Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Developer

ADAPT Community Network•New York, NY

7d•Onsite

About The Position

ADAPT Community Network is seeking an Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Developer to assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in exploring their talents, developing small business ideas, and creating pathways to income, independence, and community connection. The role involves guiding individuals through the process of developing a small business, coaching them on ideas, and thinking creatively about marketing. ADAPT Community Network provides a wide range of services to individuals with developmental disabilities and is a large organization (3,000 employees) committed to empowering the lives of those they support through innovative and comprehensive services. The organization offers paid training, competitive benefits, and fosters a culture of learning, support, collaboration, and career growth across its New York City locations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human services, vocational rehabilitation, business, education, social work, psychology, disability services, or a related field preferred.
Experience in supported employment, vocational services, workforce development, entrepreneurship, small business development, disability services, or community-based program development preferred.
Experience supporting people with intellectual, developmental, physical, or communication disabilities preferred.
Experience with social media, online marketplaces, product sales, community events, vendor fairs, digital media, accessibility consulting, or creative enterprise models preferred.
Familiarity with OPWDD services, SEMP documentation, person-centered planning, benefits planning, or employment-first practices preferred.
Knowledge of small business development, entrepreneurship, self-employment, job development, or customized employment practices.
Ability to help individuals move from idea development to planning, launch, and ongoing support.
Strong coaching, communication, organization, documentation, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to develop accessible tools, plain-language materials, and person-centered business planning resources.
Understanding marketing, customer engagement, basic pricing, online visibility, and community partnership development.
Commitment to dignity, choice, inclusion, disability rights, economic self-determination, and meaningful community-based employment.
Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with people supported, families, staff, community partners, and leadership.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
Travel across the five boroughs of New York City may be required.

Responsibilities

Developing, coordinating, and supporting person-centered self-employment, micro-enterprise, consulting, and entrepreneurship opportunities for individuals supported.
Assisting individuals to explore business ideas, develop realistic business plans, build skills, access supports, launch pilot opportunities, and sustain meaningful income-generating activities aligned with their employment goals, interests, strengths, and support needs.
Identifying individuals who may be interested in self-employment, micro-enterprise, consulting, creative business, or non-traditional employment opportunities.
Conducting person-centered discovery to understand each individual’s interests, strengths, talents, communication style, support needs, preferred work routines, and employment goals.
Developing individualized business plans including business concept, target customers, pricing, startup needs, support plan, marketing strategy, benefits considerations, risk factors, and measurable milestones.
Providing coaching in business readiness, communication, customer service, scheduling, money management, product development, quality control, marketing, technology use, and follow-through.
Supporting individuals in developing visibility through social media, online marketplaces, digital storytelling, community showcases, or vendor opportunities.
Building partnerships with internal departments, local businesses, community organizations, markets, creative spaces, accessibility partners, technology partners, and other potential collaborators.
Coordinating with Supported Employment, Day Habilitation, Residential, Smart Living Center, TechWorks, clinical, finance, human resources, quality, and compliance teams.
Ensuring entrepreneurship and self-employment activities are connected to the person’s employment goals, service plan, business plan, documentation, and measurable outcomes.
Maintaining accurate records, progress summaries, business plan updates, coaching notes, partnership trackers, and outcome reports.
Assisting with staff training, referral tools, coaching guides, and program materials to support consistent identification and development of self-employment opportunities.
Tracking and evaluating program outcomes to identify opportunities for entrepreneurship and improve self-employment services.
Staying informed about developments in supported employment, entrepreneurship, self-employment, customized employment, accessibility, technology, and community-based business opportunities.
Performing other related duties as requested.