Employment Training Specialist

YAI•Bronx, WY

About The Position

The Employment Training Specialist supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in setting and achieving employment goals and obtaining and maintaining community employment. The role provides person-centered, individualized support, including job development, pre-employment counseling, workplace training and coaching, and assistance addressing barriers to employment. The specialist manages an assigned caseload, coordinates with Care Managers and other professional supports, and regularly visits work sites across an assigned region to support individuals and communicate with employers. The position also promotes the health, safety, rights, and well-being of the people supported; supports person-centered plans and advocacy; and contributes to a therapeutic environment using Personal Outcome Measures, Person Centered Thinking, and Informed Decision Making. Responsibilities include facilitating fire-safety learning and drills, maintaining accurate documentation and regulatory compliance, and developing an understanding of specialized needs that may affect employment. When trained and authorized, the specialist may also perform direct support tasks, including personal care and activities of daily living in other settings.

Requirements

High school diploma or educational equivalent, or one year of work experience providing vocational or pre-vocational services to individuals with disabilities.
Complete required training, including an OPWDD-approved vocational rehabilitation or supported employment training program and applicable annual retraining.
Ability to work a flexible schedule based on caseload needs, including occasional evening and/or weekend hours, and to travel regularly throughout assigned regions.
Basic computer skills, including email and using Workday and related systems to complete tasks.
Ability to model and teach work-readiness skills and appropriate workplace behavior.
Demonstrated sound judgment.
Excellent verbal and written communication and time-management skills.
Flexible personality and willingness to take initiative.
Willingness to work with I/DD populations in an occupational setting and comfort working with employers.
Ability to meet physical demands, including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling, reaching, and handling, fingering, or feeling objects, tools, or controls; occasional lifting or moving of up to 25 pounds; and physical capacity to assist people supported with job functions.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or some college; may be required for certain contracts.
Two years of experience assisting people with barriers to employment; may be required for certain contracts.
Work or life experience with individuals with I/DD.
Valid New York State driver’s license, highly preferred for assignments in areas with limited public transportation.

Responsibilities

Provide appropriate supervision and promote the health, wellness, and safety of people supported, including managing crisis situations in accordance with policies, procedures, regulations, and OPWDD Core Competencies.
Implement person-centered plans and assist with authorized tasks, including participating in staff action plan development, developing job placements, supporting advocacy, and facilitating ethical decision-making.
Help people with I/DD set and achieve employment goals, address personal barriers, and understand their ambitions through respectful, person-first communication.
Manage an assigned caseload; arrange workplace visits, virtual and one-on-one meetings, and required meetings; and coordinate with Care Managers and other professional supports.
Support individuals’ strengths, interests, abilities, rights, emotional well-being, communication, socialization, self-expression, and relationships at work sites.
Provide pre-employment counseling, explore career interests, support job development, and facilitate training groups on professional skills and workplace behavior.
Provide on-site job and job-skills training, coaching, and support in accordance with each individual’s employment goals and needs, including moderate to complex support needs.
Travel throughout the assigned region to visit employed individuals at workplaces, obtain performance feedback from managers, address concerns, and escalate issues to an administrator when needed.
Work effectively as a member of the individual’s support team, communicate program needs, provide feedback, and maintain a solution-oriented approach to conflicts.
Maintain a therapeutic environment using Personal Outcome Measures, Person Centered Thinking, and Informed Decision Making.
Model professionalism, punctuality, ownership, and accountability; manage time and responsibilities; and ensure assigned individuals and cases are supported and monitored.
Facilitate fire-safety learning and training, including emergency and evacuation drills at assigned work sites.
Develop and maintain knowledge of specialized clinical needs relevant to employment, including challenging behaviors, autism spectrum disorders, and complex medical needs.
Complete required paperwork and documentation accurately and within required timeframes, including notifications, logs, incident reports, file updates, maintenance requests, phone calls, progress notes, and service records.
Comply with applicable federal, state, local, and other regulatory requirements, including HIPAA.
When trained and authorized, perform direct support tasks such as personal care and assistance with activities of daily living in other settings, as directed.
Perform other duties as assigned.