Employment Specialist/Job Coach (Decatur)

Phoenix•Decatur, AL

9d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for job development and serving as an advocate for individuals with disabilities who are seeking employment. The role involves assisting individuals with job placement, follow-up, and training, as well as providing case management and social service referral assistance. The Employment Specialist/Job Coach will also provide job readiness training and instruction. Specific responsibilities may vary depending on the focus area, such as PWI/Supported Employment or Employee Support Services. For PWI/Supported Employment, duties include providing readiness training, assessment, job development, placement, coaching, and follow-up. For Employee Support Services, responsibilities may include case management for employees with disabilities, job coaching, referrals, work site visits, developing competitive employment evaluations, and reporting per specific guidelines. The role requires maintaining knowledge of various regulations and standards, including contract requirements, AbilityOne regulations, CARF standards, and social security guidelines.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent.
Minimum of one year’s experience in a rehabilitation, non-profit facility, or comparable setting in the area(s) of case management, service provision, working with individuals with various disabilities, job development, job placement, follow-up, and training.
Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite and general computer operation is required.
Experience in marketing and public relations.
Strong working knowledge of disability management and awareness.
Must be authorized for coverage under agency insurance if operating an agency vehicle, have a good driving record, a valid driver’s license, and/or the required level of personal auto insurance.
Must be able to complete a background check, per company requirements, satisfactorily.
Ability to communicate with tact and maintain confidentiality.
Adequate ability in communicating in spoken conversation – adequate volume of speech.
Adequate ability in writing/reading/mathematics.
Ability to effectively build and maintain positive working relationships with management and peers.
Strong organizational, project planning, and management experience with proven analytical and multitasking skills.
Superior listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
Proficiency in general reporting and basic case file management.
Ability for conversation, telephone use, and emergency information systems.
Ability to be independently mobile on all surfaces and in all situations.
Ability to move safely about the work area.
Ability to retrieve items from high and low areas.
Ability to perceive size, discrimination, temperature, shapes, and/or textures.
Physical stamina to work at least 8 hours per day.
Must be able to change routine positively.
Must be able to follow through on assignments independently.
Must have good organizational skills.
Must have a long attention span to listen to people, perceive real problems, and bring issues to a successful conclusion.
Must be able to analyze many variables and choose the most effective course of action for the organization at any given point in time.
Must possess effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
Must be able to maintain confidentiality.
Must have stable work behaviors daily.
Must have adequate individual coping skills.
Must be able to maintain good work attendance.
Must be able to resolve problems, handle conflict, and make effective decisions even in emergencies.
Must be able to exercise good judgment to maintain a safe work environment.

Nice To Haves

Possess or can obtain a government secret clearance and pass a background check within a reasonable time, as determined by the employer.
Ability to gain unescorted access to Redstone Arsenal.

Responsibilities

Job develop and serve as an advocate for individuals with disabilities eager to obtain employment.
Assist referred individuals with job placement, follow-up, and training.
Provide case management and social service referral assistance as needed.
Provide job readiness training and instruction.
Complete training as defined by the Phoenix Professional Development Plan.
Provide information as requested for various statistical requirements.
Maintain reporting and records as outlined by policy, referral source, and accreditation requirements.
Have working knowledge of current contract requirements, AbilityOne regulations, CARF standards, social security guidelines, Phoenix mission/policies, departmental goals and objectives, and other sponsoring agency guidelines.
Provide employment readiness training (group and individual), assessment, job development, job placement, job coaching, and follow-up for referred persons.
Serve as a facility consultant regarding the employment readiness of program participants.
Serve as primary resource person for information on current employer needs.
Provide job coaching assistance as directed by the referral source.
Participate in mission-based community activities.
Possess or can obtain a government secret clearance and pass a background check within a reasonable time, as determined by the employer.
Ability to gain unescorted access to Redstone Arsenal.
Provide select case management services to Phoenix employees certified as having a disability, to include: direct intervention, job coaching, referrals to social service/community agencies, and work site visits; development and maintenance of competitive employment evaluations and reasonable accommodations per AbilityOne guidelines; report generation per specific guidelines, vocational counseling, behavior management, compliance certification, and personnel assessment; reporting and file maintenance.
Maintain contact and communication with appropriate supervisors, project managers, and other Phoenix Vocational staff to provide effective case management services.
Other duties as assigned.