Job Description

Case Manager

Department: Student Programs

Status: Non-Exempt, Full-Time

Location: Seattle, WA.

Pay Rate: $29.86 - $33.47/hour

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

FareStart has been helping people transform their lives through food for 30 years — one person, one job and one community at a time.

People experiencing poverty struggle to escape the cycle they are in and often face other compounding barriers to getting and keeping a job. At FareStart, we help people overcome barriers by teaching work and life skills needed to succeed in employment and in life. By investing in people, providing meals and building community, we transform homelessness, hunger and poverty into human potential.

OUR VISION

Every individual has the opportunity to thrive in an equitable and just world.

OUR MISSION

FareStart transforms lives, disrupts poverty and nourishes communities through food, life skills and job training.

OUR VALUES

• Acceptance: We build relationships based on the belief that the past informs but does not dictate the future.
• Respect: We treat everyone with dignity, regardless of background or differences. We actively listen and seek first to understand. We are honest, even when it is difficult.
• Openness: We create a culture of trust through transparency and open communication. We are open to new ideas.
• Collaboration: Contribute positively to strengthen the organization and our impact through teamwork and through partnerships.
• Accountability: We are responsible to each other, to our community and ourselves. We are committed to rigorous evaluation and making fiscally responsible decisions that align with our mission.
• Inclusion: We provide a community of belonging, regardless of background. We value and seek out diversity.
• Growth: We are a learning organization. We invest in continuous improvement and growth.

ABOUT THE POSITION

This position is responsible for the provision of case management and student support services to program students from diverse backgrounds, including students as young as 15 for some programs, and adults of all ages for others. This position works with a trauma informed approach to support students with guiding access to community resources, developing soft skills, and coaching needed to successfully complete training and retain long-term employment. This position provides a full range of wraparound and community support services to students who have complex social needs, are homeless, or unstably housed, or have other significant barriers impacting their lives. This position is the key advocate for FareStart students throughout the program, from enrollment through training, graduation, employment and up to one year of post-graduate support. This position works collaboratively with team members across the organization to ensure effective support for their clients. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  include the following:

• Manage case load of assigned students and graduates.
• Develop and implement an individual training plan for each student.
• Monitor and support student’s progress throughout the program, and up to one-year post-graduation.
• Employ appropriate intervention methods and techniques to assist trainees and graduates so that they can create and achieve personal and professional goals.
• Identify and provide emergency crisis intervention as appropriate.
• Perform needs assessments to identify student needs, develop IEP service plans and goals, and assist in accessing resources for housing, health services, government assistance, legal assistance, additional education, and other basic needs, such as BFET, SNAP, etc. 
• In coordination with trainers and employment specialists, provide job preparedness, job search and employment coaching for resumes, interview preparation, employment retention, and career pathways leading to a living wage.
• Ensure all documentation is timely, accurate, and in compliance with FareStart and grant requirements. 
• Track housing progression, employment, and employment retention.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At FareStart, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

• Bachelor’s degree in social or human services, and two (2) or more years of experience working with individuals with barriers to employment, such as substance use disorder, criminal history, mental health challenges, domestic violence, or inconsistent work history; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• One (1) or more years of experience with case management.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check and work in locations with vulnerable populations. 
• Experience working with adults and older adolescents.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, LGBTQIA+, and gender backgrounds. 
• Proficient and experienced in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Ability to work with customized databases and technology and to conduct internet research.
• Experience with Teams and Zoom for virtual meetings.
• Demonstrated experience in writing case notes and track client progress. 
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding community resources and agencies available to support those experiencing homelessness and other challenges. 
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks and requests and meet deadlines in a professional manner. Ability to be flexible and adaptable and change plans as needed. 
• Ability to display sensitivity, tact, and responsiveness in various situations and maintain a high level of confidentiality. 
• Excellent communication skills, and ability to work with diverse audiences racially, ethnically, socioeconomically, LGBTQIA+, and gender diverse communities.
• Ability to listen patiently and attentively, ability to express self clearly and effectively, and the ability to adapt communication based on audience and purpose with inclusivity. 
• Ability to remain calm and understand how to redirect conversations and recognize when there are behavioral health challenges that may require additional support.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of the King County health, housing, and human services network.
• Licensed mental health counselor or certified chemical dependency professional.
• Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) proficiency.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• This position is exposed to a typical office environment. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• There may be a combination of remote work and onsite work dependent upon business needs.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• This position is regularly required to sit. Frequently required to stand or walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. 
• This position requires close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• This position may be required to lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
• This position may occasionally be required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch.

BENEFIT HIGHLIGHTS

• Competitive pay based on experience and qualifications
• Paid time-off (5 weeks first year of employment)
• Paid holidays, including up 2 floating holidays
• 401(k) savings plan with company match
• Medical (including vision), Dental, Disability, and Life Insurance
• Employee discounts at FareStart retail social enterprises
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free ORCA pass

Why Should You Apply?

• Be part of our mission to disrupt poverty.
• Join a supportive, respectful, and celebratory community among our staff, students, board, and volunteers.
• Organizational commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
• FareStart encourages the personal and professional growth of its employees.

For information on FareStart, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at:

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity

FareStart is committed to becoming a fully inclusive, antiracist, diverse organization. To fulfill our mission, vision, and values we are seeking candidates who demonstrate shared values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism.

Our Commitment to Anti-Racism

FareStart defines antiracism as the clear acknowledgment that racism permeates organizations, communities, and industries, including our own. We recognize that we have a duty to be vigilant in addressing and confronting racism in how we make decisions, show up in our communities, build business practices and policies, and engage in intentional partnerships and philanthropic endeavors to fulfill our mission and vision.

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