Career Support Specialist

Company: Foodlink Inc
Location: Rochester
Posted on: February 14, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Description: Our Mission Our mission is to leverage the power of food to end hunger and build healthier communities. Our Vision We believe that the fight against hunger and the fight against poverty are one and the same. We envision a future in which food is recognized as a human right and every person is able to feed themselves and their families in dignity. Together, we work to create a more nourished, prosperous region. Our Values- Our core values define who we are and how we work with our communities. Foodlink & our team members have: Compassion- Treat all with dignity & respect; build kinship with those we serve Innovation- Say yes; avoid complacency risk failure in the pursuit of ending hunger Collaboration- Build a shared vision, create synergies, maximize resources Agility- Respond urgently to the ever-changing needs of our community Stewardship- Maximize the impact of every dollar, donation, and asset The Foodlink Way Act With Compassion Take Responsibility Be a Team Player Listen, Learn, Adapt Job Title: Career Support Specialist (Caseworker) Department: Career Empowerment Initiatives Reports to: VP/Senior Director of Career Empowerment Initiatives Status: Full time, salaried, exempt Job Level: (7) People Leadership Roles Updated: February 2026 SUMMARY The Career Support Specialist (CSS) is a person-centered position focused on the overall health, wellness, and resiliency of Foodlink Career Fellowship participants and alumni, as well as Foodlink employees. The Career Support Specialist will work one-on-one with individuals to develop and implement plans that address challenges presented at work, access essential community resources, and create a path forward for future professional and personal success. As a key member of the Career Empowerment Initiatives department and a support to the HR department, the CSS will uphold Foodlink’s commitment to putting people first by fostering a culture consistent with Foodlink values. The CSS will help lead essential skills classes, facilitate groups, and provide holistic support and connection to resources and services. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Career Empowerment Initiatives (90%) Work one-on-one with Foodlink Career Fellows (“Fellows”) to develop and implement customized plans that address barriers to sustainable employment Connect career fellows with community resources and serve as an advocate Monitor, document and evaluate progress and modify support plans as needed Conduct and support essential skills classes; develop and facilitate groups as determined by the team Thoughtfully work with Fellows to address interpersonal issues and support conflict resolution Document Fellow interactions, progress, roadblocks, and successes; participate in CEI team meetings to develop strategic interventions and continuous support for career fellows Maintain accurate and up-to-date records. Exercise and maintain confidentiality of information. Participate in program evaluation to inform programmatic improvements. Participate in local and national meetings, convenings, and conferences Participate in the recruitment and assessment of prospective Fellows Participate in alumni network engagement Work collaboratively across different departments and levels of the organization. Human Resources focus (10%) Directly support Foodlink staff in crisis referred by the HR team; make external referrals and/or lead crisis interventions as needed. Identify opportunities for synergy between support/services offered to Fellows and Foodlink staff. Maintain a close working relationship with HR leadership, meeting regularly with the Chief People and Culture Officer to discuss support services for staff. Requirements: QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s Degree with coursework in social work, counseling, psychology, sociology, human resources, or a closely related field/s. MSW from an accredited school of social work is preferred. Applicants with equivalent levels of relevant education and work experience are welcome to apply. Candidates who have personal “lived experience” as a member of a marginalized community are strongly preferred. Proven experience as a social worker or comparable position; working knowledge of social theories and practices Experience working directly with people from diverse, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and lived experiences. An understanding of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities, including justice-impacted, systems-impacted individuals. Expert-level understanding of community resources and benefit navigation in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region Demonstrated ability to work and communicate across organizational and cultural boundaries with ease. Demonstrated success in facilitating workshops/groups for diverse audiences. People-focused and solution-oriented Excellent listening skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence. Professional and personal integrity Handle sensitive matters with fellows and staff with respect and dignity We are actively seeking a diverse pool of candidates for this role and strongly encourage applications from candidates of color. SALARY AND BENEFITS This is a full-time position paid on a salary basis, ranging from $62,642-$68,090 per year (DOE). Foodlink covers 100% of individual health and dental insurance with the ability to acquire family coverage with pretax dollars. In addition to generous paid time off (PTO), we observe 14 paid holidays throughout the year. Opportunity to contribute to a 401k retirement savings plan upon hire. Eligible for generous employer match after 1 year of service. 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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand and talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to handle or feel items such as documents. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk for long periods of time. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus. Able to lift bulk objects or objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a team member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all- inclusive. Employees will follow other instructions and perform other related duties as required. Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Foodlink is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. At Foodlink we believe that anti-hunger work is only possible with a commitment to removing barriers caused by systems of oppression that perpetuate hunger and poverty. We recognize that systematic injustice and bias disproportionately impact some identities more than others. Foodlink is actively working to center equity- the fair treatment of all people- in everything that we do so that everyone in our region has access to nourishing food that reflects and values cultural differences. Foodlink is committed to listening and supporting solutions to hunger that are sourced from people and communities with lived/living experience of hunger and poverty, and to responding where inequities exist. Foodlink is committed to taking great care to cultivate internal culture and practices that support diversity and inclusion. We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We aim to foster an environment in which everyone feels a sense of belonging and understands their connection to the Foodlink mission. Foodlink employees have a responsibility to always treat others with dignity and respect. Employees are expected to always exhibit conduct that reflects our values and promotes equity and inclusion during work, and at work functions.

Keywords: Foodlink Inc, Buffalo , Career Support Specialist, Human Resources , Rochester, New York