Employment Services Manager

PIONEER CENTER GROUP•McHenry, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Employment Services Manager or Manager of Employment and Community Integration provides strategic, operational, and compliance leadership to advance competitive, integrated employment (CIE) opportunities for individuals with disabilities across all Pioneer Center Pillars and appropriate programs. All services and decisions within this role are grounded in Employment First principles, which presume employability, prioritize competitive integrated work, and support individuals in pursuing meaningful career paths. Aligned with APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment First) values and competencies, this role ensures the implementation of evidence based supported employment, customized employment, and person-centered practices. The Employment Services Manager oversees employment specialists and job coaches, builds strong community and employer partnerships, collaborates with Behavioral Health and Homeless Services teams, and drives a culture of inclusion, empowerment, and community integration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human services, Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Education, or related field.
5 plus years of experience in supported employment, vocational rehabilitation, or disability employment services.
3 plus years of experience in staff supervisory experience
Supervisory experience required.
Must have and maintain a valid driver's license.
Must be able to meet agency driver safety requirement of carrying personal vehicle insurance with the following limits: $50,000 bodily injury, each person $100,000 bodily injury, each accident $50,000 property damage

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Employment First policies, supported employment best practices, and person-centered planning preferred
CESP (Certified Employment Support Professional) or ACRE certification in Customized Employment a plus

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and oversee employment programs that place competitive, integrated employment as the preferred and expected outcome for all individuals served.
Integrate Employment First policies, state guidelines, and national best practices into operational procedures, staff training, and service delivery.
Embed APSE core competencies into program standards, training expectations, and quality criteria.
Monitor employment outcomes, including job placement, job retention, fading of support, and long term career advancement.
Ensure adoption of Discovery, person centered vocational assessments, and Customized Employment for individuals requiring individualized employment pathways.
Oversee Discovery processes, vocational assessments, job development, job matching, on the job training, and follow along services to ensure quality and consistency.
Ensure job coaching and training promote independence, use of natural support and fading plans.
Conduct routine reviews of daily documentation, progress notes, incident reports, and quality assurance records.
Ensure individualized service plans (ISPs) and employment plans align with Employment First policies and participant goals.
Collaborate with Behavioral Health Services to deliver trauma informed job readiness assessments, vocational evaluations, and coordinated employment plans.
Work with Homeless Services teams to engage individuals experiencing or exiting homelessness in employment pathways that support stability and long term self sufficiency.
Participate in interdisciplinary meetings to ensure employment goals support clinical goals, housing retention, wellness planning, and community reintegration.
Ensure integrated service coordination for individuals with complex needs, reinforcing the Employment First principle that all individuals—regardless of barriers—can achieve competitive employment with appropriate support.
Cultivate, expand, and maintain relationships with employers who support inclusive hiring.
Provide employer guidance and training on disability inclusion, ADA requirements, and retention strategies.
Represent the program in community coalitions, workforce boards, business networks, and APSE-affiliated events.
Maintain strong partnerships with Behavioral Health, Housing/Homeless Services, community organizations, and internal departments to ensure holistic, coordinated care.
Participate in cross department case staffing to align employment strategies with broader support and service plans.
Ensure full adherence with federal/state regulations, Medicaid waiver requirements, CARF standards, and internal policies.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation in electronic systems.
Lead and support audits, accreditation processes, utilization reviews, and quality meetings.
Produce program reports on performance indicators, service effectiveness, employer satisfaction, and compliance metrics.
Support data collection for grant reports, contract compliance, and agency planning.
Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate employment specialists and job coaches.
Provide mentorship and professional development aligned with APSE-supported employment core competencies.
Develop and maintain staffing schedules and on call rotation to ensure full program coverage.
Foster an environment of inclusion, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Assist with contract management, performance monitoring, and strategic planning.
Establish necessary Dashboard to review and manage performance across key performance indicators.
Support data collection necessary for contract negotiation, contract renewals, and operational efficiency improvements.
Ensure alignment between program operations, funder expectations, and agency mission.
Designing volunteer roles that intentionally build transferable skills aligned with Employment First goals.
Ensuring volunteers receive training, supervision, and support that promote confidence, independence, and skill mastery.
Coordinating volunteer placement with internal departments, Behavioral Health, Homeless Services, and community partners.
Monitoring volunteer progress, providing ongoing coaching, and facilitating transitions from volunteer roles to paid employment.
Ensuring volunteer activities follow APSE guidance on ethical, non exploitative participation and ‘do not replace’ paid employment.
Collecting and reporting outcome measures related to volunteer engagement and skill development.
Review annually and/or update applicable policies and procedures for areas of oversight.
Ensures staff are aware of and understand applicable Policies and Procedures.
Follow HR policies and complete HR paperwork, contact HR with questions concerning others.
Performs other related duties as assigned by Supervisor.
Regular, reliable and predictable attendance.