Description

Purpose:

• To coordinate the delivery of a transition to work program and appropriate training internship opportunities for adults with a developmental disability based at ZooTampa.
• To identify a student’s strengths, interests, and abilities related to skill acquisition, job development and employment.
• To use job coaching techniques to support participant’s development towards employability. 
• To seek appropriate employment consistent with the participant’s interests and skills and to work with local business and industry to meet their employment needs.
• To determine and refer people on the program to appropriate support services for training and successful employment. 

Responsibilities:

General:

• Comply with all MTC policies and procedures including, but not limited to safety and emergency procedures, requirements of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) and other regulatory agencies.
• Complete all pre-service and ongoing training requirements as requested or required to maintain certification and compliance.
• Work flexible hours and perform additional duties as requested or required to support and promote the Project Search program and strategic vision of MTC. 

Job Coaching / Programmatic:

• Facilitate the training and integration of Project Search participant into a department rotation and/or competitive work environment.
• Identify internship sites within the host business so that students can participate in a variety of work experiences to build marketable, competitive skills and leading to employment. Provide initial an ongoing evaluation and training on internship tasks and responsibilities and support the participant in meeting expectations and completing assigned tasks. 
• Develop opportunities that will increase job specific skills, work quality and productivity.
• Plan with students, families, and support services to determine career interests, specific job preferences (hours, location, etc.), skills and abilities to develop an individualized approach to employment. 
• Perform specific workplace analysis, job analysis, task analysis, and job matching activities. 
• Provide a generic design for reasonable adjustments needed in the workplace, to be implemented across the whole host business. (eg signs on filing cabinets, pictorial instruction manuals)
• Teach employability skills such as communication, interviewing, problem solving, teamwork, grooming, budgeting, self management, and self advocacy and identify and create solutions for behavioral habits that may interfere with gaining and maintaining employment. 
• Monitor and record daily attendance at work sites; teach students to inform departments independently of their absence or lateness.
• Maintain Implementation Plans, setting appropriate long-term goals and short-term targets with students based on participation, skill development, attitude, etc. Assess students and review IP’s on a regular/routine basis, record progress, and layer on additional skills.
• Coordinate internal rotation opportunities within the host business and resulting reasonable adjustments, and necessary job support for students.
• Coordinate travel training on public transport or teach students to be able to access private transport independently.
• Develop Personal Profiles with each student to include evidencing of skills attained, letter of recommendations from internship sites, etc. 
• Develop job development training plan with consumers and appropriate support personnel and refer students to appropriate agencies for further support related to successful employment as needed. 
• Maintain classrooms and learning spaces in a neat and orderly manner.

Communication:

• Attend appropriate Project SEARCH team meetings and support meetings.
• Plan and implement employment planning meetings twice each term for each participant with appropriate parties including services representatives and parent/career/keyworker.
• Communicate about internship rotations with other Project SEARCH team members.
• Schedule, plan and implement monthly written communication with parents and other parties.
• Schedule, plan and implement Open Houses to publicize the program and recruit potential students, in liaison with other staff.
• Coordinate with job coaches, internship sites, and competitive employment.
• Communicate regularly with business liaison, job coach and job developer on progress and issues and coordinate the operational meetings on site to discuss issues.

Administration:

• Ensure that participants are enrolled and their progress is properly recorded including ensuring details of attendance, punctuality and absence are accurately recorded in college registers. Ensure information is correctly established including learning aims, achievement and changes to learner information including learner withdraw, transfer and program completion.
• Collect data on participant outcomes including jobs gained, wages, hours worked per weeks, benefits taken, etc., in line with college systems and Project SEARCH requirements.
• Organize the agenda with the Business Liaison lead for the steering group meetings and produce minutes/action notes for the meeting. 
• Maintain a collaborative work environment and work well with others.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in education, rehabilitative science, business, or related degree is strongly preferred. Minimum 1 year documented practical experience in working with adults with disabilities, or cognitive / functional impairments required, 2 years preferred. Experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities can be substituted for education on a year for year basis. Must be flexible to work some evening or weekend hours for special events or meetings. Must possess and maintain current/valid Florida Driver’s License. Must comply with and pass Level II background screening (F.S. 435.04 and 409.907), Drug Screening, and FDOT/MVR check.