Employment Specialist

Basic Function

The Employment Specialist assists individuals with disabilities in securing and maintaining competitive, integrated employment. This position is responsible for assessing individual employment needs, providing job-readiness training, delivering individualized job coaching, and coordinating ongoing workplace support. The Employment Specialist works directly with participants, employers, service providers, families, and internal teams to develop and implement employment support strategies, address workplace challenges, monitor progress, and document employment outcomes. The position focuses on building participants' workplace skills, increasing independence, and supporting successful long-term employment.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide individualized employment support to participants in workplace, community, virtual, and other assigned settings.
• Coach participants to learn job duties, strengthen workplace skills, and adjust to employer expectations.
• Support participants in building independence, confidence, communication skills, and appropriate workplace habits.
• Develop natural workplace supports that promote inclusion, effective communication, and positive interaction with co-workers and supervisors.
• Collaborate with participants, employers, service providers, families, and internal team members to support employment goals and address barriers.
• Identify and support appropriate workplace accommodations, modifications, and coaching strategies based on individual participant needs.
• Monitor participant progress, provide feedback, and adjust support plans as needed to promote job retention and successful performance.
• Complete required documentation accurately, confidentially, and by established deadlines, including log sheets, support plans, goal forms, progress notes, and related records.
• Travel independently to community worksites, employer locations, training sites, and other assigned service settings.
• Represent Paraquad professionally and uphold the organization's values of dignity, inclusion, independence, and equity.
  
  

Skills And Abilities Required

• Ability to apply a person-centered approach when providing individualized employment coaching and participant support.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively, respectfully, and professionally with diverse individuals and audiences.
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in adjusting schedules, support strategies, and coaching techniques to meet participant needs and workplace expectations.
• Strong organization, follow-through, time management, and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to establish effective working relationships with participants, employers, families, service providers, and coworkers.
• Ability to travel to assigned work locations as required to fulfill job responsibilities.
  
  

Education and Training

• Associate or bachelor's degree in rehabilitation, social work, psychology, education, human services, or a related field.
• Experience providing individualized job coaching, employment support, or supported employment services.
• Experience working collaboratively with individuals with developmental, physical, intellectual, or behavioral disabilities.
• Knowledge of workplace accommodations, job development practices, and applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Current CPR and First Aid certification, or the ability to obtain required certifications within an established timeframe following hire.
  
  

Physical Demands

• Work is performed in a variety of settings, including office environments, community locations, employer and participant worksites, virtual environments, and other assigned locations.
• Physical demands may include standing, walking, bending, reaching, lifting, and traveling to various work locations as required to perform essential job responsibilities.
• Work environments may vary by location and may involve occasional exposure to noise, outdoor weather conditions, and other conditions specific to participant worksites.
• Flexibility in scheduling may be required, including occasional evenings, weekends, or holiday hours to accommodate participant services and program needs.
• Participation in required training and completion of continuing education hours may be necessary to maintain organizational, program, or funding requirements.
  
  

Paraquad is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to an individual's sex, race, color, religion, age, disability status, protected veteran status, national or ethnic origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation. We are dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Our employees proudly reflect the diversity and ideas of the communities we serve.

Accommodation: If you are unable to use our online application process due to a disability, please contact Barb Cant at 314-289-4200 or bcant@paraquad.org with the nature of your accommodation request.

EMPLOYEE CERTIFICATION

I have read and understand the requirements of the job for which I have applied. I can meet these requirements with or without reasonable accommodation.

Signature ________________________________________ Date _______________________

Successful drug screen and background check required.