate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS   

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.