Disability Career Planner

State of Iowa - Executive Branch; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team as a Disability Career Planner, where you will empower job seekers with disabilities to overcome barriers and achieve their career goals. This role involves providing personalized guidance, facilitating workshops, and building relationships with various stakeholders to foster an inclusive employment environment. You will play a crucial part in connecting individuals with essential services and resources, ensuring they receive the support they need to succeed. If you are passionate about making a difference and helping others navigate their career paths, this position offers a rewarding opportunity to create lasting impact in the community.

Benefits

Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance

Generous paid time off

IPERS retirement package

Flexible Spending Accounts

Free Life and Long-term Disability Insurance

Employee Assistance Programs

Discount Programs

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in public contact work required.
• Strong computer skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Assist job seekers with disabilities in developing employment plans.
• Conduct outreach and promote services to customers and partners.

Skills

Assessment Conducting

Technical Material Interpretation

Team Collaboration

Computer Proficiency

Stress Management

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Writing Skills

Attention to Detail

Ethical Conduct

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Equivalent Experience in Public Contact Work

Tools

Iowa WORKS system

Job description

Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) is seeking applicants for the position of Disability Career Planner at our Army Post Rd., Iowa WORKS office in Des Moines, IA.

Position Description:

As a Disability Career Planner, in addition to serving all customers, you will serve as a main point of contact assisting job seekers with disabilities. Through this enhanced level of Iowa WORKS services, the Disability Career Planner will assist customers to develop employment plans based upon talents, abilities, and interests, while addressing any accommodation that may be needed to minimize employment barriers and increase employment opportunities. Some of the services provided will include application assistance, resume development, interview preparation as well as other guidance to help them get off to a great new start!

Key Responsibilities:

This position will support the successful inclusion of Iowans with disabilities within the one-stop employment service system and in the business community. The Disability Program Career Planner will welcome each customer in a friendly and professional manner. Provide courtesy, respect, and politeness during all interactions with customers, both internal and external. Work closely with customers to determine what programs and services they are seeking or need assistance with. Interact effectively and build respectful relationships among coworkers and partners and collaborate with team members within the American Job Center, resulting in a better experience for customers. Provide feedback and potential solutions to team and IWD leadership.

As a Disability Career Planner you will coach, motivate, and encourage job seekers on all aspects of the job search by providing intensive career planning services to people with disabilities and ensure that individuals are connected to all Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs and services that they are eligible for. Assist in the facilitation and development of Integrated Resource Teams (IRTs) in the American Job Centers to blend services and funding around an individual customer's needs. Possess a strong working knowledge of programs and services regarding needs such as healthcare, Medicare, transportation, housing, education, and training. Assist customers to build their personal and job skills for the primary goal of successful employment and provide customer assistance with preparing and tailoring resumes and cover letters.

In this role, you will facilitate mock interviews with customers, identifying ways to improve their interview responses. Refer, direct, and result customers to appropriate workshops and employment events. Facilitate workshops or one-on-one appointments in-person or through virtual conferencing platforms for customers/participants of system programs and services, updating workshops and presentations as new information is available.

Disability Career Planner’s communicate regularly with the public (business groups, disability groups, other agencies, local government) on employment services, Social Security incentives, job accommodations, and benefits of employment of people with disabilities. Conduct outreach to promote Ticket to Work to customers. Attend all Disability Access Committee meetings and provide resources for the Committee and build connections with partners throughout the local workforce development area to strengthen the local network of support for individuals with disabilities.

Provide individualized career and training services to eligible adults, dislocated workers, and youth in accordance with federal, state, and local policies and procedures. Administer appropriate assessments to determine career interests and ensure all services are documented in the Iowa WORKS system in a timely manner. Communicate regularly with participants to ensure they are aware of Work Based Learning and training opportunities in the local area to achieve their individual employment goals.

Some travel is required as needed.

Essential Knowledge & Skills:

• Conduct assessments to determine customer qualifications for special services and job referrals.
• Read, interpret, and apply a variety of technical materials, rules, and regulations.
• Perform as an effective member of a functional team.
• Utilize computers to acquire, organize, analyze, communicate, and present information.
• Perform effectively under stress associated with normal or emergency, critical, unusual, or sustained heavy workloads.
• The ability to interact with other agency staff; employers; state, federal, county, or municipal officials, and the general public.
• Displays a high level of initiative, effort, attention to detail, and commitment by completing assignments efficiently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent writing skills, organizational skills, and time management with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Must have demonstrated expertise in working with computers, specific programs, and other services provided at the Workforce Center.
• Demonstrates high standards of ethical conduct.

Agency Overview: Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) is a state agency committed to providing employment services for individual job seekers and to connecting employers to available workers through our Iowa WORKS partnership.

IWD continually strives to improve processes and align the organization to provide effective, demand-driven products and services. IWD staff in Des Moines consists of administrative services, disability determination services, information technology, labor market information, unemployment insurance services, vocational rehabilitation services, and workforce services. The agency also maintains a statewide delivery system for Iowa WORKS Offices where both employers and job seekers can receive workforce assistance.

Benefits: Joining the IWD team and becoming a State of Iowa employee comes with a range of valuable benefits, including:

• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off, including nine paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave with no cap on sick leave accrual.
• Prepare for the future with the IPERS retirement package, as well as an additional optional deferred compensation retirement plan.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
• Free Life and Long-term Disability Insurance with the option of purchasing additional coverage.
• Employee Assistance Programs and Discount Programs for support.

Click here to learn more about all of the amazing benefits the State of Iowa offers.

If you’re looking for a career with a well-respected organization that values its employees and customers, you’ve come to the right place!

Hours of work: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

No applicant for employment with the Iowa Department of Workforce Development can have a current, ongoing overpayment balance with Iowa Workforce Development without a payment plan in place. Selected positions will be subject to a criminal background check.

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university;
OR
an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting one year of full-time public contact work obtaining, analyzing and evaluating data such as job/claims interviewing, testing, referral and/or placement, sales representative, credit investigation, or related public contact work dealing with job applicants and employers in a variety of supportive clerical and outreach functions for one year of the required education with a maximum substitution of four years;
OR
employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to twelve months of full-time work as a Workforce Associate.

Travel may be required for positions in this class. Employees must arrange transportation to and from assigned work areas.