Employment Specialist

Opportunities, Inc. seeks to ensure that all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are provided opportunities to experience their communities through competitive and integrated employment, as well as meaningful engagement within their communities. This is accomplished by building relationships with individuals in our services, leading to discovering their interests, skills, and preferences for support. We pride ourselves on the excellence of our person-centered employment and community engagement services and the outcomes achieved from these services.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Employment Specialist (ES) reports directly to the Employment Services Manager and is responsible for providing direct support to people receiving employment services through Opportunities, Inc. The ES works closely with job seekers and their teams to build a personalized employment plan based on the person’s interests, skills, and preferences for support. The ES will spend time in a variety of environments, including the homes and communities of people seeking employment, to develop a trusting relationship with the individual, their family or guardians, and their potential employers. The ES will also negotiate visits to businesses for the person supported to engage in job tryouts and job shadowing. The ES will develop a vocational/employment profile summarizing the information obtained through Discovery activities. The ES will support the PCP team in creating a person-centered plan to provide direction for job development. The ES is responsible for identifying businesses that align with the individual’s informed choices regarding work tasks and work environments. Additionally, the ES will negotiate with employers for customized job opportunities and assist in developing self-employment opportunities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintain a working assignment list of people in Opportunities, Inc.’s services who are interested in gaining competitive paid employment. Assignment list size will vary, and persons supported may be funded through either the DDA, the DORS, or both.

• Engage in the Discovery Process with people supported to gain information about personal experiences, support systems, strengths, needs, challenges, etc., as well as what they are interested in doing.

• Visit businesses to locate and negotiate work experience activities such as informational interviewing, situational assessments, job tryouts, and job shadowing.

• Provide assistance and support with preparing job applications and resumes.

• Prepare Vocational profiles for people in services to help navigate the job development process.

• As necessary - assist and facilitate person-centered planning processes to include the development of employment-related goals with people supported.

• Support people served with practicing interview skills, including the coordination of mock interviews, for successful job placement.

• Engage with community employers to build relationships that could lead to employment opportunities for people in services.

• Provide regular updates regarding employment ventures with all internal and external team members for people on the assignment list.

• Engage with Community Employers to coordinate working interviews, informational interviews, and other activities that promote employment exposure to people served by Opp. Inc.

• Complete all required documentation, including daily care tracker notes, attendance information, employment forms, etc.

• Update information in iCare Manager for people, as necessary.

• Complete and pass all required employment trainings, including the CESP exam, and remain current with renewable trainings.

• Provide on-the-job training for people in services, helping them learn all aspects of their job tasks, using systematic instruction as necessary, to support the growth toward independently functioning in their employment.

• Attend internal and external meetings, as necessary, to promote professional growth, discuss the needs of people served, successful employment placements, etc.

• Communicate and coordinate with the Employment Services Manager to ensure all needs related to employment are addressed, including Job development, on-site support, off-site support, follow-along support, etc.

• Coordinate and provide travel training to assist individuals in services with gaining independence related to getting to and from their employment site.

• Coordinate with the Program Manager and employers to develop plans related to phasing out of on-site support for individuals working.

• Provide assistance to the people supported by Opportunities, Inc. through the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) by offering Employment Development Services (EDS), Job Development Preparation (JDP), Job Development (JD), and Job Coaching (JC) services when requested.

EXPECTATIONS/DESIRED SKILLS:

• Creative, flexible, and detail-oriented

• Ability to work autonomously in the field, while ensuring teams are kept up to date on progress.

• Completion of the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) supported or customized employment certificate program, and/or the Certified Employment Support Professional (CESP) exam.

• Proven initiative and self-starter attributes

• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities at the same time

• Strong organizational and time management skills

• Ability and willingness to work in a high-energy environment

• Relates well to diverse populations; builds appropriate rapport

• Strong technical knowledge, including experience with the Microsoft Office suite

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or GED required, associate degree preferred

• Minimum of 1 year of experience providing employment services to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

• Abreast with Montgomery County and/or Prince George’s County activities and resources

• A valid driver's license, a clean driving record, reliable transportation, and be willing to drive company vehicles