Career Transition Specialist

Chapel Haven Schleifer Center • New Haven, CT

2d • Onsite

About The Position

CareerAbility at Chapel Haven Schleifer Center, Inc. provides career transition services to help individuals find meaningful employment aligned with their interests, skills, and needs, and to support their adjustment and long-term success at work. The Career Transition Specialist is part of the CareerAbility placement team and works with career advisors, job developers, supervisors, individuals, employers, and other stakeholders. The role supports people through discovery, career exploration, job search, training, placement, skill development, and job retention, including direct job coaching during the first months of employment. The specialist builds employer relationships and implements strategies such as employer training, task analyses, and systematic instruction to establish successful matches. The position is full-time, 40 hours per week, generally scheduled 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with flexibility as assigned by the supervisor and as needed to accommodate placements. The role is based in New Haven, Connecticut.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, ABA, Human Services, or a related field, and/or at least five years of related job-coaching or industry experience.
• Familiarity with Customized Employment as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor and Office of Disability Employment Policy.
• Familiarity with APSE and Employment First principles, and with relevant agencies including the Department of Developmental Services, Department of Social Services, and Bureau of Rehabilitation.
• Knowledge of state employer incentives and other incentive programs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Patience, teaching ability, empathy, and ability to balance relationships with numerous stakeholders.
• Knowledge and understanding of adults with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, including employment challenges and opportunities for this population.
• Ability to balance the needs of the employer and the CareerAbility job seeker or individual.
• Ability to prioritize and organize information and tasks.
• Willingness to adjust the schedule as needed to accommodate placement schedules.
• Strong computer skills, including experience with Word, Excel, web-based tools, and databases.
• High integrity and commitment to Chapel Haven’s values; openness to learning and giving and receiving feedback.
• Independent problem-solving ability, ability to thrive under pressure, and comfort with varied work assignments.
• Valid driver’s license, personal vehicle, and acceptable driving record.
• Daily use of an insured and reliable personal vehicle.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Customized Employment.
• A professional certificate.
• Public Service License (PSL), or eligibility to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals as a career coach during adjustment and transition to work, maintaining professional communication with employers, clients, and stakeholders.
• Support the development of Customized Employment opportunities and match job seekers’ strengths, needs, and interests with employer business needs.
• Collaborate with the Career Development Advisor to identify job seeker goals and develop task analyses and fade plans as needed.
• Provide on-the-job support, observations and assessments, job-seeking assistance, skill building, and transportation-arrangement assistance when public transportation cannot be arranged.
• Compile information into employment profiles and reports.
• Establish and maintain contact with employers, educators, and industry representatives; perform site development as needed.
• Assist individuals one-on-one and in small groups with personal and career development goals, including career tutorials and workshops, onboarding, job coaching, and assessments.
• Work with employers to negotiate job duties aligned with the individual’s skills and interests and the employer’s needs.
• Facilitate on-the-job training and support, and educate employers or coworkers about job seekers’ strengths, accommodation requests, and needs.
• Represent CareerAbility at seminars and conferences, and stay current on Employment First approaches, employment techniques, and labor-market trends.
• Advocate and communicate with other agencies while attending to confidentiality and participant needs.
• Lead and actively contribute to meetings with key stakeholders, verbally and in writing.
• Support staff training on CareerAbility, job-coaching expectations, and work-site requirements for clients and job coaches.
• Meet retention and other performance goals in accordance with CareerAbility benchmarks and its strategic plan.
• Complete progress notes, reports, and other required documentation; accurately document client services, activities, and outcomes.
• Use CareerAbility’s Setworks database, software, and tracking systems for short- and long-term data reporting.
• Contribute to CareerAbility development and enhancement and participate in Career Management Team meetings.
• Develop and instruct Career Development and Enrichment courses as needed.
• Assist with individual job development and job-search support.
• Perform other job-related duties assigned by the supervisor.

Benefits

• Full-time employees receive a complete benefits package, including paid time off and tuition reimbursement.
• Opportunities for career advancement and professional growth.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time