Employment Counselor

FT / PT Status – Full-Time
Salary – $20.05 - $ Hourly Wage
Remote Work / In-Office – In-Office / On-Site

Recruiter – Breanna Granger | [email protected] | 801-526-4337
Application Deadline – 5/10/2026

Key Responsibilities

Job Description

If you are interested in working with diverse populations, and have a desire to help individuals discover their potential and abilities, while advocating for their self-sufficiency, this is the job for you. The Workforce Development Division (WDD) at the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is looking for skilled and motivated individuals to fill an Employment Counselor I position.
Employment Counselors will utilize a wide variety of programs and services to assist individuals, families and youth.  We work with people one on one or in groups to set career and educational goals and identify and resolve barriers that stand in the way of meeting those goals.

Formal training will be provided to assist you in conducting formal assessments and work-ready evaluations according to department standards, and to provide support services and resources from the Department. Additional instruction will be provided in learning of community partner resources and referrals to those resources, in order to help people address barriers that prevent them from succeeding. Training will include how to access and interpret labor market information and employer needs. Monitoring of customer progress and documentation will be done in the Department online case management software program.

This position is assigned to the DWS Employment Center located in St. George.

*This position may be filled as an Employment Counselor II for an internal applicant, depending on qualifications.*

Principal Duties

This position delivers a broad range of services to assist case managed customers, unemployed and underemployed job seekers, the general public and their families. In meeting with customers, you would help to resolve barriers and increase customers skills, in order for them to obtain and maintain employment and education that leads to self-sufficiency. Barriers may include such things as; homelessness, mental and physical disabilities, domestic violence and substance abuse. Services are focused on individual and family needs and may be provided one-on-one or in group settings. Some positions involve outreach to community partners and/or customer home visits.

Employment Counselors will be trained to:

• Provide career, occupational and educational counseling to empower customers to increase their income and break the cycle of poverty.

• Assess customers and their families to identify barriers to self-sufficiency, employment, training and income goals; and to provide the necessary resources and support to resolve the barriers.

• Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to complete assessments and evaluations to gain pertinent information related to goal planning and barrier resolution and to create a supportive environment.

• Develop employment plans and goals with activities leading to achieving goals and/or work readiness, as well as monitoring and evaluating employment plan activities and progress.

• Utilize labor market information, local resources, referral to community partners and employers to assist customers in meeting their goals.

• Assess needs and educate customers about DWS programs, policies, and services and help them access temporary assistance programs (Food Stamps, Financial, Medicaid, Child Care and Unemployment Insurance).

• Conduct home visits when needed to establish relationships, increase rapport, problem solve, engage or re-engage the customer.

• Assist customers with the ultimate goal of employment by assisting with resume creation, networking, mock interviewing and job searching with technology.

• Ensure program compliance and appropriate use of public resources.

• Understand and implement program specific policies, procedures, case management techniques, career counseling, available Division resources, as well as community partner resources.

• Provide employment retention support and resources.

Qualifications

The Ideal Candidate

The model candidate for this position is someone who has:

Transferable Soft Skills:

• Empathy and compassion for others, and possesses a desire to assist customers who are in difficult situations.
• The ability to present information clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Exceptional customer service skills and ability to assist people in a manner which shows sensitivity, tact and professionalism, without prejudice or bias.
• Possesses interpersonal skills including active listening, ability to build trusting relationships, show mutual respect and mindfulness of others
• Capable of working in an environment between balancing program policies and compassion
  
  

Hard Skills (after receiving formal training):

• Provide family focused career counseling and proactively engage and motivate customers.
• Conduct interviews and assessments utilizing motivational interviewing techniques, in order to collect information and establish a supportive relationship.
• Possess skills needed in order to problem solve and identify creative solutions that lead to successful outcomes.
  Implement best practices for mentoring and coaching customers.
• Understanding in how to interpret and apply programmatic policy and procedures appropriately.
• Maintain and manage sensitive and confidential information in a professional and discrete manner.
• Defuse and resolve complaints/conflicts with angry customers in crisis

Preferences:

Preference may be given to those fluent in languages other than English.

About the Role

Location –
162 N. 400 E. E-100
St. George, Utah, 84770
United States
Background Check Required – You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
Drug Test Required –
Schedule Code – B - Competitive Career Service

Why You Should Join Our Team
In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture. To find out more about WHY Utah, click here. Other benefits may include:

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization. 
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals. 
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

The Agency

The mission of Workforce Services is to strengthen
Utah's communities by supporting the economic stability and quality of our
workforce. Today, more than 2,200 Workforce Services employees assist
individuals in preparing for and finding jobs, meeting workforce needs of Utah
businesses, administering temporary assistance, and providing economic data and
analysis. Through a collaborative approach, the department has served millions
of Utahns and has become a leader on several statewide initiatives. These include
intergenerational poverty, homelessness, affordable housing, supporting
refugees, helping rural communities, serving veterans and individuals with
disabilities, and getting Utahns trained and back to work. To learn more about
Workforce Services, click here.

EEO Statement
The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact (801) 957-9390.