Employment Specialist - Supported Employment

Brooklyn Community Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Brooklyn Community Services is seeking an Employment Specialist to support individuals with disabilities in obtaining internships and paid employment in the community, operating within OPWDD/ACCES-VR frameworks. This is a full-time position with occasional evenings and weekends to align with client schedules and travel within NYC.

The role requires assisting clients through intake, job development, placement, and ongoing coaching, ensuring successful employment outcomes and coordinated with Care

Qualifications

• Associates degree required; Bachelor's preferred with some relevant experience.
• Ability to interface with staff across programs and community agencies.
• Knowledge of the local job market and strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist individuals with disabilities in finding and retaining internships and paid employment.
• Provide post-employment coaching at the work site.
• Develop positive relationships with employers and facilitate communication.
• Deliver full-cycle career services to ACCES-VR and OPWDD participants.
• Support clients with travel training, counseling, and case management.
• Complete chart documentation and monthly/OPWDD reports in a timely manner.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Knowledge of local job market

Education

Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Position: Employment Specialist - SEMP-OPWDD

Reports to: Director of Supported Employment

Hours: Full time - 35 hours per week Must have ability to work occasional evening and weekends depending on client’s employment schedule, and travel within NYC as required.

Salary: $45,000 - $45,000

Position Summary

Brooklyn Community Services is one of Brooklyn’s first and largest non-sectarian social services agencies. BCS, which presently serves more than 20,000 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.

The SEMP Employment Specialist provides the supports that individuals with disabilities need to obtain and maintain internships and paid competitive employment in the community.

Responsibilities

• Assist individuals with disabilities find and retain internships and paid competitive employment.
• Provide 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, provide safety information, and facilitate productivity, client motivation, and client attendance.
• Provide job coaching and proactive, extended support services to an assigned caseload of clients, both at and away from the job site, to assist them in remaining employed in the integrated labor market.
• Accompany clients to Monthly Job Readiness Trainings and complete Observational and Situational Assessments for clients at various sites.
• Provide individuals with travel training, counseling, case management, and other supportive services needed to maintain employment.
• Provide full-cycle career services (intake, discovery, job development and placement, ongoing support for job retention and coaching) to ACCES-VR and OPWDD participants.
• Advocate for clients’ possible need for accommodation at work 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 applications and interviews.
• Complete and submit required chart documentation, monthly reports, Discovery reports and Status Updates to OPWDD in a timely manner.
• Attend Life Plan meetings with Care Managers and keep in close contact with clients service providers
• Other tasks as assigned

Qualifications

• Associates degree required and 1 year experience in providing services to individuals with disabilities; or Bachelors preferred with some experience providing services to individuals with disabilities
• Ability to interface effectively with staff across programs and community agencies
• Knowledge of the local job market
• Excellent judgment and sensitivity to the needs of clients
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Must undergo pre-employment screenings such as the Criminal Background Check required by OPWDD

BCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.