Lead Community Employment Specialist

Additional Job Details
Employment Type: Full-Time, Hourly
Pay Rate: $21.00/Hour
Sign-On Bonus: Up to $2,000

Make a Meaningful Impact 

Are you a mission-driven individual looking for a career to make a difference in someone's life? Are you seeking a position that offers flexibility to fit your schedule, including various shifts and weekends? Achieva offers career opportunities to individuals who are caring, compassionate and kind. Achieva is an organization where everyone is valued and respected. Achieva employees support people with disabilities as they live, work, play, and follow their life aspirations. 

About Achieva

At Achieva, we envision a community where all people with disabilities lead lives of personal significance. We are an organization of professionals and community partners that help people reach their individualized goals. For over 70 years, Achieva has been committed to the support and inclusion of those with disabilities. 

Position Summary

The Lead Employment Specialist role involves overseeing, training, and assisting individuals with disabilities in competitive integrated employment. It also includes identifying and cultivating community-based employment opportunities, building strong relationships with businesses for job placements and work assessments. This role reports to Achieva’s Associate Director of Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) and works in close coordination with the CIE leadership team in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties. 

Roles and Responsibilities 

•  Coordinates all intakes and team meetings (including service coordination meetings)

•  Facilitates job trials and work assessments to evaluate interests and skills

• Assists job seekers in discovering and maintaining meaningful employment

• Helps individuals navigate onboarding, training, and performance expectations

• Provides on-site job coaching and workplace integration support

• Fosters strong relationships with employers and business partners in the community 

• Promotes inclusive practices and sustainable, competitive, integrated employment

• Train and mentor new support staff as needed 

• Assist Employment Specialists in maintaining quality standards, achieving goals for community employment 

• Monitors service utilization and tracks progress towards target numbers and billable hours. 

• Maintains accurate documentation and participates in quality assurance activities

• Represents Achieva in collaboration meetings with stakeholders

• Participates in professional development and obtains required certification(s) 

• Perform other related duties as assigned. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties may change at any time with or without notice. 

Qualifications

• Equivalent of an Associate’s degree in social science or related field

• Minimum 1 year of experience supporting individuals with disabilities in employment or a related setting

• Prefer candidates with CESP (Certified Employment Support Professional) credential from APSE, ACRE Certificate of Achievement (Basic or Professional level), and/or Discovery/Customized Employment Certification

• Supervisory experience preferred

• Demonstrated experience in j