Progress your career with Florida’s largest and fastest growing Community Re-Entry services provider. Bridges International is the oldest and most successful private non-profit provider of re-entry services in the state of Florida, providing a continuum of care in Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Programs, Transition Centers, and Community Release Centers, for ex- offenders and probation populations. At Bridges of America we “Believe a Man Can Change. “Join us in changing lives at our Jacksonville Bridge location. We are looking for individuals with strong leadership skills and a passion for inspiring, helping and challenging people and we want you to be a part of our Clinical team as an Employment Specialist. Employment Specialist delivers Employment Re-Entry Skills and Job Placement/Retention/Advancement curriculum to inmates, recruits and orients potential employers, assist with job checks, assesses inmates skill for potential employment, assist inmates with completing resumes and job applications, provides employment counseling, delivers budgeting skill curriculum and assists inmates with their weekly budgeting skills.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
1. Through public relations develop new job contacts for inmate employment.
2. Oversee and audit inmate employment files.
3. Update employment information to data entry on a weekly basis.
4. Conduct Job Readiness and Job Coping classes, including ED Preview.
5. Coordinate inmate transportation schedules.
6. Attend department head meetings and clinical staff meetings.
7. Monitor inmate work schedules, promotions, and salaries.
8. Conduct on-site visits to inmate employers at least once per month.
9. Monitor inmate job interviews and job searches.
10. Develop and maintain an accurate and current job bank.
11. Verify inmate employment prior to allowing inmate to work on site.
12. Ensure the Community Work Agreement form is completed by the employer.
13. Complete on site visit within five (5) days of inmate’s employment with a company.
14. Conduct bicycle safety training with inmates.
15. Clock in and out utilizing the company time and attendance system.
16. Must be able to perform the major functions of job with or without an accommodation.
17. Required to attend all mandatory training specified by policy.
18. Must be able to speak, read, write and understand English.
19. Report all Workers Compensation injuries, whether or not they require medical attention or not, to you immediate supervisor, the Business Administrator or the Facility Director.
20. Report all breaches of company policy or code of ethics that you have knowledge of, hear about or see regardless of who is involved in the breach to your immediate supervisor or the Facility Director. Or the HR Department if necessary.
21. Report all unsafe conditions that could affect clients/inmates or employees which you become aware of to your immediate supervisor or the Facility Director immediately.
22. To be eligible for promotion you must demonstrate organizational abilities and must have good written and oral communication skills.
23. To be eligible for promotion to a supervisory position you must complete supervisory/team building training. This can be accomplished by checking out “How to Supervise People” CD from the corporate office and passing all tests with a minimum score of 80%.
24. Ensure that all applicable policies and procedures that fall within the scope of this job description are followed and adhered to.
25. Perform other related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor.
QualificationsThe following qualifications apply:
· A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree or an Associate Degree and two (2) years of full-time related work experience; or
· High School diploma or equivalent and four (4) years of full-time related work experience.
· NOTE: Full-Time work experience must be in one of the following areas:
- Personnel management or Human Resources
- Marketing and/or Advertising
- Human services
- Public Relations
- Other related field
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- Associate degree plus two years of full-time related work experience
- High school diploma or equivalent plus four years of full-time related work experience
- Related experience in personnel management, human resources, marketing, advertising, human services, public relations, or another related field
- Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Ability to perform the essential job functions with or without accommodation
- Completion of mandatory training required by company policy
What We Do
Bridges of America is a Florida-based private nonprofit organization providing re-entry and rehabilitation services for people involved in the criminal justice system. Its continuum of care includes residential substance-abuse treatment programs, transition centers, and community release centers serving former offenders and probation populations. The organization’s mission emphasizes personal change, recovery, successful community reintegration, and helping individuals rebuild their lives after incarceration.
