Human Service Worker IV

This position works as part of the Public Assistance and Employment Services (PAES) Division. We are seeking an energetic, reliable, well-organized individual to join the Employment Services team. The Employment Services team provides community and business development, outreach, job development, and individualized services, including intensive case management, to unemployed and underemployed job seekers. The position will be an active member of a collaborative and compassionate team that supports operations of federal, state, and local workforce development programs. Individuals dedicated to customer service, results, innovation and adaptable and flexible to take on different roles and tasks depending on office and program needs are encouraged to apply. Learn more about working for DFS, our agency culture, and meet some of our employees online.

About the position:
We are seeking motivated and adaptable individuals with a passion for leadership and a desire to grow professionally in a supervisory role to join our team. This position is responsible for supervising a team of workforce professionals that connect area job seekers to workforce development resources and services; overseeing the daily operations of our workforce development centers, which are part of the Virginia Career Works (VCW) network of American Job centers; and coordinating community and business partnerships across the Employment Services Team. Additionally, this position collaborates with partners and external stakeholders, including the Northern Virginia Workforce Development Board, to optimize workforce development services. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leadership, excellent communication skills, and the ability to effectively manage a team across various physical locations and provide employment services to the community.

What you will do:

• Provide ongoing support, training, and professional development, to team members to enhance their skills and knowledge of workforce development. Organize the daily schedule of workforce center operations to ensure efficient workflow and optimal customer service; 
• Work with the team to plan and execute center events and activities beneficial to job seekers and to streamline referrals to other programs and resources
• Assist staff in resolving conflicts and de-escalating customer concerns in a timely and professional manner.
• Coordinate with the region's local workforce board system to align center activities with workforce development initiatives and community needs.
• Support the maintenance and recertification of the centers’ VCW affiliation.
• Monitor staff performance and provide regular feedback to ensure high standards of service delivery.
• Collaborate with management to develop and implement policies and procedures to improve operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Maintain a positive and supportive work environment that fosters teamwork, collaboration, and employee growth.

The successful applicant should have the following qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively, collaboratively, and efficiently in a dynamic and fast-paced environment by juggling multiple tasks and prioritizing based on the nature of the task at hand.
• Ability to be a team player as well as having the ability take initiative and work well independently.
• Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel computer software applications; and the willingness to learn new applications and systems as needed.
• Proven experience in a customer service or resource center environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership abilities with the ability to motivate and inspire team members.
• Ability to effectively manage conflict and resolve issues in a professional manner.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.

Note: The location varies depending on the needs of the department. This position requires travel throughout Fairfax County. Additionally, this position will occasionally require you to work evenings, holidays, and/or weekends.

Salary: The selected applicant's starting annual salary will be in the minimum to midpoint range ($66,103.86 to $88,138.96) of the advertised compensation range based on relevant years of experience. Promotional rules apply for current Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools employees.

Realistic Job Preview (RJP): We will host a virtual Realistic Job Preview (RJP) on April 15, 2024, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. EST via Microsoft Teams to provide applicants with an overview of the position. Although attendance is not required to be considered for this position, this RJP is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn about important aspects of the work required for this position. If you are interested in participating, please email dfshumanresources@fairfaxcounty.gov by April 15, 2024 by 10:00 a.m.(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
As a member of the management team, collaborates with other supervisors and managers to ensure that staff, the community, and other human service providers work together to provide a holistic program of services;
Provides day-to-day guidance, direction, and mentoring to a group of professional staff on case related issues, policies and procedures, agency initiatives, and professional development;
Ensures all program timeframes and performance outcomes are met;
Communicates performance expectations and monitors performance and accomplishments of staff and overall unit against the goals and objectives of the program;
Regularly conducts individual conferences with staff to discuss specific case problems and monitors casework progress;
Identifies crisis situations and provides crisis intervention as needed to address difficult or dangerous situations;
Interviews job applicants and makes recommendations for hiring;
Prepares and conducts formal and informal performance evaluations in a timely manner;
Handles performance and discipline issues in a timely manner and in accordance with County personnel policy;
Plans for and facilitates the professional growth of staff;
Interprets, applies, and explains complex federal, state and County policies to applicants, service providers, the general public and other interested parties;
Participates in inter and intra agency multidisciplinary work groups and teams;
Makes public presentations on programs and services;
Monitors and assures efficient, effective coordination of services provided to clients, identifies service delivery gaps and takes action to improve operations;
Evaluates the effectiveness of policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations;
May participate in the evaluation of service providers and provide feedback to program management staff;
Writes and/or assists with writing grant applications, proposals for funding, and business plans;
Prepares or oversees and presents narrative and statistical reports documenting the work of the unit and/or in relation to case activity.(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Knowledge of basic human behavior and social problems;
Knowledge of social, economic, health and cultural factors which can serve as barriers to employment;
Knowledge of best practices in workforce development and case management;
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Ability to make mathematical computations;
Ability to schedule, organize, and manage workload of self and others sufficient to meet deadlines;
Ability to read, interpret and apply program policies and procedures;
Ability to use automated technology to conduct research, to establish and maintain case records, and to produce correspondence and reports;
Ability to interpret and analyze data;
Ability to handle multiple deadlines, high volume of client contact, high caseloads, and competing priorities;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, other human service providers and the general public;
Ability to work well with clients and coworkers from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds;
Ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality of client information;
Ability to work in a team environment;
Ability to work effectively with people under stress;
Ability to provide excellent customer service;
Ability to identify clients in crisis and intervene to stabilize the situation;
Ability to identify client issues requiring referral to other human service providers (e.g., substance abuse, spousal abuse);
Ability to supervise the work of others effectively;
Ability to provide ongoing, timely, and constructive feedback to staff regarding case work;
Ability to develop, train, mentor, and motivate staff;
Ability to review cases for consistency, best practice, timeliness, accuracy and appropriateness of action;
Ability to accept changes in work assignments and environment;
Ability to recognize and implement best proactive approaches to service delivery;
Ability to make public presentations.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree plus four years of professional human services or related work experience.

Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
None.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check and a Child protective services check.

This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Familiarity with the American Job Center Network
• Experience delivering services and providing resources to individuals with barriers to employment (i.e., individuals with disabilities, ex-offenders, etc.).
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, performance measures, and quality standards governing federal workforce programs
• Knowledge of labor market conditions, career guidance, and job development techniques.
• Certified Virginia Workforce Development Professional (VWDP) or National Workforce Development Professional (NWDP).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 
Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer.
Ability to perform repetitive hand, arm, wrist and shoulder movements.
Ability to travel to various locations throughout Fairfax County to provide coverage, attend meetings and trainings.
All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.  

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

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