Career Transition Specialist

Chapel Haven Schleifer Center Inc • New Haven, CT

18h

About The Position

CareerAbility at Chapel Haven Schleifer Center provides career transition services to help individuals find meaningful employment that reflects their choices, interests, skills, and needs. The Career Transition Specialist is part of the placement team and works with career advisors, job developers, and the supervisor to support individuals exploring careers and beginning paid employment or volunteer work. The role supports the full career transition process, including discovery, career exploration, job search, job training, placement, skill development, and job retention. It includes direct job coaching during an individual’s first months at work, building relationships with employers and other stakeholders, and implementing strategies such as employer training, task analyses, and systematic instruction to support successful placements.

The position is full-time, 40 hours per week, generally scheduled 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with flexibility as assigned by the supervisor and as needed to accommodate placements. The work is based in New Haven, Connecticut. The role requires strong communication, accurate documentation, computer skills, and use of CareerAbility’s Setworks database and tracking systems. The specialist may support individuals and employers in person or virtually, travel to work sites, and attend meetings and events that may occur outside regular business hours.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, ABA, Human Services, or a related field, and/or a minimum of 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, and with APSE and Employment First principles.
• Knowledge of state employer incentives and other incentive programs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Patience, teaching ability, empathy toward the needs of the individuals served, and ability to balance relationships with multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge and understanding of adults with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, including employment challenges and opportunities for this population.
• Familiarity with Employment First (APSE), the Department of Developmental Services, the Department of Social Services, the Bureau of Rehabilitation, and Customized Employment or apprenticeships as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor and Office of Disability Employment Policy.
• 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 systems, and databases.
• High integrity and commitment to Chapel Haven’s values.
• Openness to learning and willingness to give and receive feedback.
• Ability to solve problems independently, work under pressure, and manage variety in work assignments.
• Valid driver’s license, personal vehicle, acceptable driving record, and 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

• Coach individuals as they adjust and transition to work, maintaining effective professional communication with employers, clients, and key stakeholders.
• Support the development of Customized Employment opportunities based on job seekers’ strengths, needs, and interests and employers’ business needs.
• Collaborate with the Career Development Advisor to identify or establish job seeker goals, task analyses, and fade plans.
• Provide on-the-job support, observations and assessments, job-seeking assistance, skill building, and transportation-arrangement support when necessary.
• Compile information into employment profiles and reports.
• Establish and maintain relationships with employers, educators, and industry representatives, and 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 that align with the individual’s skills and interests and the employer’s needs.
• Facilitate on-the-job training and educate employers or coworkers about job seekers’ strengths, accommodation requests, and needs.
• Represent CareerAbility at seminars and conferences, and stay informed about Employment First approaches, techniques, and labor market trends.
• Advocate and communicate with other agencies while addressing confidentiality and participant needs; lead and contribute to stakeholder meetings verbally and in writing.
• Support staff training on CareerAbility, job coaching expectations, and employer requirements for clients and job coaches at work sites.
• Meet weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual retention and other goals in accordance with CareerAbility benchmarks and its strategic plan.
• Complete progress notes, reports, and other required documentation, and consistently and accurately record client services, activities, and outcomes in the Setworks database and tracking systems.
• Collaborate on CareerAbility’s 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 and responsibilities assigned by the supervisor.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time