Community Engagement Specialist – Full-Time

About Innovations Now

Innovations Now, LLC is a Madison-based organization that supports youth and adults with developmental disabilities in building meaningful, independent, and fulfilling lives.

Our work goes beyond traditional direct-support services. We provide individualized instruction, coaching, and consultation in real-world community settings. Our services focus on employment, independent living, community participation, health and wellness, safety, financial literacy, technology, communication, relationships, and planning for the future.

We believe that people with disabilities should have opportunities to work, live, learn, build relationships, and participate fully in their communities.

Position Summary

Innovations Now is seeking a full-time Community Engagement Specialist to provide individualized support and instruction to youth and adults with developmental disabilities throughout the Madison and Dane County community.

This is an active, community-based position for someone who enjoys working one-on-one with people, teaching practical skills, solving problems, and helping individuals increase their independence.

The Community Engagement Specialist works directly with clients in the places where everyday life happens—including workplaces, stores, restaurants, fitness and recreation facilities, libraries, community organizations, educational settings, and clients' homes and neighborhoods.

Rather than doing tasks for clients, our goal is to teach, coach, problem-solve, and develop strategies that allow each individual to become increasingly independent.

Primary Responsibilities Employment and Career Development

• Support individuals in exploring careers and identifying employment goals.
• Assist clients with job searches, applications, résumés, interviews, onboarding, and workplace orientation.
• Provide individualized job coaching in community workplaces.
• Help clients learn job responsibilities, workplace routines, communication skills, and professional expectations.
• Support employees in communicating with supervisors and coworkers.
• Help clients understand schedules, workplace technology, email, benefits, time-off procedures, and other employment systems.
• Assist individuals who want to grow within their current workplace or explore advancement and career-change opportunities.
• Develop natural supports within the workplace whenever possible.

Independent Living and Community Skills

Provide individualized instruction in areas such as:

• Grocery shopping and meal planning
• Budgeting and financial literacy
• Banking and responsible purchasing
• Household organization
• Using technology safely and effectively
• Recognizing scams and unsafe situations
• Community safety
• Using public transportation
• Scheduling and attending appointments
• Planning recreational and social activities
• Developing routines and organizational systems
• Communication and self-advocacy
• Building healthy community connections

Community Engagement

• Help clients identify activities, organizations, businesses, and community resources that match their individual interests.
• Support clients in becoming active participants in their communities.
• Assist individuals in developing relationships and natural community connections.
• Research community resources and opportunities.
• Develop positive relationships with businesses, employers, educational organizations, fitness facilities, and other community partners.
• Advocate for accessibility and reasonable accommodations when appropriate.
• Promote inclusion while respecting each client's preferences, choices, and independence.

Youth Transition Services

Work with teens and their families on preparation for adulthood, including:

• Career exploration
• Identifying strengths and interests
• Workplace readiness
• Communication skills
• Community safety
• Independent living skills
• Technology and social-media safety
• Understanding adult responsibilities
• Developing greater independence from family supports
• Planning for employment, education, and community life after high school

Client Planning and Documentation

• Learn each client's individualized goals and support plan.
• Develop practical strategies for achieving measurable goals.
• Document services and client progress accurately and promptly.
• Complete progress notes, service documentation, calendars, and required records.
• Track progress toward greater independence.
• Communicate professionally with clients, families, guardians, employers, coworkers, and other members of the support team.
• Participate in team meetings and planning meetings as needed.
• Maintain client confidentiality and professional boundaries.

What We Are Looking For

The strongest candidate will be someone who is:

• Personable, dependable, and organized
• Comfortable working independently in the community
• A strong communicator
• Patient and able to teach skills in multiple ways
• Creative when solving problems
• Comfortable meeting new people and entering new community environments
• Able to balance encouragement with expectations for greater independence
• Respectful of individual choice and self-determination
• Able to maintain professional relationships with clients and families
• Comfortable communicating with employers and other professionals
• Able to write clear and accurate documentation
• Comfortable using email, calendars, smartphones, Google Workspace, and other common technology
• Interested in disability inclusion and community-based services

Education and Experience

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in special education, education, rehabilitation, psychology, social work, human services, communication, business, community engagement, or a related field.
• Experience working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
• Experience in supported employment, job coaching, education, transition services, independent-living instruction, mentoring, coaching, or another community-based support role.

Recent college graduates with relevant education, internships, volunteer work, or other applicable experience are encouraged to apply.

Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience will be considered.

Transportation

This position requires frequent travel throughout Madison and the surrounding Dane County community.

Applicants must have:

• A valid driver's license
• Reliable transportation
• Automobile insurance
• The ability to travel between client, employment, and community locations during the workday

Schedule

This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position.

The schedule is primarily weekdays, but working hours may vary based on individual client employment, training, and community schedules. Flexibility is important because services are provided when and where clients need instruction and support.

Compensation

$25.00 per hour

At 40 hours per week, this is equivalent to approximately $52,000 annually.

Full-time employees are eligible for Innovations Now employee benefits in accordance with company policies.

Why Work at Innovations Now?

This is an opportunity to do highly individualized work and see the results of that work in people's everyday lives.

One day may involve helping someone learn a new responsibility at work. Another may involve teaching a young adult how to navigate a bus route, helping someone understand a paycheck, practicing an interview, developing a grocery-shopping system, researching a new career opportunity, or helping a client become comfortable participating independently in a new community setting.

Our goal is not simply to provide support.

Our goal is to help people need less support over time by building skills, confidence, connections, and independence.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Teaching: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $52,000