IPS Job Developer and Employment Specialist

ECS; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 84,585,000 - 85,687,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Job summary

Episcopal Community Services (ECS) is seeking a role focused on helping participants obtain and maintain competitive employment through IPS-supported services.

The position requires extensive in‑person client engagement, with at least 65% of time spent in the community and strong employer relations to identify opportunities and supports.

Qualifications

• Education and experience equivalent to an undergraduate degree in mental health, social services, or business.
• Experience working with people with severe mental illness and/or homelessness, substance use disorder, or comorbidities.
• Experience providing employment services and knowledge of the work world is preferred.
• Ability to work as an effective team member is essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist clients to obtain and maintain competitive employment per IPS model.
• Spend 65% of time in the community meeting clients.
• Develop individual employment/education plans with input from mental health team and family.
• Conduct minimum six employer contacts per week to learn needs and supports.
• Provide follow‑along supports and write job support plans with client input.

Skills

Experience with mental health clients

Employment services experience

Teamwork

Education

Undergraduate degree in mental health, social services, or business

Job description

Job Details

Location: 12 Grace Street – San Francisco, CA 94103
Salary: $29.53 – $29.55 per hour

At Episcopal Community Services (ECS), employees work with participants who may be experiencing homelessness, behavioral health conditions, substance use challenges, and other difficult life circumstances. The work is meaningful and mission‑driven, yet it can be stressful, demanding, or unpredictable. Employees are expected to exercise sound judgment, remain aware of their surroundings, follow safety, communication, and de‑escalation procedures, participate in all required trainings, and promptly report incidents, threats, injuries, or unsafe conditions in accordance with ECS policies and procedures.

This position is a fully onsite, client‑facing role that requires in‑person interaction and direct service delivery to participants at ECS program locations. Due to the essential nature of the duties and the need for consistent in‑person engagement with clients, remote work or work‑from‑home arrangements are not available.

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities

Carries out the services of the IPS Supported Employment program by assisting clients to obtain and maintain competitive employment that is consistent with their vocational goals through job coaching, job development, job readiness support, retention support, and referrals to training. This role involves strong employer relations skills and 65% of the time spent in the community, in adherence with the evidence‑based IPS model.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Engages clients and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disabilities.
• Assesses clients' vocational skills and preferences on an ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With the client's permission, provides information and support to family members and discusses the client's preference for disclosure of mental health status to employers.
• Develops an individual employment and/or education plan with clients, incorporating input from the mental health team and family members, with client permission.
• Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community, such as meeting clients at their homes, workplaces, coffee shops, libraries, One‑Stop offices, state VR office, and family homes, and helps clients follow up on job applications.
• Helps clients learn about different jobs/careers by facilitating meetings with workers/managers to discuss positions that interest clients, meeting with academic advisors, observing workers, and attending job fairs to speak with employers about different types of jobs.
• Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on his or her caseload, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
• Conducts a minimum of six employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe supports offered by the program, and describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides individualized follow‑along supports to assist clients in maintaining employment. Writes job support plans with clients and incorporates input from family members and the mental health team. Adjusts plans according to clients’ needs and preferences.
• Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients, may negotiate job accommodations, and follows along with the IPS specialist by contacting the employer.
• Assists clients in obtaining individualized information about how entitlements (e.g., SSI, Medicaid) will be affected by employment so clients can make decisions about employment opportunities. Refers clients to benefits counseling and helps clients report earnings, as needed.
• Provides outreach services as necessary to clients when they appear to disengage from service, using a variety of methods to provide outreach.
• Provides timely interventions, returns phone calls and responds to situations promptly—for example, returns client phone calls within 24 hours, goes to see employers regarding job loss or problems within 24 hours, follows up on job leads within 48 hours, meets with clients within one week prior to job starts and within three days after job starts.
• Participates in case conferencing at a cadence determined by client need, with meetings occurring at least monthly, and communicates individually with team members between meetings to coordinate vocational services with mental health treatment.
• Assists clients in learning about different education and vocational training programs related to client interests and academic aptitudes.
• Documents all work and efforts with and on behalf of clients in the client management database.

Qualifications

• Education and experience equivalent to an undergraduate degree in mental health, social services, or business.
• Experience working with people with severe mental illness and/or experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder, or comorbidities.
• Experience providing employment services, and knowledge of the work world are preferred.
• Ability to work as an effective team member is essential.

Other Requirements

• Must secure finger image screening, annual TB screening, and Live Scan.
• Must be able to pass a CDCR background check.
• Must meet physical requirements of the position, which may include long periods at a desk and/or computer workstation, the ability to stand, sit, kneel, reach, bend, and lift up to 50 pounds, and the ability to actively work in the field 65% of the time.

Mission Essential

• Demonstrate behavior that supports the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
• Adhere to all program, funder, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Communicate effectively and model integrity, fairness, and ethical business practices.

Benefits

ECS offers industry‑leading healthcare benefits to support your physical and mental well‑being.

EEO Statement

ECS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records as consistent with San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance.

ECS values a workplace where every individual is respected, supported, and given equal opportunity to thrive. We are an equal‑opportunity employer dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.