Skills Trainer - Project Search - Oshkosh

How this Role Supports our Mission of Elevating People by Eliminating Barriers to Employment

While receiving leadership support from the Mission Team Leader, the Skills Trainer advances our mission by providing training and support for Project SEARCH participants and host business mentors.  The Skills Trainer assists in the intake, creation, and oversight of the participant’s participation in the Project SEARCH program to ensure individualized services are consistently delivered with all partners following best practices and funding source requirements. The Skills Trainer will align all activities and service delivery in a manner consistent with the mission, vision, values, and brand of Goodwill NCW.

Key Responsibilities

• Completes  participant intake and supports the onboarding and oversight of participants in the Project SEARCH program to ensure individualized services are consistently delivered in alignment  with best practices, funding source requirements, and the Project SEARCH model
• Assists participants in identifying job goals and implementing goal plans to help them obtain, maintain, and elevate employment. 
• Cultivates and maintains a positive, collaborative relationship with educational partners, host business leadership and support staff to determine needs and adapt service delivery to meet the individual needs of the participants. Ensures partners involved in the internships are following or adapting to the Project SEARCH model. 
•  Partners with the site instructor, host business leaders, and department staff to expand and enhance internship opportunities that develop participants’ marketable and competitive employment skills.   
• In collaboration with the partner instructor, provides coaching services and assesses individuals’ progress towards independence to determine level of coaching needed.
• Communicates with all those involved to ensure skills instruction support meets the specific needs of each participant and discusses any urgent concerns, changes in job duties or employer/participant feedback that requires immediate attention.
• Collaborates with the Employment Placement Specialist (EPS) team on job preparation activities and creation of required service related documents.
• Identifies needs for workplace accommodations and referrals for additional services.
• Develops, updates, and maintains internship structures, including rotation descriptions, task lists, visual supports, VocFit data, and  job aides to promote independence and skill-building.
• Completes and maintains accurate documentation, monthly reports, and data entry, in compliance with funding sources,  Goodwill NCW, CARF, and Project SEARCH requirements.  Ensures up-to-date records in Apricot and the SEARCH portal, including participant files, rotations, and employment outcomes.
• Supports SEARCH graduate transitions by assisting with job applications, mock interviews, and onboarding into new employment settings; provides job modifications and collaborates with EPS for job/task analysis, retention, and instructional reports.
• Engages in targeted outreach, job market research, and networking events to support job placement and build community and employer relationships.
• Job coaches as needed.

Education, Skills & Experience Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent is preferred.
• One year of previous experience work with individuals with barriers in a workplace setting in the community is preferred.