Employment Specialist

Bridgeway; Normal (IL); On-site; USD 26,174 - 28,929; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

Holiday Pay

401(k) Contribution and 401(k) Match

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Bridgeway in Normal, IL seeks an Employment Specialist to provide Community Employment Services for people with disabilities, using IPS fidelity to support engagement, intake, assessment, and rapid job search with coaching and supports. Requirements include a Bachelor's degree or equivalent, MHP status, and at least one year in vocational rehabilitation.

Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Mental Health Professional (MHP) status.
• At least one year of experience in vocational rehabilitation is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide Community Employment Services (CES) to persons with disabilities using IPS fidelity model, including engagement, intake, assessment, service planning, rapid job search, advocacy, coaching, and community supports.
• Assist with job development, competitive placement, job retention, and follow-along supports for adults and adolescents with disabilities.
• Coordinate and develop treatment plans with the interdisciplinary team as part of CES.
• Manage a caseload of CES consumers and tailor employment plans to abilities, strengths, and needs.
• Ensure orientation of new CES consumers.
• Educate consumers, employers, and staff about benefits and costs of disclosing a disability during job search.
• Provide transportation for consumers and develop alternate resources for ongoing transportation.
• Monitor caseloads and assist in referrals and coordinating required services.

Skills

MHP status

Vocational rehabilitation experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Job Details

Job Title: Employment Specialist
Location: Normal, IL 61761
Position Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $19.00 - $21.00 hourly
Shift: First Shift

Job Responsibilities

• Provide Community Employment Services (CES) to persons with disabilities—including those with psychiatric, developmental, and/or physical impairments—using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) evidence-based fidelity model. This includes engagement, intake, assessment, service planning, individualized rapid job search, advocacy, linkage, counseling, on-the-job training/coaching, and community support services.
• Assist with additional responsibilities such as job development, competitive placement, job retention, personalized benefit planning, and follow‑along supports for adults and adolescents with disabilities (16 years and older).
• Coordinate and develop treatment plans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, a core component of Community Employment Services.
• Manage a caseload of consumers enrolled in CES and facilitate successful employment tailored to each consumer’s abilities, strengths, preferences, desired outcomes, cultural diversity, and other identified needs.
• Ensure orientation of new consumers within Community Employment Services.
• Reopenable for educating consumers, employers, interdisciplinary team staff, DRS counselors, and other stakeholders about benefits and costs associated with disclosing a disability during the job search.
• Provide transportation for consumers placed in community employment and develop alternate resources or natural supports for ongoing transportation.
• Monitor caseloads and assist in making referrals and coordinating required services.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Mental Health Professional (MHP) status.
• At least one year of experience in vocational rehabilitation is desirable, including experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, developmental disabilities, and/or other disabilities.
• Reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and ability to meet the organization’s insurability requirements.
• Employment is conditional upon completion of all background checks.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off, Paid Leave for All Workers (PLAW)
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short-term, Long-term Disability Insurance
• Holiday Pay, Bereavement Pay
• 401(k) Contribution and 401(k) Match
• Employee Assistance Program

Equal Employment Opportunity

Bridgeway is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the objective of Bridgeway to make Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) a reality for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, race, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability or unfavorable discharge from military services and to prevent sexual harassment in employment.