Employment Specialist

About Opportunities, Inc.

Opportunities, Inc. seeks to ensure that all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are provided chances to build a broad range of skills, gain new knowledge, interact with their community and, most importantly, be provided a variety of inclusive opportunities within the communities where they work, recreate, and live.

We provide excellence in vocational, social, and adaptive skill development to help adults with disabilities achieve their fullest potential for independence and self-confidence.

About the role

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 around 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 with the creation of the person-centered plan to provide direction for job development.

The ES is responsible for seeking out businesses that correspond to the individual's informed choices about work tasks and work environments.

Additionally, the ES will negotiate with employers for customized jobs and will assist with developing self-employment opportunities.

FLSA Classification : Non-Exempt

Salary : 23.50 / hr

EXPECTATIONS / DESIRED SKILLS :

• Creative, flexible, and detailed-oriented
• Ability to work autonomously in the field, while ensuring teams are kept up to date on progress.
• Completion of 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 Microsoft Office suite

What you"ll do

Maintain a working assignment list of people in Opportunities, Inc.'s services that 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 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 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 learn all aspects of their job task, 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 needs of people served, successful employment placements, etc.
• Communicate and coordinate with 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 Employment Services 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.

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, clean driving record, reliable transportation and be willing to drive company vehicles

Additional Information :

UNDER MARYLAND LAW, AN EMPLOYER MAY NOT REQUIRE OR DEMAND, AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT, PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYMENT, OR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT, THAT AN INDIVIDUAL SUBMIT TO OR TAKE A LIE DETECTOR OR SIMILAR TEST.

AN EMPLOYER WHO VIOLATES THIS LAW IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $100.

Opportunities- Inc complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and / or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected]

Opportunities, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PI245356103