I. JOB IDENTIFICATION
A. TITLE: Employment and Career Specialist
B. REPORTS TO: Director of Vision Rehabilitation Services
C. FLSA STATUS: Exempt, Full-Time
II. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The primary responsibility of the Employment and Career Specialist is to establish relationships with employers and facilitate interviews that lead to job placements for blind or visually impaired consumers. Additional responsibilities include assisting consumers in the identification of career interests, developing employment or appropriate career plans/paths, and implementing their employment/career plan.
Some of the Employment and Career Specialist’s work will involve assisting the consumer to develop sufficient information and/or experience to engage in career planning; especially with younger consumers or those with limited work experience.
III. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORK OF OTHERS
The Employment and Career Specialist may be responsible for the work of volunteers, or other employees, job coaches and others as related to the particular circumstances.
IV. BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
A. Professional, clear and concise verbal and written communication skills are required.
B. Communication with consumer is frequent and ongoing.
C. Communication with Director of Health and Rehabilitation Services is frequent and ongoing.
D. Communication with Assistive Technology staff is frequent and ongoing.
E. Communication with Health and Rehabilitation Services staff is ongoing.
F. Communication with outside organizations is frequent and ongoing.
G. Communication with New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) staff is frequent and ongoing.
H. Communication with professional, peer, and collateral groups and organizations is regular.
V. SUPERVISION REQUIRED
The position requires self-direction and independent action within appropriate agency, regulatory and funding/referral source policies, practices and guidelines.
VI. EDUCATION REQUIRED
This position requires a minimum of an Associate’s degree in related field and 5 year's experience in job development and/or placement services with people with disabilities. A Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
VII. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
A. Must be able to sit, stand, or drive for more than 4 hours in a work day.
B. Must be able to occasionally lift and carry up to a 25 pound object.
VIII. TRAINING AND SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
A. Experience with individuals with disabilities in general or vision disability.
B. Experience with job development and placement practices is required.
C. Thorough understanding of current job market and employment trends in the AVRE service territory is strongly preferred.
D. Knowledge about external resources that support employment and career service delivery.
E. Ability to outreach to AVRE consumers, network in the community, and market AVRE programming.
F. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other widely used software applications.
G. Knowledge of current assistive technologies that support access for people with vision loss is preferred.
H. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
I. Excellent problem-solving and organizational skills.
IX. SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Establish and maintain business relationships that facilitate job placements for both current and future consumers, through a combination of planned and cold calls. Create partnerships with employers to use AVRE as a staffing mechanism.
B. Identify trends in employment and career service delivery and funding with special attention to general disability and/or vision disability.
C. Routinely use data and evidence-based practices to target sectors and employment partners to obtain job and internship opportunities.
D. Coordinate services with other community agencies for job placement.
E. Assess individuals to determine what services are needed.
F. Conduct job task analysis and accommodation for individual’s needs including the application of assistive technology.
G. Identify appropriate career exploration activities, internship and job placements.
H. Assist consumers in the development of a placement plan and a professional portfolio of their work history and job skills.
I. Prepare and communicate job specifications carefully to match potential consumers and employers.
J. Refer appropriate participants to potential employers for consideration of the job openings and provide consistent follow-up to employers.
K. Track employment placement outcomes and retention for program participants.
L. Monitor quality and outcomes of career and employment service delivery with the objective of continuous improvement.
M. Coordinate and monitor government, career and employment service related contracts including assuring satisfactory performance, submission of reports, timely billing, maximizing funding etc.
N. Assist in the research and development of additional funding/referral/support resources.
O. Plan, coordinate, and run workshops as appropriate to support consumer success in the workforce. Conduct training for general and targeted publics.
P. Meet with Health and Rehabilitation Services staff on a regular basis to ensure appropriate information sharing, coordination of program activities and service delivery.
Q. Represent AVRE in appropriate community, professional, consumer and related organizations.
R. Ability to use current software applications including word processing, database scheduling, spreadsheets, etc. is required.
S. Ability to meet the transportation and travel requirements of the position. Coverage area includes nine (9) New York State counties.
T. Maintains strict confidentiality in all aspects of AVRE activities.
U. Keeps workplace organized and clean.
V. Other duties as assigned.
AVRE is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $62,353.20 per year
Work Location: In person
To apply, please click here