Business and Employment Specialist

Initial Posting Date:

11/05/2026

Application Deadline:

11/15/2026

Agency:

Employment Department

Salary Range:

$4,519 - $6,276

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Business and Employment Specialist (BES2) in the North Portland WorkSource Office

Job Description:

Are you passionate about serving diverse populations? Are you looking to be a part of meaningful and impactful work? Are you committed to exceeding customer expectations? If so, please consider joining our WorkSource Oregon team!

At the Oregon Employment Department, we actively support a workforce that is representative of the people we serve including people from various races, genders, abilities, cultures, language skills, geographic locations, and justice system involvement. We value your life experiences and encourage everyone to apply with your transferable skills and qualifications from your work, school, and volunteer experiences. Please let us know if you need a reasonable accommodation.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

As a Business and Employment Specialist, you will provide high-quality services to job seekers and employers. In this role you will:

• Interview a high volume of job seekers to identify goals/needs, transferable skills, and interests.
• Provide job seekers referrals for job listings, provide guidance for the application process, document writing, and interviewing techniques.
• Advise claimants of potential eligibility problems/issues to their claim.
• Provide progressive assessments to job seekers, as needed, to inform provision of services on an ongoing basis with other WorkSource staff.

For a complete review of the position and responsibilities, please click here.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Two years of experience providing customer service, which included requesting and reviewing information, documentation, and deciding an action based on the information.
• Examples of qualifying experience are eligibility interviewer, application examiner, unemployment insurance, examination proctor, information clerk, insurance aide, public counter intake person, employment and claims aide, employment services, job placement, recruiter, vocational guidance, or retail industry if it involved the above stated experience.
• Two years of education or experience; listed above are examples of acceptable experience. 45‑quarter (30‑semester) college‑level credits in Human Resources, Vocational or Career Counseling, Social Services, Psychology, Education, Business or Public Administration, Communication or related field substitute for one year of experience.

Desired Attributes

• Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Demonstrate respect, patience, and cultural awareness when assisting job seekers from diverse backgrounds. Create a welcoming environment where every customer feels supported.
• Strong Customer Service and Communication Skills: Provide clear, friendly, and professional assistance across all service points. Actively listen, ask clarifying questions, and explain processes using simple, accessible language to support customer confidence and independence.
• Technical Comfort with Everyday Digital Tools: Confidently use and assist customers with Microsoft Office tools, file management, scanning and uploading documents, and navigating web‑based workforce systems. Help customers build the digital skills needed to move forward. Helpful to have experience using artificial intelligence.
• Ability to Work Independently and as Part of a Collaborative Team: Operate efficiently with minimal supervision while collaborating with teammates to ensure smooth customer flow and consistent service delivery. Communicate clearly and support shared problem‑solving.
• Adaptability and Creative Problem-Solving: Shift quickly based upon changing customer needs or unexpected situations. Use flexibility, resourcefulness, and innovative thinking to troubleshoot issues and help customers successfully navigate onsite and digital services.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU:

• A workplace that balances productivity with enjoyment and encourages learning and mentoring.
• Rewarding work in a dynamic and creative environment with colleagues who are passionate about public service.
• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and a competitive benefits package.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity!
• Get There - Oregon’s easy-to-use carpool matching tool and trip planner.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Required: Attach a resume and cover letter. Your cover letter must not exceed two (2) pages. Please make sure your cover letter clearly addresses the desired attributes and minimum qualifications you have under the “What We Are Looking For” section above. Please upload your documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of the application. In addition to your related work experience and education, we will use the desired attributes and required minimum qualifications to determine who to interview.

• External Applicants: Click on the “Apply” link above to fill out the online application and submit by the posted closing date. Please use your preferred name on application materials.
• Current State of Oregon employees (this includes temporary employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. Please ensure the work history in your applicant profile is up-to-date and reflects your current position.
• Important: Please monitor both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment. You may be asked to submit additional information after initial application.
• The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. Immediately after you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• During the application process, the State of Oregon does not request nor require information regarding an applicant’s age, date of birth, or educational attendance or graduation dates.
• The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in disqualification.
• This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
• This recruitment may be used to fill current and future Permanent, Limited Duration, Job Rotation and Temporary vacancies as they occur.
• The salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS‑qualifying, the salary range will reflect the additional 6.95%. Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.
• Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources.
• Salary Determination: The information in your Workday profile will be used to complete an equal pay assessment to determine salary placement upon hire.
• United States Employment Eligibility: The Oregon Employment Department does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. If your employment authorization and documentation is contingent on sponsorship now or in the future, you will not meet Agency employment eligibility standards. The Oregon Employment Department is an E-Verify employer. If you are the successful candidate you must present your I‑9 acceptable documents (See page 2) for employment verification.

WORK LOCATION INFORMATION:

This position will report to the North Portland WorkSource Office and is not suitable for remote or hybrid remote work.

CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK:

The Employment Department is committed to being a leader in providing its employees with fair and equal employment opportunities and recognizes that as a best practice in equity and inclusion, criminal background check policies shall be job related and consistent with business necessity. For positions with authorized access to FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) information, a separate criminal records check is conducted by the Oregon State Police. If you would like further information on how each criminal records check is conducted, please read our Criminal Record Check Policy or contact us at the number below with any questions. Note: To verify identification, the successful candidate will be subject to a criminal background check which may require a fingerprint-based background check as a condition of employment.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

If you have questions about the position or need an alternate format to apply, please contact us at 503‑947‑1289; [email protected]. Please be sure to include the job requisition ID number.

HELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES:

Reasonable Accommodations | Veterans Resources | How to Set Job Alerts | Workday Applicant FAQInterview Scoring Criteria used during recruitment | What You Need to Know to Get the Job

Guidance our hiring managers use: Equity and Inclusion Recruitment Question Guide for Managers and Gender Identity and Expression Procedure

Come for a job. | Stay for a career. | Make a difference ... for a lifetime!

The Oregon Employment Department is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer, committed to workforce diversity. At the Oregon Employment Department, we foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to maintain a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or status as a victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault, or stalking. This applies to every aspect of our employment practices, including recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, and training.