Career & Business Relations Specialist- Malden

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Malden, MA

6h • Onsite

About The Position

MassAbility is actively recruiting for a Career & Business Relations Specialist. The Business Relations Services team and the Career Services Division focus on increasing competitive integrated employment opportunities, job placements, and successful employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
The role of a Career & Business Relations Specialist is to focus on building and maintaining relationships with employers through various strategies. These include identifying job openings that suit both employers and job seekers, educating businesses about hiring individuals with disabilities, organizing hiring events and employer recruitment sessions, and updating a database of local and regional employer markets. Additionally, the Career & Business Relations Specialist supports agency staff by collecting and sharing labor market data, providing technical assistance to recruiting agency job seekers, and seeking employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Moreover, they develop employment options that align with the Area Office(s)’ Employment Plans and the agency's statewide Employment Plan. In some cases, they work directly with Job Placement Specialists and job seekers to help them find and retain employment with employers.
At MassAbility, we are driven by a fundamental belief that we are all different but connected – individuals who share a common purpose and who bring our own talents, ingenuity, and perspective to achieve our vision. That belief puts diversity, equity, and inclusion at the center of everything we do. We are keenly aware of the barriers that many of us face as we strive to live life on our own terms. That’s why, as a community, we are committed to always being part of the solution. This work is essential to who we are as an organization. Together, we are making a better state possible for everyone. As a team member, you’ll join an agency that values a learning and participatory performance culture with an emphasis on high-performance teams, individual contribution/impact, and engagement in activities to promote and support programs, divisions, and the overall agency vision and mission.

Requirements

• Knowledge of labor market tools and applications.
• Knowledge of the organization, goals, objectives, and programs of the agency.
• Improve ability in public speaking.
• Knowledge of the types and availability of public and private organizations providing employment opportunities.
• Knowledge of the factors, trends, problems, and characteristics of the area labor market
• Knowledge of the types and uses of reference sources for occupational interest.
• Ability to learn and utilize current technology platforms relevant to a modern workplace, including, but not limited to, Zoom, Teams, MS Office Suite, OneDrive, and case management software.
• General knowledge of the ADA.
• A Bachelor's degree in marketing, business management, business administration, public relations, vocational rehabilitation, counseling, psychology, public administration, human resources or related field.
• At least two (2) years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional experience in: business management, business administration, public relations, marketing, personnel interviewing, recruitment or job placement; employment, vocational counseling, psychology, sociology, education or rehabilitation counseling or guidance; job analysis or position classification work.
• At least one (1) year must have been working with individuals with disabilities.
• Extensive travel is required; incumbents who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to assignment.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of a wide variety of occupations common to the local area labor market.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, & techniques of marketing & sales knowledge of interviewing techniques,
• Capacity to market and promote agency services and job seekers.
• Adept at communicating effectively both orally and in writing to document case activities properly, represent the agency professionally, conduct presentations, and give instructions clearly and precisely.
• Aptitude to interact effectively and establish rapport with diverse teams and groups of people
• Capacity to understand, explain, and implement policies and procedures, standards, guidelines, laws, and regulations that govern agency activities
• Proficient in working collaboratively within a team and building and sustaining positive working relationships with peers, supervisors, other agency representatives, employers, and customers.
• Proficiency in utilizing information technology resources to accurately and concisely record information and maintain the integrity of the computerized database
• Experienced in gathering information in conjunction with QVRCs through questioning and observing individuals and by examining records and documents to assess client needs
• Aptitude to appropriately interact with others and maintain a calm manner in emotionally charged or stressful situations
• Experienced in analyzing labor market data and determining the applicability of data, drawing conclusions, and making appropriate recommendations
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential disability information
• Knowledge of the characteristics and trends of the local, regional/district, and statewide labor market
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of sales and marketing
• Experience with agency rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines governing assigned responsibilities
• Capacity to act as a mentor and provide guidance and training to others.
• A Master's degree or higher in marketing, business management, business administration, vocational rehabilitation, public relations or public administration, counseling, psychology, human resources or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (B) experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop employment opportunities (that meet jobseeker employment needs) as identified in Area Office(s) Employment Plans and agency statewide Employment Plan.
• Educate and partner with Area Office(s) staff on labor market trends, employer needs, and opportunities.
• Partner with Career & Business Relations staff to ensure alignment and outcome accountability with Area Office(s) needs as aligned to Area Office Employment Plans and agency statewide Employment Plan.
• Collaborate with the financial wellness director as needed to educate and market available incentives to employers (e.g., employer tax credits) and the value of hiring skilled individuals with disabilities.
• Engage with local, regional, and statewide employer boards, on-the-job training, job-driven training, internship initiatives, hiring events, employer training conferences, and other business relations initiatives.
• Participate in the design of and recruitment for local and state-wide employer-focused events, in collaboration with the JPS team.
• Assist with the design and rollout of training (both regional and statewide) to meet the hiring needs of employers (to support skilling up potential job seekers).
• Educate business partners, community-based organizations, community leaders, job seekers, and others to clearly understand the MassAbility mission and services and the role of Business Relations.
• Document activities and production in relevant systems, including case management systems and the Employer Account Management System.
• Conduct presentations to explain programs and services to employers, training vendors, community organizations, job seekers, MassAbility staff, and the public to assist them in understanding and using such programs and services.
• Participate in statewide initiatives, workgroups, team meetings, and trainings to enhance functional skills and promote professional growth.
• Provide timely follow-up support services to employers, MassAbility staff, community organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure successful employment outcomes and employer satisfaction.
• Ensure Business Relations, division, and agency-level policies and procedures are adhered to and consistent with best practices.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits
• outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package
• work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level