Job Coach

The New York Foundling; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York Foundling is seeking a dedicated Job Coach to deliver individualized coaching and employment services to people with developmental disabilities. You will focus on skill development, readiness for work, and long-term job retention to promote independence and community integration.

Responsibilities include assessments, tailoring employment action plans, partnering with inclusive employers, and upholding strong documentation standards to drive meaningful employment outcomes.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities to engage participants and families.
• Ability to motivate and empower individuals to achieve vocational goals.
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion for developmentally disabled individuals.
• Ability to assess challenges and develop tailored coaching strategies.
• Proven collaboration with employers, families and community stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one coaching in employment settings to develop work skills and social integration.
• Complete comprehensive employment assessments and create tailored action plans.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with inclusive employers; advocate for accommodations.
• Monitor progress and provide on-site or remote support to sustain job retention.
• Facilitate participation in vocational or community events each quarter.
• Ensure 100% compliance with documentation and reporting deadlines.
• Advocate workplace rights and accommodations; empower clients in self-advocacy.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Rapport building

Motivation & empowerment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Human Services or related field

Job description

Overview

At The New York Foundling, we trust in the power and potential of people, and we deliberately invest in proven practices. From bold beginnings in 1869, our New York-based nonprofit has supported hundreds of thousands of our neighbors on their own paths to stability, strength, and independence. We help children and families navigate through and beyond foster care. We help families struggling with conflict and poverty grow strong. We help individuals with developmental disabilities live their best lives, and we help our neighbors access quality health and mental health services—core to building lifelong resilience and wellbeing. Together, our interrelated programs provide a whole-person, whole-family, and whole-life approach that unlocks solutions for a lifetime.

Job Coach provides individualized job coaching and employment services to persons with developmental disabilities. This role focuses on skill development, employment readiness, and long‑term job retention, with the overarching goal of fostering independence, promoting community integration, and achieving meaningful employment outcomes.

Core Responsibilities

• Provides one-on-one coaching in various employment settings to support the development of work skills, task performance, and social integration, with a goal of helping at least 90% of assigned clients successfully integrate into the workplace within 90 days of job placement.
• Completes comprehensive employment assessments for all new clients, identifying individual strengths, skills, interests, and employment barriers. These assessments inform collaborative goal‑setting and the creation of tailored employment action plans with each person supported.
• Establishes and maintains partnerships with at least 10 new inclusive employers annually by building relationships with local businesses, identifying suitable job opportunities, and advocating for inclusive hiring practices and reasonable accommodations
• Monitors client progress, provides on‑site or remote support to address workplace challenges, and encourages continued skill development with the goal of achieving a minimum 75% job retention rate at the six‑month mark for all placed clients.
• Promote social inclusion and community integration, the specialist ensures client participation in at least three vocational or community events per quarter, including job fairs, training programs, and other employment‑related event.
• Maintains 100% compliance with documentation standards and reporting deadlines, using recorded data to evaluate the effectiveness of employment services and support continuous program improvement.
• Advocates for the workplace rights of persons with developmental disabilities by ensuring all clients receive necessary accommodations and understand their employment rights. They also empower clients to engage in self‑advocacy, supporting their ability to speak up for their needs in the workplace.
• Maintains 100% compliance with documentation standards and reporting deadlines, using recorded data to evaluate the effectiveness of employment services and support continuous program improvement.

The New York Foundling is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse employee population, the Foundling will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Human Services, or a related field required
• Minimum of 1year of experience in job coaching, vocational rehabilitation, or related field, with demonstrated success in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills; ability to build rapport, motivate, and empower individuals to achieve their vocational goals.
• Commitment to promoting workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Ability to assess challenges, develop creative solutions, and adapt coaching strategies to meet individual needs and employer expectations.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with employers, vocational counselors, families, and community stakeholders to enhance employment outcomes for participants.
• Demonstrated strong commitment to safety.

Education Required

Bachelor’s Degree from a U.S. accredited educational institution or Credential Evaluation for a non-U.S. educational institution