Employment Specialist - Vocational Services

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.; Bethpage, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) is seeking an Employment Specialist to support individuals in ACCES-VR programs, providing job development, coaching, and skills training.

The role emphasizes advocacy, community employer outreach, and thorough documentation to sustain employment opportunities for participants. Under supervision, you will help participants navigate transportation options and adapt to new work environments while maintaining high standards of confidentiality

Qualifications

• Associates Degree required; Bachelor’s Degree highly preferred.
• At least 6 months of relevant work experience.
• Experience working with individuals with mental health diagnoses.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care and personal adjustment services to ACCES-VR participants.
• Develop jobs, coach, train, assess, counsel, and advocate for participants.
• Create employer contacts in the community and perform case management.
• Maintain client documentation and conduct employer outreaches as needed.
• Ensure confidentiality and adherence to ethical and safety standards.

Skills

Excellent communication

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Flexible schedule

Education

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Employment Specialist - Vocational Services

Old Bethpage, NY, USA

Job Description

Posted Friday, August 14, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Enjoy making a difference? Join the team at FREE, enriching the lives of others, one individual at a time.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Sr. Director of Community Services, the Employment Specialist will provide direct care and personal adjustment services for individuals participating in ACCES-VR authorized services. This includes job development, job coaching, skills training, assessment, counseling, intervention, advocacy and creating employer contacts in the community. The Employment Specialist will also be responsible for case management, client documentation and employer outreaches to employers in addition to other services needed to maintain the employment of our participants.

DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides employment services to adults and students receiving ACCES-VR support services. Services may also include vocational training and intensive coaching, situational assessments and referrals for active job development and placement.
• Assists with orientating individuals to new environments i.e. new job sites, assessment/internship sites and job fairs.
• Ensures individuals are familiar with all means of Public Transportation and provide information to assist individuals in securing SCAT and ABLE ride.
• Ensures documentation meets quality and compliance thresholds and complete required documentation within mandated time frames.
• Effectively communicates and supports the organization’s mission, vision and values.
• Always communicate in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Prevents, recognizes and reports abuse toward the people we support.
• Adhere to the organizations Code of Ethics.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities of All FREE Employees

• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.

Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Associates Degree Required; Bachelor’s Degree highly preferred
• Experience: At least 6 months of relevant work experience required, previous work experience with individuals with mental health diagnoses.
• Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications:
  • NYS CASE Trainings must be up to date while providing services (offered online)
• Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities:
• Other Requirements:
  • Travel to site may be required, valid driver’s license is required. Must be able to meet all the criteria to be a valid driver for the agency
  • Must be able to adhere to a flexible work schedule that may include early hours, evening hours and weekends. Scheduling is dependent upon the needs of the persons served.
  • Must have excellent communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role is performed in-person. Some travel is required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours).
• Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets.
• Employee is required to reach with hands and arms.
• Employee is required to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch or stand on a stool as needed.
• Employee is required to be able to lift 50 pounds at a time.

Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.

FREE is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected characteristic. In addition to federal law requirements, FREE complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in all of its locations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises’ affirmative action efforts related to protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are set out and described in our affirmative action plan for protected veterans and individuals with a disability. If you have any questions or would like to view the affirmative action plan, please visit our website www.familyres.org