Employment Specialist

Opportunities Inc • Lanham, MD

19d • $0 - $25

About The Position

The Employment Specialist (ES) provides direct support to people receiving employment services through Opportunities, Inc. Reporting to the Program Manager, the ES works with job seekers and their teams to develop personalized employment plans based on each person’s interests, skills, and support preferences. The role involves working in individuals’ homes and communities to build trusting relationships with them, their families or guardians, and potential employers.

The ES arranges business visits, job tryouts, and job shadowing; develops vocational/employment profiles based on Discovery activities; and supports person-centered planning to guide job development. The specialist identifies businesses aligned with each person’s informed choices, negotiates customized jobs, and helps develop self-employment opportunities. The role also includes job coaching, travel training, employer engagement, documentation, coordination with internal and external teams, and support for employment services funded through DDA or DORS. This is a non-exempt position.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• At least 1 year of experience providing employment services to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and reliable transportation.
• Willingness to drive company vehicles.
• Ability to work autonomously in the field while keeping teams informed of progress.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong technical knowledge, including experience with Microsoft Office.
• Ability and willingness to work in a high-energy environment.
• Ability to relate well to diverse populations and build appropriate rapport.
• Creative, flexible, detail-oriented, and proactive self-starter.
• Familiarity with Montgomery County and/or Prince George’s County activities and resources.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree.
• Completion of an Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) supported or customized employment certificate program and/or the Certified Employment Support Professional (CESP) exam.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an assignment list of people receiving Opportunities, Inc. services who are interested in competitive paid employment.
• Conduct Discovery activities to learn about individuals’ experiences, support systems, strengths, needs, challenges, and interests.
• Visit businesses and arrange informational interviews, situational assessments, job tryouts, and job shadowing.
• Help people prepare job applications and resumes.
• Prepare vocational profiles to guide the job development process.
• Assist with person-centered planning and employment-related goals as needed.
• Help people practice interview skills and coordinate mock interviews.
• Build relationships with community employers to develop employment opportunities.
• Provide regular updates to internal and external team members about employment activities.
• Coordinate working interviews, informational interviews, and other activities that provide employment exposure.
• Complete required documentation, including daily care tracker notes, attendance information, and employment forms.
• Update information in iCare Manager as necessary.
• Complete required employment training, including the CESP exam, and maintain renewable training requirements.
• Provide on-the-job training using systematic instruction as needed to help people learn job tasks and work toward independent employment.
• Attend internal and external meetings as needed to support professional growth and discuss service needs and employment placements.
• Coordinate with the Program Manager to address job development, on-site and off-site support, follow-along support, and other employment needs.
• Coordinate and provide travel training to help individuals travel independently to and from work.
• Work with the Program Manager and employers to develop plans for phasing out on-site support.
• Provide requested DORS services, including Employment Development Services (EDS), Job Development Preparation (JDP), Job Development (JD), and Job Coaching (JC).
• Participate in assigned cross-functional teams to address organizational needs and support collaboration across departments.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED