Salary: $18 - $20 / Hour Position Title: Employment Specialist Location: Florence/Marinette Counties, Wisconsin Reports To: Employment Services Manager Status: Part time Pay: $18 - 20 / Hour FLSA Status: Not applicable Are you looking for a position that brings purpose to your life? Would you like to wake up every day knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities? Are you ready to join a team cares deeply for its staff and has an awesome culture? If this sounds like you, then read on for an exciting opportunity to join us at the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin! Summary: The Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin is a statewide, volunteer-driven non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and related disabilities and their families through awareness, education, information, programs, services, and the exchange of ideas and experiences . DSAW provides programs and services throughout the lifespan (Parent's First Call for new and expectant parents, children's services, adult services, vocational services, and aging services), as well as educational opportunities and events. We have an immediate opening for an Employment Specialist based in Florence/Marinette Counties, Wisconsin. This Employment Specialist will be DSAW's first Employment Services staff member in Florence/Marinette Counties and will be an integral member in building out our services in the area. The Employment Specialist will focus on building relationships with employers and other agencies to develop jobs for consumers and help consumers retain these jobs. In addition, this person will provide pre-vocational services for consumers, such as developing career profiles. The Employment Specialist will also provide onsite job coaching for a small caseload of consumers. The job development and job coaching for this role will be based in Florence/Marinette Counties. The Employment Specialist should have experience in job coaching, or in providing direct services to people with disabilities. The Specialist must be a skilled communicator, empathetic listener, and excellent problem-solver, with the ability to help clients and their families put plans in place to achieve their desired goals. The Specialist must be extremely self-motivated and goal-oriented, with a drive to help place clients in their dream jobs. The specialist should be outgoing and persistent, and feel very comfortable with building relationships with community contacts and local businesses, which includes frequent phone calls, meetings, and other communication. This person should also have excellent organization and prioritization skills, with the ability to work with a large caseload of consumers at one time. In order to complete this job well, the Specialist must be very comfortable with technology, and have the ability to quickly learn new systems. The Specialist should have a thorough understanding of MS Office/G Suite products. Experience with a client management system is a plus. The successful candidate will be extremely positive, energetic, and have a passion for helping individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities to achieve amazing lives. Successful candidates will be able to self-direct themselves into creating systems and processes to best serve and continue to move DSAW forward. Essential Functions and Responsibilities * Job Development * Build relationships with local community agencies/schools to build on employment services * Act as a community liaison for DSAW's DVR line of business, including attending relevant fairs and promotional opportunities, under the direction of the Director of Employment Services * Assist the Director of Employment Services with the implementation of new projects, such as mentorship sites * Work with the Director of Employment Services to provide all necessary information for funder and grant reports * Client Coordination * Work with the DVR counselors to implement the DVR employment plan * Complete the initial consult, intake, and career profile (if applicable) for new DVR consumers * Manage wait lists * Maintain Client Management System with updated reports and records * Assign and schedule consumer to staff member(s) with appropriate training hand-offs * Participate in team meetings involving the consumer and their various team members * Oversee the transition of consumer to long-term support (if applicable) and the new DSAW manager * Serves as the main parent liaison * Job Coaching * Consistently model appropriate work maturity skills and hold consumers to the same expectations * Monitor consumer's work performance and provide feedback and prompts when needed * Maintain and model positive professional working relationships with consumers, guardians, and employers * Promote natural supports and provide training to consumers' coworkers on the job * Research and have the ability to create necessary curriculum and/or accommodations for emplo