Lead Instructor Work Readiness Program (Disability Services) Manhattan & Brooklyn

AHRC New York City; New York (NY); On-site; USD 49,500 - 60,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits package

Supportive work environment

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

AHRC New York City is seeking a Lead Instructor for their Project SEARCH program, aimed at preparing individuals with developmental disabilities for employment. This role involves developing and coordinating the program, providing instruction, and fostering relationships with potential internship sites.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in education or a related field, combined with expertise in vocational training. Responsibilities include organizing assessments and workshops, and guiding interns through their work experiences to ensure successful employment outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience working with neurodivergent individuals preferred.
• Knowledge of vocational training concepts and techniques.
• Familiarity with assessment tools and job matching.

Responsibilities

• Create relationships with referral sources for intern recruitment.
• Develop and coordinate the Project SEARCH program.
• Deliver employability skills curriculum and oversee interns' work experience.
• Organize field trips and workshops for intern development.
• Facilitate Employment Planning Meetings with interns and families.

Skills

Relationship building

Organizational skills

Teamwork

Instructional skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Education or related field

Job description

Company Description

AHRC New York City is a large, complex nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting neurodivergent children and adults (those with autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and other disabilities) through a broad spectrum of services, and a family governed organization that envisions a socially just world where the power of difference is embraced and reflected in all that we do. Generosity guides us as we honor our legacy and continuously grow through a culture of curiosity, creativity, and optimism and as we advocate for people with disabilities to lead full and equitable lives.

Job Description

AHRC NY City is seeking Lead Instructors for both their Manhattan and Brooklyn Employment Business Services (EBS) Project Search programs. AHRC NYCs EBS team seeks to prepare people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for employment. The Project SEARCH program is a collaborative program between AHRC NYC, a host business, and OPWDD. It is a business‑led, one‑year work‑readiness program for young adults. The model immerses participants at the host business through classroom instruction, career exploration, and 3 hands‑on internship rotations to help obtain competitive, integrated employment after program completion.

Compensation Package

$55,000 per year plus a very generous and comprehensive Benefit package.

General Summary of Position

Under the direction of the Regional Director and Project SEARCH Coordinator, the Project SEARCH Lead Instructor will help develop and coordinate the Project SEARCH program and provide instruction for the interns enrolled. The Project SEARCH lead instructor delivers the employability skills curriculum and works with each intern’s team to reach the goal of competitive employment.

Essential Responsibilities

• Create relationships with referral sources to recruit appropriate interns for Project SEARCH program.
• Create and organize assessment activities/days to identify interns for the program.
• Help with all enrollments for the program related to OPWDD funding and maintaining the Project SEARCH database.
• Help with all onboarding requirements needed to be fulfilled by the host business.
• Develop relationships with the different department managers to identify internship sites within the host business that build a repertoire of marketable skills that lead to competitive, integrated employment.
• Ensure that internships include measurable skills gain that is assessed according to productivity, quality, and safety benchmarks.
• Develop classroom work readiness activities and a monthly schedule based on the Project SEARCH employability skills curriculum that is reinforced in the internships developing skills, knowledge and work habits leading to successful employment.
• Organize field trips for financial literacy, mock interviews, resume building, etc. workshops.
• Facilitate regular Employment Planning Meetings with interns, families, and agency personnel to determine career interests, specific job preferences, skills, and abilities to design an individualized approach to job development.
• Identify and problem‑solve solutions for challenges that interfere with completion of Project SEARCH and gaining and maintaining employment.
• Assist with completing the Vocational Fit Assessment or other job matching tools to determine the abilities of the intern, the demands of the internship tasks and assist the team to make meaningful job/internship matches.
• Using Vocfit and other assessment tools to evaluate the intern’s progress and to identify additional skill/task development.
• Use universal design concepts to design and implement accommodations and adaptations needed at the internship sites.
• Supervise and support the Project SEARCH skills instructor in providing individualized support for the intern during each internship rotation.