Lead Employee Assistance Counselor - 90293513 - Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA, US, 90012)

Your success is a train ride away!

As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.

Are you ready to join our team?

Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.

JOB SUMMARY

The Lead Employee Assistance Counselor is responsible for managing, designing and delivering behavioral health services and interventions for individuals and workplace groups that enhance the overall wellbeing of employees. This includes providing professional, confidential, and timely provision of behavioral health services to employees and their dependents for emotional and behavioral problems as well as substance abuse/alcohol abuse that could affect their safety and productivity. This includes the assessment, referral and case management for employees regarding mental health and substance abuse/alcohol abuse concerns.

This is a highly visible, field-facing role. Success requires more than strong clinical expertise, it requires someone who is present, responsive, and actively engaged with employees and leadership. The right candidate is approachable, flexible, and committed to being where the work is, whether that is onsite, responding to an urgent need or request, or supporting a team during a critical moment. This is not a desk-based role. It requires visibility, engagement, and a genuine commitment to supporting employees in real time.

We are seeking a professional who is not only experienced but works in a way that aligns with the needs of a safety-sensitive, operational environment. This includes being team-oriented, humble and coachable, highly responsive, field-engaged, flexible and adaptable, approachable, relationship-driven and accountable. While this is a lead role, success depends on collaboration, alignment, and shared responsibility across the EAP team.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manages the daily operations of the Employee Assistance Program in assigned region to include clinical and consultative work with employees and managers, development of strategies to encourage program utilization by employees in assigned area, oversight of divisional trends affecting employee behavioral health, and development of meaningful strategies to address local issues.
• Provides regular oversight of substance abuse and behavioral health care of employees during and after treatment to ensure full treatment and development of comprehensive follow up plans that support a successful return to work and an ongoing ability to thrive in a safety culture. Provides comprehensive behavioral health assessments, referrals, and follow-up for employees and family members.
• Develops and actively contributes to the EAP Drug and Alcohol Program design and implementation from the beginning of the case through the follow up program of mandatory and voluntary cases.
• Provides short term problem resolution for employees and managers on a wide range of sensitive and complex matters, including behavioral health issues that affect work performance, drug/alcohol problems and interpersonal difficulties.
• Ensures the timely and effective management of voluntary and mandatory substance abuse cases while maintaining compliance with 49 CFR Part 40 and Amtrak’s Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Plan. Maintains strict confidentiality and secure reporting and records in accordance with established employee assistance professional standards, applicable state and federal statutes, and Amtrak policies.
• Collaborates with and provides guidance to managers across the organization to identify and address behavioral health issues that affect safety, productivity and/or employee wellbeing.
• Conducts the Substance Abuse Professional Assessments ensuring compliance with DOT/FRA regulations.
• Provides clinical expertise on complex behavioral health cases to Amtrak’s medical department, Occupational Testing, Leave Management, Labor Relations, EEO and Compliance and all Amtrak stakeholders.
• Oversees the provision of emotionally supportive services by managers, vendor counselors and others following workplace critical incidents to decrease recovery time and increase employee resilience.
• Assesses divisional needs for behavioral health education that support a safe workplace.
• Develops and conducts customized behavioral health training to support employee resilience, employee safety and workplace wellbeing.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of Federal regulations, Amtrak policies, Labor contacts, benefits, substance abuse resources, and behavioral health strategies.
• Provides assessment, referral and case management for employees exposed to workplace trauma.
• Monitor productivity and manage performance expectations through collaboration with EAP vendor and other internal resources.
• Maintains a strong onsite presence (minimum four days per week), traveling as needed to support operational needs. Not suited for a primarily remote work arrangement.
• Maintains a high level of responsiveness, including timely follow-up on employee needs, leadership requests, and emergent situations.
• Participates in on-call rotation and responds to critical incidents and urgent situations as required.
• Coordinates with vendor counselors to ensure the provision of services to employees and their dependents for personal and behavioral health problems, including but not limited to alcohol, drugs, health, marriage, family, legal, emotional, stress, performance, and financial issues affecting the employee’s productivity.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 6 years of relevant experience in employee assistance programs, addiction, social work, or related counseling field.
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant experience. 
• Requires licensure at the highest level available in the state, or eligible to do so within 90 days.
• Substance Abuse Professional certification (eligible).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years of relevant work experience.
• Master's degree in Social Work or Psychology.
• Certified Employee Assistance Professional, (CEAP).
• Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Advanced knowledge of substance abuse treatment best practices, brief therapy and solution-focused treatment methods.
• Advanced knowledge of critical incidents standards and protocols and clinical recommendations.
• In-depth understanding of applicable federal regulations (e.g., DOT/FRA), confidentiality standards, and organizational policies.
• Excellent oral and verbal communication skills.
• Skilled in delivering training, facilitating discussions, and communicating complex behavioral health topics to diverse audiences.
• Strong ability to advise and influence leaders and stakeholders on sensitive, complex issues requiring discretion and sound judgment.
• Knowledge of behavioral health and drug and alcohol counseling standards and protocols.
• Demonstrated skill in PC based spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel, Word and Power Point).

The salary/hourly range is $94,300.00 – $122,256.00. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position. 

Learn more about our benefits offerings here.

Requisition ID:166645

Work Arrangement:06-Onsite 4/5 Days Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak.
Relocation Offered:No
Travel Requirements:Up to 25%

You power our progress through your performance.

We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions.

Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen.

Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.

In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.

In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.

Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.