Employment Specialist/Job Coach (Decatur)

Phoenix•Decatur, AL

About The Position

The Employment Specialist/Job Coach develops employment opportunities and advocates for individuals with disabilities seeking employment. The role assists referred individuals with job placement, follow-up, training, job readiness, and instruction, and provides case management and social service referral assistance as needed. The position may support PWI/Supported Employment or Employee Support Services activities. For PWI/Supported Employment, duties may include group and individual employment-readiness training, assessment, job development and placement, job coaching, and follow-up; consulting on participants’ employment readiness; serving as a resource on employer needs; providing job coaching as directed by referral sources; and participating in mission-based community activities. For Employee Support Services, the role may provide case management to Phoenix employees certified as having a disability, including direct intervention, job coaching, referrals, worksite visits, vocational counseling, behavior management, compliance certification, personnel assessment, reporting, and file maintenance. It also maintains communication with relevant supervisors, project managers, and vocational staff. The position maintains records and reports according to policy, referral-source, and accreditation requirements; provides statistical information; and completes training under the Phoenix Professional Development Plan. The role requires knowledge of applicable contract requirements, AbilityOne regulations, CARF standards, Social Security guidelines, Phoenix policies and mission, departmental goals, and sponsoring-agency guidelines. This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The immediate supervisor is the Program Coordinator. No positions are supervised. Pay is $21.15 per hour. The job may require operating an agency vehicle or using a personal vehicle for work-related requirements, and the Employee Support Services assignment requires or allows obtaining a government secret clearance and gaining unescorted access to Redstone Arsenal.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least one year of experience in a rehabilitation, nonprofit facility, or comparable setting in areas such as case management, service provision, working with individuals with various disabilities, job development, job placement, follow-up, and training.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and general computer operation.
Experience in marketing and public relations.
Strong working knowledge of disability management and awareness.
If operating an agency vehicle, be eligible for coverage under agency insurance and have a good driving record and valid driver’s license; personal auto insurance at the required level may also be required.
Satisfactorily complete a background check in accordance with company requirements.
Communicate tactfully and maintain confidentiality.
Adequate spoken communication, including adequate speech volume, and adequate writing, reading, and mathematics abilities.
Build and maintain positive working relationships with management and peers.
Strong organizational, project-planning, and management experience, with analytical and multitasking skills.
Superior listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
Proficiency in general reporting and basic case-file management.
For Employee Support Services duties, possess or be able to obtain a government secret clearance and pass a background check within a reasonable time as determined by the employer.
For Employee Support Services duties, be able to gain unescorted access to Redstone Arsenal.
Be independently mobile on all surfaces and in all situations, move safely around the work area, retrieve items from high and low areas, and perceive size, distinctions, temperature, shapes, and/or textures.
Have the physical stamina to work at least eight hours per day.
Be able to adapt positively to changes in routine, follow through on assignments independently, listen attentively, identify problems, analyze variables, and choose effective courses of action.
Maintain stable work behaviors, adequate coping skills, good attendance, confidentiality, and a safe work environment; resolve problems and conflict and make effective decisions, including in emergencies.

Responsibilities

Complete training as defined by the Phoenix Professional Development Plan.
Provide information requested for statistical requirements.
Maintain reports and records in accordance with policy, referral-source requirements, and accreditation requirements.
Maintain working knowledge of current contract requirements, AbilityOne regulations, CARF standards, Social Security guidelines, Phoenix mission and policies, departmental goals and objectives, and other sponsoring-agency guidelines.
Provide group and individual employment-readiness training, assessments, job development, job placement, job coaching, and follow-up for referred individuals.
Advocate for individuals with disabilities seeking employment and assist with job placement, follow-up, and training.
Provide case management and social-service referral assistance as needed.
Serve as a facility consultant regarding program participants’ employment readiness.
Serve as a primary resource for information about current employer needs.
Provide job-coaching assistance as directed by the referral source.
Participate in mission-based community activities.
Provide select case-management services to Phoenix employees certified as having a disability, including direct intervention, job coaching, social-service and community-agency referrals, and worksite visits.
Develop and maintain competitive employment evaluations and reasonable accommodations in accordance with AbilityOne guidelines.
Provide vocational counseling, behavior management, compliance certification, personnel assessment, report generation, and reporting and file maintenance as applicable to Employee Support Services.
Maintain contact and communication with appropriate supervisors, project managers, and Phoenix Vocational staff to support effective case management.
Perform other duties as assigned.