Employment Specialist

The Arc Wayne • Newark, NY

4d

About The Position

The Employment Specialist assists individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to prepare for, obtain, and maintain competitive, integrated, community-based employment while supporting their person-centered goals. The role conducts vocational assessment and discovery, identifies individuals’ assets, skills, interests, and vocational themes, develops vocational profiles, and identifies possible workplaces. It also supports individuals with job-search materials and readiness, provides ongoing assistance to develop work habits and attain employment, and helps employers use strategies to address barriers to employment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and three years of appropriate experience in employment services, or a master’s degree and one year of appropriate experience in employment services; other combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Valid New York State Driver’s License that meets Agency Driver standards.
• Consistently professional appearance and demeanor.

Responsibilities

• Assist individuals with vocational assessment and discovery through home and neighborhood observation, benefits planning queries, interviews with others, task-based activity observations, file reviews, and other relevant methods.
• Identify individuals’ assets, skills, and interests; develop a summary narrative of discovery activities; determine vocational themes; identify possible workplaces; and develop a vocational profile.
• Support individuals in developing résumés, including visual résumés, cover letters, and related materials.
• Recommend work settings using a person-centered approach.
• Facilitate job-readiness classes, mock interviews, and other programs as necessary.
• Work with individuals on an ongoing basis to develop work habits needed to obtain and retain competitive integrated employment.
• Model appropriate work behavior.
• Provide the supports necessary for individuals to attain employment.
• Assist employers by providing training techniques and strategies to mitigate individuals’ barriers to employment.

Benefits

• Generous paid vacation time
• Sick time
• 10 paid holidays
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Paid training
• Bereavement leave
• Employee referral bonus
• Employee assistance program
• Retirement plan with agency match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time