What are the responsibilities and job description for the Employment & Transition Manager - Special Education position at PHILLIPS Programs for Children and Families?
Title: Employment & Transition Manager - Special Education
Position Type: Full-Time, Days
Location: Laurel, MD
What we do and offer our team:
PHILLIPS Programs Schools are private special education day schools for students with behavioral health challenges, learning disabilities and other school challenges. Our programs provide a place of relationship and belonging where students can be accepted; treated with compassion and respect. We offer competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package, and an environment where leaders can harness their gifts and creativity, innovate, and make meaningful contributions as professionals in a workplace that lives our values.
What the Transition Manager does:
The Employment & Transition Manager connects students with meaningful work-based learning by cultivating partnerships with local businesses, coordinating community job-site placements, and providing on-site coaching and supervision. This role supports transition planning by contributing to IEPs, documenting student progress, collaborating with school teams and families, and ensuring safe daily transport to and from job sites. The manager models professional behaviors, guides post-secondary planning, and responds effectively to on-site challenges to help students build skills that translate into long-term success.
Responsibilities include:
- Building and maintaining partnerships with local employers to create work-based learning opportunities
- Coordinating student and staff placements at community job sites
- Providing direct instruction, coaching, and feedback to improve workplace performance
- Contributing to IEP transition goals/pages and participating in transition meetings
- Transporting students to job sites; supervising students throughout the day to ensure safety
- Responding to on-site challenges using effective crisis-management techniques
- Maintaining accurate documentation and progress notes; communicating with school staff and families
- Supporting post-secondary planning (employment, training, education)
- Attending required meetings and performing other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications:
- High school diploma
- At least one (1) year of related, relevant experience (e.g., employment services, vocational coaching, community-based instruction, special education support, or similar)
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Effective time management and planning abilities
- Valid driver’s license and comfort transporting students during the school day
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience initiating and managing employer partnerships for student placements
- Direct involvement with IEP transition planning (drafting goals, monitoring progress, presenting in meetings)
- Prior work in special education day school or transition services settings
- Familiarity with student data systems (e.g., PowerSchool) and behavior/progress documentation
- Training in crisis-management/safety approaches (e.g., Ukeru, MANDT, or similar)
- CPR/First Aid certification and/or medication administration training
Salary : $41,000 - $65,100