Staff Positions Available

The Nine Star’s Work Services Specialist I provide Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP) recipients who are unemployed and under-employed with the skills to obtain and retain employment and overcome barriers. Work Services Specialists I utilize a holistic approach to assist clients in achieving economic self-sufficiency.

Major Responsibilities

• Implement principles of welfare reform and the work first philosophy while managing a caseload of ATAP recipients.
• Application of the Nine Star’s Philosophy of Care: Compassion, Excellence, and Collaboration.
• Meet or exceed the Work Services Performance Measures categories as defined by the Division of Public Assistance.
• Obtain, track, monitor, and report ATAP client data for caseload according to the Alaska Work Verification Plan.
• Assess clients to obtain employment, educational/training, family composition, support network, and other information to identify strengths/challenges/barriers, to achieving economic self-sufficiency.
• Meets clients a minimum of once monthly as required.
• Develop family Self-Sufficiency Plans to direct the activities of clients in moving toward economic self-sufficiency.
• Monitors clients to ensure they are achieving goals that lead to employment.
• Establish, maintain, and review client files as well as prepare data for required reports accurately and promptly.
• Identify and appropriately manage angry or hostile clients in crisis.
• Refer clients to appropriate community resources for services that address and meet specific needs as identified.
• Refer clients to training projects that will lead to a higher level of self-sufficiency.
• Prepare for and attend case review hearings with clients.
• Participate as a team member in weekly program staff meetings and other meetings as required.
• Works with other Nine Star Work Services staff as a team to collaborate and meet the needs of all clients.
• Maintain connectivity with DPA eligibility staff in serving client needs.
• Make client work site and home visits as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office and FileMaker Pro database.
• Adept at working independently as well as with team members.
• Possess excellent customer service skills.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.
• Able to organize and prioritize a variety of tasks.
• Work with minimal supervision.
• Able to coordinate multiple tasks and follow-up despite frequent interruptions.
• Maintain a professional attitude with enthusiasm and dependability.
• Exercise exceptional time management skills.
• Flexible and willing to take on new tasks with eagerness to learn new skills as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possess an Associate’s Degree in Human or Social Services, Vocational Education, or a related field.
• Relevant experience may substitute for educational requirements on a year-for-year basis.
• Have a minimum of one year of progressively responsible experience in case management or related field.

This position offers you an opportunity to help move underemployed and unemployed job seekers to economic stability. If this sounds like a great opportunity for you, please, send your cover letter and resume to zoes@ninestar.org or fax to (907) 644-9925, ATT: Zoe.