Outreach and Training Specialist

San Diego State University Research Foundation•San Diego, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position will be an integral member of the Hawaii training project (10%), the New York Sub Minimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) project (80%), and the Employment Transition Model Demonstration project (10%) within the Interwork Institute. The Hawaii training project supports professionals in vocational rehabilitation, the NY SWTCIE assists ACCES-VR in developing a guide for Community Rehabilitation Providers, and the position may support research for comprehensive statewide needs assessments (CSNAs) for the VR program. Under the direction of the Principal Investigator and Project Director, the Outreach and Training Specialist (OTS) will collaborate with a team to provide training to staff and partners of public vocational rehabilitation programs, initially in Hawaii, and community rehabilitation providers across the country. Additionally, the OTS will support the development of training and implementation materials for both the SWTCIE and ETM projects and assist in the implementation of CSNAs for VR programs through contracts with specific agencies.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling or related field.
Six years of experience at a Program Specialist II level, two years of which were in a position with high level of responsibility and requiring specialized skills.
Knowledge of effective program implementation in special education, transition, VR programs, and community rehabilitation programs.
Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or related programs, and online databases to track data & provide reports.
Ability to work as a team.
Ability to provide training effectively to large groups.
Ability to develop reports and resources for use of project stakeholders.
Ability to gather and analyze research data, and compile data for reports and summaries.
Ability to prepare clear and concise reports; draft and compose correspondence, standard reports and spreadsheets.
Ability to analyze situations accurately and to adopt an effective course of action.
Ability to independently handle multiple work unit priorities and projects.
Ability to display strong interpersonal skills by interacting professionally with community partners and Interwork staff.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to VR program staff, staff from the Interwork Institute, and other public and private agencies.
Ability to display exceptional organizational skills, meet deadlines, display detail orientation, and possess good judgment and common sense.
Ability to display sensitivity toward individuals from underrepresented groups (i.e., disabilities, ethnic minorities, second language learners, first-generation students, veterans, international students, etc.).

Nice To Haves

Direct experience as PSII with SDSURF or in a previous position with similar responsibilities, complexity and scope of work.
Direct experience in working with individuals from underserved communities, with particular experience in the state of Hawai’i.

Responsibilities

Providing training to direct CRP staff, primarily in Hawaii, with additional states as needed.
Engaging in developing direct resources and materials on topics such as family engagement, customized employment, special education, and others.
Providing direct technical assistance to project partners on an intensive, targeted, and universal level.
Tracking and planning the provision of training and travel as required.
Designing, developing, and delivering high-quality training to CRP staff, with a primary focus on Hawai’i and additional states as needed.
Facilitating trainings across multiple formats, including in-person, virtual, and hybrid environments.
Tailoring training content to align with state VR priorities, workforce system integration, and culturally responsive practices.
Incorporating adult learning principles and interactive strategies.
Evaluating training effectiveness and refine content based on feedback.
Working cooperatively with team members responsible for providing TA and training in the designated topic area.
Conducting face-to-face training to CRP and VR agency staff and partners.
Gathering information on best practices in the assigned topic area for inclusion in the project and distribution to partners.
Conducting universal and targeted TA activities via webinars and communities of practice.
Contribute to designing and implementing training on supported employment, vocational rehabilitation, effective human resources practice, and other employment-related policy and practice issues related to individuals with disabilities, with an emphasis on situated and distance learning.
Contribute to building and sustaining training capacity through collaborative relationships with partners and networks, ensuring that a high-quality training program is delivered to various stakeholders across the U.S. and globally as needed.
Participate in efforts to market training offerings.
Develop practical tools and resources for CRPs and partners.
Produce materials on family engagement, customized employment, special education, and workforce alignment and other topics as project needs arise.
Ensure materials are accessible and clearly written.
Align products with federal and state guidance.
Support the coordination and implementation of CSNA activities with VR agencies and SDSURF-II staff.
Assist in developing surveys for the CSNA.
Conduct individual and focus group interviews.
Gather and analyze data from VR agencies.
Triangulate data from multiple methodologies and make recommendations for program improvement.
Write the final CSNA report.
Other Duties and Responsibilities as Assigned.