HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM CONSULTANT I - 48007026

State of Florida•Miami Beach, FL

2d•$42,200 - $46,420•Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Division of Blind Services, District 12 Office in Miami. This position serves as an Employment Placement Specialist which is responsible for providing direct job development and placement services for blind and visually impaired consumers of the Division of Blind Services. The incumbent in this position develops and provides job opportunities for eligible individuals by deploying marketing and job development techniques. The incumbent makes contact and meets with employers for the purpose of identifying prospective job opportunities. The incumbent will provide job coaching and other support services to obtain competitive employment.

Requirements

Three (3) to five (5) years of professional and relevant experience in a public vocational rehabilitation program.
Ability to maintain a clear driving history.
Ability to maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License.
Proficient in word processing and data entry.
Knowledge of state and federal regulations, job development and marketing along with skills in sales.
Familiarity with Vocational Rehabilitation processes and procedures.
Knowledge of theories and practices of rehabilitation employment placement methods.
Ability to identify and resolve employment barriers that exist in Florida's industry to the blind and visually impaired.
Ability to provide customer advocacy and mediation when necessary.
Ability to participate in public speaking engagements.
Must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing priorities, and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions.
Must interact courteously with others.
Performance and behavior must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unit.
Attendance is an essential function.

Nice To Haves

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study reasonably related to vocational rehabilitation.
An ability to establish and maintain education and experience requirements to ensure an understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of individuals with disabilities.
Knowledge of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Responsibilities

Provide and document required employer and client contacts while implementing and coordinating services in accordance with timeframes, policies, and procedures specified in the case service manual.
Work cooperatively with the employment team which is comprised of DBS staff, community providers, CareerSource locations, and other core and required workforce partners to develop referrals and coordinate services.
Provide community education, outreach, guidance, and training about blindness and document those activities in an activity log.
Coordinate with the other Human Services Program Consultants to secure Orientation & Mobility training to, from, and at the jobsite.
Serve as a liaison between employer and Rehabilitation Engineer.
Coordinate and work with other workforce partners for the expansion of job placement and work-based learning opportunities for Blind and visually impaired consumers.
Participate in the development and revisions of a comprehensive state plan to improve/increase outreach to under-served populations and employers regarding the services provided by DBS that support employment and training for people with disabilities.
Model and demonstrate the principles of flexibility, adaptability, and approachability - while adhering to applicable laws, rules, policies, and procedures.
Exhibit effective communication, collaboration, and cooperation.
Meet regularly with job-ready clients to share job leads and other strategies related to Job Placement, as needed.
Seek and promote competitive integrated employment in the community as the first and preferred option for blind and visually impaired individuals under the Employment First Initiative.
Ensure that services are expedited to applicants and clients with actual job offers and those who are at risk of losing employment.
Understand and translate knowledge of transferable work skills to assist clients in obtaining successful employment outcomes.
Maintain and utilize a curriculum to provide training/education and technical assistance to employers who hire individuals with visual impairments.
Conduct outreach activities to increase on-the-job training, apprenticeships, work-based learning, and employment opportunities and assist client access to and participation in such activities.
Coordinate necessary services such as Work Experience, On the Job Training, Assistive Technology Assessments, and setup.
Conduct job prospecting and development techniques to capitalize employment leads.
Promote awareness of assistive technology and other disability accommodations. Assist employers, trainers, job coaches, and other facilities or sites when requested with making adaptations and or modifications for clients on the jobsite.
Assist clients with completing resumes, employment applications, cover letters, thank you notes to employer, etc.
Transport clients to job fairs, job interviews, and jobsites (first few days of employment, until transportation is in place) as needed.
Function as an educator/mentor/job coach and encourage clients to develop self-advocacy skills.
Utilize understanding of the Ticket to Work program to assist “ticket holders” in their efforts to find or retain employment for self-sufficiency.
Conduct follow-up calls with clients and employers within 90 days of employment start date, as well as at the 180-day and employment anniversary to determine further services and possible job opportunities for other clients.
Work with counselor and district leadership to ensure additional services are coordinated.
Monitor and report information to leadership about the provision and need of further services to ensure clients have the functional and independent living skills necessary to achieve their vocational goal.
Provide feedback to the Human Services Program Consultants and the Assistant District Administrator regarding clients' performance and needs.
Assist in meeting district level performance goals with a focus on business improvement and development for successful employment outcomes.
Evaluate employer needs and the necessary accommodations to ensure/facilitate a successful employment outcome.
Develop, maintain, and improve techniques for caseload management, utilizing the electronic client information system (AWARE) to input and gather accurate data and produce reports.
Understand various eye conditions and their impact on functional vision and convey this information in employment settings.
Understand the rehabilitation process and abilities, strengths, and capabilities of people who are blind or visually impaired.
Maintain knowledge of various job markets and increase client utilization of online job systems such as EmployFlorida, ONET, Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP), The Career Index Plus (TCI+) and other resources to find open positions commensurate with their skills.
Participate in statewide program training.
Performs other duties as requested.

Benefits

State Group Insurance coverage options+(health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental option)
Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
Nine paid holidays and a Personal Holiday each year
Annual and Sick Leave Benefits
Student Loan Forgiveness Program (Eligibility required)
Flexible Spending Accounts
Tuition Fee Waivers (Accepted by major Florida colleges/universities)
Ongoing comprehensive training provided
Career Growth
Highly skilled, professional environment
Maternity and Parental Leave Benefits