Job Developer, Community Outreach and Intake Specialist

Birch Family Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Birch Family Services in New York, NY, is seeking an experienced individual to lead their employment program efforts. The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing work opportunities for individuals in need of employment services, building strong community relationships, and ensuring effective screening of applicants.

This role requires collaboration with various stakeholders to create both paid and unpaid work experiences that align with individual goals and needs. A minimum of a BA is required, along with relevant experience in job development and working with individuals with disabilities.

Qualifications

• BA required, Master’s preferred.
• Experience working with individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• 2+ years of experience in job development and intake or closely related.

Responsibilities

• Lead efforts to create and develop work experiences aligned with program member goals.
• Seek out relationships with schools and community organizations.
• Lead the screening of applicants for supported employment services.

Skills

Experience working with individuals with autism

Effective written and oral communication skills

Personal organization systems

Job development and intake

Education

BA required, Master’s preferred

Tools

Basic computer proficiency

Job description

Purpose

To directly grow the Birch Family Services employment program (New Frontier), develop work opportunities and engage/support individuals and families in the community to understand adult employment services/programs.

Areas of General Responsibility

Work Opportunity and Experience Development

You are responsible for leading efforts to create and develop work (paid or unpaid) experiences that are aligned with service/program (SEMP/ETP and Pre-Voc) goals along with the identified goals and interests of the program member. To accomplish this, you will:

• Collaborate with fellow Birch staff to deeply understand each person in need of work experience and thoroughly understand any unique barriers that must be considered to ensure a good match.
• Coordinate and organize meetings with program members and their coaches (if needed) to ask the necessary questions or create mini-assessments to completely understand the person you’re developing opportunities for. This includes but is not limited to developing:
  • Volunteer experiences in a field of interest
  • Internship opportunities
  • Situational assessment sites that meet ETP program requirements and
  • Paid work opportunities in an integrated, competitive setting.
• Outreach to and convince potential employers and work experience sites (primarily going in-person, but also calling, emailing, leveraging other sites like LinkedIn) to bring on Birch’s program member(s). This can be done by helping modify existing jobs to better meet the program member’s needs and provide information on incentives and supports available to employers. A successful outcome is creating a true partnership with the business/ agency.

Community Outreach

You are responsible for seeking out and creating new relationships with schools, for-profit businesses, or other community organizations. In some cases, specific districts/ communities will be targeted. This work will include but is not limited to:

• Contacting schools, creating a partnership, advising and supporting families and individuals
• Creating and delivering presentations (in-person and virtual) on various topics intended to educate individuals and families about adult employment services and how to access them

Screening and Assessments

You are responsible for leading the screening of applicants for supported employment or pre-vocational training services. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Developing and conducting assessments aligned to industry practices and standards, taking coursework to become more knowledgeable (and eligible) in delivering assessments and crafting key questions or learning experiences to assess present levels of skills with a potential program member.
• Developing a person-facing report that serves as a blueprint for any individual seeking vocational services (whether those services are provided by Birch or a different agency).
• Providing feedback/ input to Birch leadership on appropriateness of Birch/ OPWDD services for the individuals screened.
• Identifying individuals in need of these services and coordinating with all necessary stakeholders to ensure a thorough and timely screening process.
• Gathering, organizing and following up on required documentation needed to for an individual to join Birch’s employment program

Personal Organization

You are required to maintain personal organization systems that ensure you meet all deliverables for your position. This includes but is not limited to:

• Task/ to-do lists for work with your supervisor or fellow Birch staff
• Systems and routines for following up on written/ verbal communication to close the loop/ achieve the desired result
• Routinely checking in and providing updates on your progress to goals/ performance outcomes
• Maintaining your calendar to clearly identify for your supervisor how you’re spending your time (if needed)
• This position will include the ability to regularly travel to the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens

Communication and Documentation

You are responsible for ensuring timely, clear and effective communication with all stakeholders, especially as it relates to meeting your deliverables. Timely communication (email, call, text) includes response times of no more than 48 hours from initial outreach from either internal or external stakeholders. Clear and effective communication ensures that all context and necessary information is conveyed so that the ultimate goal of securing work experience opportunities can be realized sooner.

Support

You will have the opportunity to meet with a coach/supervisor at Birch once per week. You are expected to proactively:

• Name progress towards the goals outlined for the position
• Identify what’s on track and not on track and
• Propose solutions and next steps that will help you meet goals and intended outcomes for the position.

Your coach is a resource towards meeting your goals, not in charge of your goals. To that end, this position requires a highly driven, self‑motivated individual who is goal and outcomes driven. You are also expected to make connections with external partners who can provide advice and guidance towards effectively developing opportunities for program members along with recruiting individuals into Birch’s program.

Miscellaneous

You are required to participate in all required/mandated trainings, maintain all certifications related to job responsibilities (transcript for OPWDD and/ or ACCES‑VR trainings).

Qualifications

• BA required, Master’s preferred
• Experience working with individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities in the employment realm
• 2+ years of experience in job development and intake, or closely related
• A proven track record of results for developing work opportunities and/or partnerships with businesses
• Passion for helping make the job landscape more equitable for people with disabilities
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Effective and demonstrable personal organization systems
• Basic computer proficiency

EEO Statement

Birch Family Services provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Birch Family Services complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Birch Family Services expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Birch Family Services’ employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.