Position Title: Employment Specialist

Location: Dane County

Reports To: Director of Employment Services

Status: 30 - 40 hour per week with some fluctuation

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 that 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 Dane County. This Employment Specialist will be DSAW's first Employment Services staff member in Dane County 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 consumers. The job development and job coaching for this role will be based in Dane County but the Employment Specialist will also be required to work in surrounding communities, not necessarily limited to Dane County.

The Employment Specialist should have experience in job coaching, or in providing direct services to people with disabilities. The Employment 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 Manager of Employment Services
  • Assist the Manager of Employment Services with the implementation of new projects, such as mentorship sites
  • Work with the Manager 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 employment skills including: time management, employer relations, direct communication, active listening, following directions, etc.
  • Communicate with employers, guardians and consumers when fading on the job begins
  • Attend required meetings and in-service training sessions
  • Complete job coaching progress notes weekly in an electronic format
  • Complete required Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Trainings
  • Comply with documentation regulations related to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Interpersonal

• Must be a sensitive and mature individual who is able to relate well to adults
• Demonstrates warmth, insight, interest, and respect for persons with disabilities
• Willingness to accept flexibility with their schedule
• Able and knowledgeable to cope with emergency situations or behavioral situations in a calm and effective manner
• Able and willing to be a team player and to work cooperatively with their supervisor
• Able to communicate effectively with consumers and employers
• Ability to multi task and adhere to timelines set forth for quality management

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field
• 1-3 years' experience working with consumers utilizing DVR
• Applicant must have a valid driver’s license and insured vehicle
• Applicants must pass a background check that meets State of Wisconsin requirements.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the Employment Specialist will be required to use hands and fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; speak and hear clearly. The noise level in the work environment varies from low to high. The job may require the ability to walk, climb stairs, kneel, stoop, and may require the employee to lift and/or move items weighing up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. The job may require extended periods of sitting or standing.

Compensation

Applicants bilingual are highly encouraged to apply, and may be eligible for higher compensation upon demonstrating proficiency in languages. This is an hourly position. .

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with access to supplemental life, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
• Employer-paid disability and life insurance
• 10 days of PTO, accrued in bi-weekly increments, as well as 5 set holidays and 5 floating holidays
• Monthly phone stipend of $20/month for using personal cell phone
• Professional development stipend of $150/year
• Laptop to complete your work

Additional benefits include the following:

• Flexible schedule
• Parental leave after one year of service
• Paid time off to volunteer
• Access to healthy snacks, bottled water, coffee, and tea at the DSAW office
• Ongoing training opportunities sponsored by DSAW
• Employee referral program (employee will receive $50 if their referral is hired)
• Relaxed dress code at the discretion of your supervisor
• Annual offsite staff team-building activities
• One paid day per year to volunteer
• An amazing mission and culture!

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion or any other protected basis as provided by law.