Description

The Employment Security Department (ESD) is seeking a dynamic, learner-centered facilitator to deliver Strategies for Success (SFS) life-skills workshops and provide individualized employment support to job seekers across diverse backgrounds.

The ideal candidate is an engaging instructor and empathetic coach who thrives on helping people build confidence, develop practical skills, and overcome barriers to employment. They create inclusive learning environments where participants feel respected, motivated, and supported and are skilled at tailoring instruction to different learning styles, navigating sensitive topics with care, and building strong relationships with customers, partners, and employers. The ideal candidate brings curiosity, patience, and professionalism to every interaction, with a commitment to equity, trauma-informed practice, and participant-centered service.

About the Workforce Services Division:

Workforce Services Division (WSD) is made up of three Lines of Business: WorkSource, Central Operations System Support, and Washington Service Corps (WSC). WSD administers the Labor Exchange (LEX), Migrant Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW), Veterans Services, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), and WorkFirst programs for job seekers and employers in Washington and provides job seekers with referrals to partners providing Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) adult, youth, and dislocated worker training and support services.

Duties

As a Strategies for Success Facilitator, you will deliver intensive life-skills, personal development, and job-readiness workshops designed to help individuals enter or re-enter the workforce. You will guide participants through self-reflection, communication skills, problem-solving, and workplace expectations while helping them build confidence and resilience. Your work directly supports ESD’s mission by promoting economic security, employment readiness, and long-term self-sufficiency.

You'll provide both group instruction and individualized support, to include facilitating workshops, conducting orientations, assessing participant needs, and developing employment plans that align with labor market information and program requirements. You'll also provide coaching, case management, and referrals to help customers overcome barriers and stay engaged in their employment journey. Strong documentation, data accuracy, and collaboration with WorkSource partners and employers are essential to success in this position.

Some of what you will do:

• Lead group and individual orientations and workshops, providing clear information on program services, benefits, and eligibility.
• Facilitate job-readiness activities, including job club sessions and workshops; share current labor market insights.
• Provide each student with clear course expectations, evaluations, and timelines through well-developed topical outlines and approved syllabi and ensure all learning outcomes are met.
• Deliver targeted Life Skills workshops to meet the needs of various populations.
• Develop curriculum and deliver engaging instruction for a diverse student population.
• Use a variety of instructional strategies to meet students’ needs, interests, and learning styles.
• Monitor WorkSource program performance using agency reporting systems and prepare and distribute required program reports. Ensure full compliance with state and federal case management protocols and data entry procedures.
• Conduct staff-assisted job development, job matching, and follow-up activities. Make job referrals and verify customer job search efforts.
• Ensure customers understand and follow all employment and training requirements, expectations, and performance standards.
• Build and maintain relationships with vendors and community partners and stay informed about available external resources and referral options.

To request a detailed position description, click here.

Qualifications

Required:

Option 1: One year as a WorkSource Specialist 3 or equivalent class within the Employment Security Department, or another state’s Employment Security agency

Option 2: A Bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience in workforce development, social or human resource services, public relations, or public contact work, such as: education, social services, public relations, human resource services, unemployment insurance, benefits programs, insurance claims, law enforcement and banking OR a combination of education and/or relevant experience.

Option 3: A combination of education and/or relevant experience that totals seven (7) or more years.

The required experience includes:

• Client Motivation and Career Planning Expertise: Ability to encourage workforce engagement.
• Public Engagement Skills: Proficiency in structuring learning sessions for targeted job seekers. Subject-matter expertise in legal, financial, or behavioral health topics, communication skills to effectively guide individuals, empathy & interpersonal skills to build trust, problem-solving to address client challenges, and adaptability to tailor coaching to different needs.
• Relationship-Building: Ability to effectively engage customers, establish credibility and trust, and foster meaningful connections.
• Coaching & Mentoring: Ability to guide, encourage and empower learners toward self-discovery and confidence-building.
• Specialized Training Expertise: Ability to tailor workshops for diverse workforce needs. Public Engagement Skills: Proficiency in structuring learning sessions for targeted job seekers.
• Subject-matter expertise in legal, financial, or behavioral health topics, communication skills to effectively guide individuals, empathy & interpersonal skills to build trust, problem-solving to address client challenges, and adaptability to tailor coaching to different needs.
  

Required equity competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.

• The ability to take action to meet the needs of other.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Adult Learning and Trauma-Informed Practice: Ability to recognize how past experiences may affect participation and learning styles, and ability to adjust teaching methods to learners’ needs.

• Empathy & Participant-Centered Approach; proficiency in recognizing and respecting diverse backgrounds, learning styles, and challenges, showing genuine interest and care, and creating a safe, non-judgmental learning environment.
  

Education to Experience Equivalences:

Associate Degree = 2 years | Bachelor Degree = 4 years | Masters or Higher = 5 years

Additional Requirement of Employment:

• Must be able to pass Unemployment Insurance (UI) & Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.

Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy.

Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents. Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review.

Please submit your Cover Letter and Resume with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.

