MIGRANT AND SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST - SPANISH SPEAKING

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as a Migrant and Seasonal Employment Specialist. Responsibilities include conducting frequent visits to working and living areas of farmworkers and other migrant and seasonal workers to provide technical assistance and guidance to individuals, employers, and communities regarding Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW), H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers (H-2A), and H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers (H-2B) programs and to verify compliance with related state and federal regulations. This position provides a great opportunity for someone who has a strong knowledge of employment laws and services pertaining to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and is dedicated to providing information and assistance related to these services to eligible individuals and employers through community outreach. The ideal candidate for this position will have experience working as a migrant or seasonal farmworker, working closely with migrant or seasonal farmworkers, or have substantial work experience in farmworker activities, as well as experience communicating effectively with a range of stakeholders and providing employment services or related outreach services, such as social services, health services, legal services and/or education services, to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. IDES offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of Illinois employers and job seekers.

Essential Functions

• Under general supervision, serves as a Migrant and Seasonal Employment Specialist for the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)
• Provides technical assistance and guidance to communities and state agencies regarding employment services programs available to farmworkers and other migrant or seasonal workers
• Using systems including but not limited to the Illinois Labor Exchange System, enters job orders and services relevant to programs available to farmworkers and other migrant or seasonal workers
• Utilizing word processing, spreadsheet and database management software, establishes and maintains various reports, including but not limited to reports of outreach activities, and logs complaints from employers, employees and other interested parties
• Attends and participates in community and hiring events, including but not limited to employer orientations, for clients eligible for employment services programs available to farmworkers and other migrant or seasonal workers
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years college with major courses in the social sciences; OR 
• Requires four (4) years of work experience in program research evaluation or design with two (2) of the years at the professional level

• Requires ability to speak and write the Spanish language at a colloquial skill level in carrying out position duties in conjunction with Spanish speaking clients

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) year of experience providing technical assistance and guidance for employment services programs or related outreach services, such as social services, health services, legal services and/or education services, to migrant and seasonal farmworkers 
• Experience conducting onsite visits to monitor compliance with federal and/or state regulations 
• One (1) year of experience using a labor exchange system to enter and review employer and/or client information 
• One (1) year of experience providing technical assistance and guidance for employment services programs; examples of applicable programs include: Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW), H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers (H-2A), H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers (H-2B), Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA), Hire the Future (HTF), Re-entry Employment Service Program (RESP), Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) 
• Experience communicating effectively with a range of stakeholders to provide information on programs, services, policies and procedures 
• Experience developing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with a range of stakeholders 
• Professional experience communicating effectively both verbally and in written form 
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite products, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Conditions of Employment

• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• Requires an Illinois State Police background check and self-disclosure of any criminal history.
• Requires ability to utilize the Spanish language in the performance of all duties.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license and access to an automobile.
• Requires the ability to perform the physical functions and tasks associated with onsite inspections, including but not limited to crouching, kneeling, bending, and walking.
• Requires exposure to various weather and environmental conditions during onsite inspections, including but not limited to wet and/or humid conditions, extreme cold, extreme heat, dust, dirt, pollen, engine noise, and chemicals used in agricultural work.

Conditions of Employment (continued)

• This position is considered light work as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (20 CFR 404.1567(b)). Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. This job may require a good deal of walking or standing, or involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls.
• Requires ability to attend seminars, conferences, and trainings to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics relevant to the job duties.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Employment Security’s (IDES) mission is to serve Illinois workers and employers to the best of our ability and to use our knowledge of the Illinois workforce to inform sound policy decision making.  IDES encourages economic growth and stability in Illinois by providing vital Employment Services to Illinois residents and employers, analyzing and disseminating actionable Labor Market Information, and administering Unemployment Insurance programs.