Department: Workforce & Economic Development Department
Benefits include, but are not limited to:
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9/80 Compressed Work Schedule (office closed every other Friday)
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14 paid holidays
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457M tax-deferred savings plan
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Social security exempt
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Tuition reimbursement up to $5,000 annually
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Sharp PPO or HMO Plan, Kaiser Permanente HMO Plan,
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Dental
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Vision
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Flexible spending account
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Health and wellness perks
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Rewards & Recognition program
To see full benefits package, please visit:
https://www.sdhc.org/sdhc-employee-benefits/
About SDHC:
The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) is an award-winning public housing agency in the City of San Diego that provides innovative housing assistance programs for households with low income or experiencing homelessness. The San Diego City Council, in its role as the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego, oversees SDHC. SDHC helps pay rent for more than 17,000 households with low income annually; is a leader in collaborative efforts to address homelessness, such as the Community Action Plan on Homelessness for the City of San Diego and SDHC’s homelessness initiative, HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO, which has created more than 11,000 housing solutions since November 2014 for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness; and creates and preserves affordable rental housing, with more than 23,000 affordable units in service in the City today with SDHC’s participation.
About the Department:
The Workforce and Economic Development Department is responsible for designing and delivering employment, education, financial empowerment, and self-sufficiency programs that help San Diego Housing Commission participants achieve long-term economic stability. The department serves a diverse population of individuals and families receiving housing assistance, including those participating in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program and other workforce initiatives. Our team provides career coaching, employment placement, financial education, employer engagement, supportive service coordination, and referrals to community resources.
Our department operates as a collaborative, and mission-driven team that values innovation, partnership, and continuous improvement. We work closely with employers, educational institutions, workforce agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other community partners to expand opportunities for participants and remove barriers to employment and self-sufficiency.
A significant focus of our work is supporting individuals with complex barriers to employment, including formerly unhoused adults who are rebuilding stability and seeking sustainable employment. Staff are expected to approach participants with compassion, cultural humility, and a solution-oriented mindset while maintaining accountability for measurable outcomes.
The department promotes a collaborative culture where staff are encouraged to think strategically, build strong community partnerships, and continuously improve service delivery. We emphasize teamwork, participant-centered service, innovation, and measurable impact, while remaining committed to helping participants achieve lasting economic independence through meaningful employment and career advancement.
About the Position:
The Workforce Readiness Specialist reports directly to the Program Manager of Workforce and Economic Development and plays a vital role in advancing the San Diego Housing Commission's mission of promoting economic mobility and long-term self-sufficiency for program participants. The position is responsible for providing comprehensive case management, employment counseling, workforce development services, and coordinating supportive services that help participants successfully obtain and retain employment. The role also includes facilitating workshops and orientations, developing individualized employment plans, maintaining community partnerships, and monitoring participant progress to achieve measurable outcomes.
The ideal candidate is passionate about serving individuals facing significant employment barriers and possesses strong interpersonal, organizational, and case management skills. While the position supports a broad range of SDHC participants, a primary focus is helping individuals overcome barriers to employment, including limited work history, transportation challenges, financial instability, behavioral health concerns, and limited access to workforce opportunities. Experience connecting clients with community resources, providing employment coaching, facilitating workforce readiness workshops, and building employer partnerships is highly desirable.
Successful candidates should demonstrate the ability to:
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Build trusting relationships with participants from diverse backgrounds.
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Deliver individualized employment coaching and case management.
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Facilitate group workshops and public presentations.
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Coordinate supportive services through community partnerships.
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Maintain accurate documentation and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
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Work collaboratively with employers, educational institutions, and community organizations to improve participant outcomes.
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Exercise sound judgment, professionalism, empathy, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Minimum qualifications typically include a bachelor's degree in social work, public administration, planning, or a closely related field along with progressively responsible experience designing and implementing workforce development, self-sufficiency, or supportive service programs. The selected candidate must also obtain Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Service Coordinator certification within one year of appointment.
Knowledge of:
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Theory, principles and practices of social service and educational counseling, case management, and crisis intervention.
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Ethical and legal obligations regarding confidentiality, child and adult protective issues.
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The community, its resources and dynamics applicable to the delivery of Commission programs in assigned areas of responsibility.
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Dispute resolution and mediation methods and techniques.
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Grant writing methods, practices, and techniques.
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Principles and practices of public administration, including budgeting, purchasing and contracting, and the maintenance of public records.
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Demographics and social service, educational, and other supportive needs of populations served by Commission resident development services programs.
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Theory, principles, and practices for the design, implementation, and evaluation of adult education and motivation and individual/family supportive services programs.
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Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility (i.e., self-sufficiency and supportive services programs).
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Practices and techniques in building community collaboratives.
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Principles and practices of social service and educational counseling and case management.
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Administrative research and analysis methods and techniques.
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Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to the operations of the assigned programs.
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Record-keeping principles and procedures.
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Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
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English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
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Techniques for effectively representing the Commission in contacts with other agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
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Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Commission staff.
Ability to:
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Forge, nurture, and maintain first-time, innovative, and multi-disciplinary partnerships with governmental, educational, and community organizations to design and deliver programs.
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Handle client interactions with courtesy, tact, and sensitivity to the issues involved.
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Define issues, collect data, evaluate alternatives, and develop sound conclusions and recommendations.
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Represent the Commission effectively in making presentations and conducting meetings with clients and community/public organizations.
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Deal effectively with a culturally and ethnically highly diverse client and customer group.
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Plan, organize, assign, review, and evaluate the work of staff; train staff in work procedures.
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Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
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Interpret, explain, and ensure compliance with Commission policies and procedures, complex laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances governing the administration of client economic self-sufficiency and supportive services programs in assigned areas of responsibility
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Maintain confidentiality of sensitive personal information of applicants, current and former residents, and other matters affecting tenant relations.
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Maintain accurate files and records.
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Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
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Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
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Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
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Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
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Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Education and Experience:
Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework insocial work, planning, public administration, or a closely related field preferred, and four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in developing and implementing client self-sufficiency, upward mobility, educational programs.
Licenses and Certifications:
Possession of Family Self Sufficiency Service Coordinator certification, or the ability to obtain certification within one (1) year of appointment.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s License by time of appointment.
Physical Demands:
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit various Commission and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds.
Environmental Elements:
Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff, program participants, and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