Supplemental Information

Why work with us

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Katie Swanson, 360-742-8208 or the Talent Acquisition Team, or Washington Relay Service 711 prior to the recruitment closing. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.

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The Employment Security Department (ESD) is seeking a dynamic, learner-centered facilitator to deliver Strategies for Success (SFS) life-skills workshops and provide individualized employment support to job seekers across diverse backgrounds. The ideal candidate is an engaging instructor and empathetic coach who thrives on helping people build confidence, develop practical skills, and overcome barriers to employment. They create inclusive learning environments where participants feel respected, motivated, and supported and are skilled at tailoring instruction to different learning styles, navigating sensitive topics with care, and building strong relationships with customers, partners, and employers. The ideal candidate brings curiosity, patience, and professionalism to every interaction, with a commitment to equity, trauma-informed practice, and participant-centered service. About the Workforce Services Division:Workforce Services Division (WSD) is made up of three Lines of Business: WorkSource, Central Operations System Support, and Washington Service Corps (WSC). WSD administers the Labor Exchange (LEX), Migrant Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW), Veterans Services, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), and Work. First programs for job seekers and employers in Washington and provides job seekers with referrals to partners providing Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) adult, youth, and dislocated worker training and support services. Duties As a Strategies for Success Facilitator, you will deliver intensive life-skills, personal development, and job-readiness workshops designed to help individuals enter or re-enter the workforce. You will guide participants through self-reflection, communication skills, problem-solving, and workplace expectations while helping them build confidence and resilience. Your work directly supports ESD’s mission by promoting economic security, employment readiness, and long-term self-sufficiency. You'll provide both group instruction and individualized support, to include facilitating workshops, conducting orientations, assessing participant needs, and developing employment plans that align with labor market information and program requirements. You'll also provide coaching, case management, and referrals to help customers overcome barriers and stay engaged in their employment journey. Strong documentation, data accuracy, and collaboration with WorkSource partners and employers are essential to success in this position. Some of what you will do:Lead group and individual orientations and workshops, providing clear information on program services, benefits, and eligibility. Facilitate job-readiness activities, including job club sessions and workshops; share current labor market insights. Provide each student with clear course expectations, evaluations, and timelines through well-developed topical outlines and approved syllabi and ensure all learning outcomes are met. Deliver targeted Life Skills workshops to meet the needs of various populations. Develop curriculum and deliver engaging instruction for a diverse student population. Use a variety of instructional strategies to meet students’ needs, interests, and learning styles. Monitor WorkSource program performance using agency reporting systems and prepare and distribute required program reports. Ensure full compliance with state and federal case management protocols and data entry procedures. Conduct staff-assisted job development, job matching, and follow-up activities. Make job referrals and verify customer job search efforts. Ensure customers understand and follow all employment and training requirements, expectations, and performance standards. Build and maintain relationships with vendors and community partners and stay informed about available external resources and referral options. To request a detailed position description, click here. Qualifications Required: Option 1: One year as a WorkSource Specialist 3 or equivalent class within the Employment Security Department, or another state’s Employment Security agency Option 2: A Bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience in workforce development, social or human resource services, public relations, or public contact work, such as: education, social services, public relations, human resource services, unemployment insurance, benefits programs, insurance claims, law enforcement and banking OR a combination of education and/or relevant experience. Option 3: A combination of education and/or relevant experience that totals seven (7) or more years. The required experience includes:Client Motivation and Career Planning Expertise: Ability to encourage workforce engagement. Public Engagement Skills: Proficiency in structuring learning sessions for targeted job seekers. Subject-matter expertise in legal, financial, or behavioral health topics, communication skills to effectively guide individuals, empathy & interpersonal skills to build trust, problem-solving to address client challenges, and adaptability to tailor coaching to different needs. Relationship-Building: Ability to effectively engage customers, establish credibility and trust, and foster meaningful connections. Coaching & Mentoring: Ability to guide, encourage and empower learners toward self-discovery and confidence-building. Specialized Training Expertise: Ability to tailor workshops for diverse workforce needs. Public Engagement Skills: Proficiency in structuring learning sessions for targeted job seekers. Subject-matter expertise in legal, financial, or behavioral health topics, communication skills to effectively guide individuals, empathy & interpersonal skills to build trust, problem-solving to address client challenges, and adaptability to tailor coaching to different needs. Required equity competencies:The ability to take action to learn and grow. The ability to take action to meet the needs of other. Preferred/ Desired Qualifications:Adult Learning and Trauma-Informed Practice: Ability to recognize how past experiences may affect participation and learning styles, and ability to adjust teaching methods to learners’ needs. Empathy & Participant-Centered Approach; proficiency in recognizing and respecting diverse backgrounds, learning styles, and challenges, showing genuine interest and care, and creating a safe, non-judgmental learning environment. Education to Experience Equivalences:Associate Degree = 2 years | Bachelor Degree = 4 years | Masters or Higher = 5 years. Additional Requirement of Employment:Must be able to pass Unemployment Insurance (UI) & Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check. Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy. Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents. Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review. Please submit your Cover Letter and Resume with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.

search terms: Facilitator+Behavioral Health