EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING SPECIALIST II

THE JOB:  Under general supervision, interview, assess and counsel eligible applicants; develop individualized employment plans; solicit employment and work training opportunities for clients from prospective employers; refer clients for classroom, on-the-job training and employment; and perform other work as required. The list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future temporary (extra-help), full-time, part-time and substitute positions.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these would be:  

One year of experience in career, vocational or employment counseling.  A Master’s Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation, Counseling, Industrial Psychology or a closely related field may be substituted for six months of the required experience.  

Special Requirements/Conditions: License Requirements: The Summer Lunch and Summer Youth Employment Program assignments require possession of a valid California Class C Driver License.  All other positions require possession of a valid California Class C Driver License, or the ability to provide suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.  Background Investigation:  Some positions may require fingerprinting. Other Special Requirements:  Some positions may require the use of a personal vehicle; some positions may require working weekends and/or after hours.  

Knowledge: Working knowledge of interviewing and counseling techniques; fundamental principles of human behavior; record keeping methods; effective case management techniques; community resources and programs to assist clients; group dynamics; career, vocational and employment counseling techniques; employment and training programs and related community resources; hiring trends and practices of private and public sector employers; common occupational titles, the usual minimum qualifications, training and/or experience required in order to secure employment in those occupations; resources available for military veterans may be required for some positions; and available community programs to assist clients in overcoming employment barriers and becoming job ready. Some knowledge of career planning practices and techniques; and employment counseling tools including interest and vocational surveys and tests.  

Ability to:  Interview persons from various backgrounds, to obtain information concerning their employment skills and occupational goals; identify and assess needs and barriers to employment and develop meaningful employment plans; implement client employment plans through referral to appropriate programs; conduct follow-up with clients and employers to evaluate progress and take necessary corrective actions; prepare reports, forms, plans and agreements; interpret, explain and apply complex Federal and State regulations; maintain a large caseload of both applicants and participants; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others; plan and schedule work; effectively utilize community and agency resources; input, access and analyze data using a computer; design and conduct individual and/or group training to improve job readiness of clients; work with employers to develop employment opportunities; negotiate and determine necessary supportive services for clients; lead your group activities; and motivate high risk youths.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE – 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years. Available after six months for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS – 12.5 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE – 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN – The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans.  For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN – County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN – County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT – Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years.  County pays a portion of retirement contribution and participates in Social Security. 
LIFE INSURANCE – County paid $20,000 term policy.  Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
SDI – Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN – Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN – Employees who pay a County medical premium share of cost may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) – Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION – A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.
OTHER – Other pay and benefit items apply to certain positions or assignments, such as Bilingual Pay and Night Shift Differential.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental application will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental application. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants.  If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental application. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.  

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now!  Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060.  For information, call (831) 454-2600.  Hearing Impaired TDD# (831) 454-2123.  Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways:  1) In the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.  Following a review for minimum qualifications, applicants who are selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be notified that they must submit a completed conviction history questionnaire in order to continue to the examination phase of the process.

Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.  

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.   

                    NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

                                                                            An Equal Opportunity Employer