Employment Specialist for People with Disabilities

Brooklyn Community Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Brooklyn Community Services seeks an Employment Specialist to support individuals with disabilities in securing and maintaining paid competitive employment in NYC. You will conduct individualized job development, placement, and on-the-job coaching, reporting to the Director of Supported Employment.

Location: 151 Lawrence St., Brooklyn. Requirements include a Bachelor's degree and ACCES-VR vetting; strong communication, knowledge of local job market, and ability to advocate for accommodations.

Qualifications

• Must have a Bachelors plus a minimum of one experience in rehabilitation placement or related fields and enrollment in a specialized course approved by ACCES-VR.
• Applicant must be vetted by ACCES-VR.
• Knowledge of employer expectations of performance and employee behaviors.
• Knowledge of the local job market.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent judgment and sensitivity to the needs of clients.
• Must undergo pre-employment screenings such as the Criminal Background Check required by OPWDD.

Responsibilities

• Meet with employers in the community and educate them about individuals with disabilities.
• Develop employment opportunities in the community.
• Assist individuals with disabilities with finding and retaining employment through active, individualized job search and preparation, and post-employment job coaching at the work site.
• Develop positive working relationships with employers. Directly assist employers in communicating with individuals, to clarify job duties, to provide safety information, and to facilitate productivity, client motivation, and client attendance.
• Provide job coaching and proactive, extended support services to assigned caseload of employed clients, both at and away from the job site, to assist them to remain employed in the integrated labor market. Can include occasional evening and/or weekend work depending on client’s employment schedule, and travel within NYC as required.
• Provide individuals with travel training, counseling, case management, and other supportive services needed to maintain employment.
• Advocate for clients’ possible need for accommodation on-site as well as off-site advocacy needs.
• Assist individuals who have lost their jobs to return to employment by re-evaluating their employment goals, needs, and interests, and by assisting them with interviews. Enlist assistance of parents and natural supports.
• Complete required chart documentation and monthly reports in a timely manner.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Employer expectations

Local job market knowledge

Judgment and empathy

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Employment Specialist

Supported Employment/Workforce Development

Location: 151 Lawrence St., 4th Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hours: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week

Salary: $45,000 - $50,000

Position Summary

Brooklyn Community Services is one of Brooklyn’s first and largest non-sectarian social services agencies. BCS, which presently serves more than 10,000 individuals annually, is committed to a broad and diverse range of services including education and child care; services to strengthen families; and services to foster self-sufficiency for adults.

Reporting to the Director of Supported Employment, the Employment Specialist provides the supports that individuals need to obtain and maintain paid competitive employment within the community. Employment Specialist provides individualized job development, job placement, and on the job coaching once an individual is employed.

Responsibilities

• Meet with employers in the community and educate them about individuals with disabilities.
• Develop employment opportunities in the community
• Assist individuals with disabilities with finding and retaining employment through active, individualized job search and preparation, and post-employment job coaching at the work site.
• Develop positive working relationships with employers. Directly assist employers in communicating with individuals, to clarify job duties, to provide safety information, and to facilitate productivity, client motivation, and client attendance.
• Provide job coaching and proactive, extended support services to assigned caseload of employed clients, both at and away from the job site, to assist them to remain employed in the integrated labor market. Can include occasional evening and/or weekend work depending on client’s employment schedule, and travel within NYC as required.
• Provide individuals with travel training, counseling, case management, and other supportive services needed to maintain employment.
• Advocate for clients’ possible need for accommodation on-site as well as off-site advocacy needs.
• Assist individuals who have lost their jobs to return to employment by re-evaluating their employment goals, needs, and interests, and by assisting them with interviews. Enlist assistance of parents and natural supports.
• Complete required chart documentation and monthly reports in a timely manner.

Qualifications Required

• Must have a Bachelors plus a minimum of one experience in rehabilitation placement or related fields and enrollment in a specialized course approved by ACCES-VR.
• Applicant must be vetted by ACCES-VR
• Knowledge of employer expectations of performance and employee behaviors
• Knowledge of the local job market.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent judgment and sensitivity to the needs of clients.
• Must undergo pre-employment screenings such as the Criminal Background Check required by OPWDD