Job Developer and Coaching Specialist

Description

Do you want to help us find untapped employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities?  

As the Job Developer and Coaching Specialist, you’ll work to encourage businesses to create employment opportunities to help tackle underemployment of individuals with disabilities. You will also support the individuals during their employment and help them meet their personally defined employment goals.

Independent Living, Inc., is a progressive and dynamic cross-disability services organization and a leader in the provision of peer services in the Hudson Valley region. Our Employment Services Division provides work-readiness assessments and job placement and direct support job coaching services. The Job Developer and Coaching Specialist position bachelor's degree and two to three years of appropriate experience in services to individuals with disabilities or a combination of experience and training, such as experience as a teacher/trainer or experience as an evaluator in a community rehabilitation program. Must have valid NYS Driver's License with clean driving record. Fluency in Spanish is a plus. Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) a plus. Must have the ability to work a flexible schedule, per the needs of the program.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops pre-placement, person-centered support. Supports building skills for individuals with disabilities to successfully achieve and maintain personally defined employment goals.
• Arranges and participates in meetings with the participant’s circle of support both before and during the job placement process in order to ensure that all involved have a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities. 
• Completes Pathways to Employment Discovery process which includes designing individualized “hands on”, tailored pre-employment opportunities for people with disabilities that encourage independence, the ability to acquire new skills and develop sound natural supports and all required documentation and reporting requirements.  
• Prepares Pathways to Employment Discovery required documentation and reporting requirements to OPWDD.
• Conducts job analysis to identify the specific hard and soft skills needed to be successful; evaluates worksite accessibility needs and the necessity for special accommodations.
• Conducts field-based assessments of skills, aptitudes, interests, capacities, behaviors, work readiness and functional limitations.
• Provides extensive on-the-job support and follow-up including direct intervention as well as the cultivation of natural supports including coworkers, friends and family members.
• Assists participants in assessing their personal interests, preferences aptitudes and capacities in relation to specific occupational choices; instructs participants in resume writing, preparing job applications, travel training, modeling socially appropriate behavior, job seeking, preparation and job retention skills and attitudes. 
• Provides the participant with self-advocacy advice for the workplace; intervenes with any conflicts between employers and participant.  
• Monitors individual performance on the job, and counsel participants when job performance is not satisfactory; works with participants to improve job performance and to acquire the skill necessary to be successful. When a job match is unsuccessful, reviews other employment options. 
• Provides on-going assessment, retention support and assistance to placed participants and employer partners. Helps participants understand the work culture and employer expectations. Assists participants with cultivating suitable work skills and behaviors; receiving job accommodations; overcoming transportation barriers; understanding how work impacts disability benefits and being well-connected with natural peer work supports. 
• Creates and maintains written and electronic records of contacts and outcomes with employers and participants. Prepares forms and reports related to placement activities as needed or requested. 
• Maintains necessary documentation for participant records including the individuals’ service documentation, input and development of the Supported Employment Staff Action Plan.
• Attends participant’s semi- annual plan review meeting and updates the team on the employment progress. Documents all meetings in the participant’s electronic record. Updates the participant’s service plan as needed. 
• Makes recommendations and implements service quality improvements as necessary. 
• Ensures the delivery of services, which are reflective of an Independent Living philosophy and participant empowerment and self-advocacy.
• Assists other employment services programs as needed.
• The above list of responsib