Project Search Instructor FT

Abilis-Inc; Greenwich (CT); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Abilis-Inc is seeking a Lead Instructor for the Project SEARCH Internship to Employment program. The role involves developing and coordinating the program, delivering the employability skills curriculum, and guiding interns toward competitive employment.

The position reports to the Program Manager and requires collaboration with the host site, families, and agency staff. A Bachelor's degree or Teaching Credential plus two years’ relevant experience are required.

Qualifications

• Teaching credential or bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Two years’ experience with at-risk populations or people with disabilities.
• Ability to employ varied instructional strategies.
• Willingness to stay current with best practices in transition and supported employment.

Responsibilities

• Assist recruitment of appropriate young adults with disabilities for Project SEARCH.
• Attend IEP/IP meetings when applicable.
• Connect students to community resources.
• Identify internships within host businesses for marketable skills.
• Facilitate Employment Planning Meetings with interns, families and agency staff.
• Develop resumes/portfolios documenting skills and experiences.
• Deliver the Project SEARCH employability skills curriculum to interns.
• Update the Project SEARCH portal with internship and outcome records.
• Coordinate onsite skills trainers to meet intern support needs.
• Help secure competitive, integrated employment at host businesses or in the community.

Skills

Instructional strategies

Interpersonal communication

Organizational skills

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree or Teaching Credential

Job description

POSITION: Lead Instructor (full time/non-exempt)PROGRAM ASSIGNMENT: Project Search Internship to Employment ProgramSCHEDULED WORK TIMES: Monday through Friday40-hour weekHours: 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m (or as arranged by immediate supervisor)(occasional evening meetings or presentations)IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Program ManagerCLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH: Program Manager; Business Liaison at Host Site; Skills Trainers; Interns; and Families.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Education: Teaching Credential or Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Behavioral Science or a related field from accredited college or university.Experience: 2 years successful work experience working with at risk populations or people with disabilities.GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION:Under the direction of the Program Manager and in accordance with established policies and procedures of Abilis and Project SEARCH, the Instructor will help develop and coordinate the Project SEARCH program and provide instruction for interns. Instructor delivers the employability sills curriculum and works with each interns team to reach the goal of competitive employment. The Instructor also directs the skills trainers.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:Help with recruitment of appropriate young adults with disabilities for Project SEARCH program.If Applicable, attend IEP or IP meetings.Connect students to appropriate community resources.Help Identify internship sites within the host business that build a repertoire of marketable skills that lead to competitive, integrated employment.Ensure that internships include measureable skills gain that is assessed according to productivity, quality, and safety benchmarks.Facilitate regular Employment Planning Meetings with interns, families, and agency personnel to determine career interests, specific job preferences, skills, thereby designing an individualized approach to job development.If applicable, identify and problem solve solutions for challenges that interfere with completion of Project SEARCH and gaining and maintaining employment.Use universal design concepts to design and implement accommodations and adaptations needed at the internship sites.If applicable, use Project SEARCHs VocFit and other assessment tools to evaluate intern progress, communicate with the team, and identify additional skill/task development.Together with skills trainers, assess intern progress frequently, communicate that progress regularly to the interns team and make instructional and training adjustments, providing interventions for interns who are not making progress.Together with Abilis Competitive Employment staff, develop resumes/portfolios for each intern that document measurable skills gain, internship experiences, any certifications gained, recommendations, etc.Learn the Project SEARCH employability skills curriculum and deliver it to interns.Reinforce the curriculum in the internships so interns develop skills, knowledge and work habits leading to successful employment.Continuously update the Project SEARCH Member Portal to maintain records of staff changes, interns experiences and employment outcomes including jobs gained, wages, hours worked per week, benefits taken, etc.Actively participate in Project SEARCH Steering Committee and onsite team meetings.Coordinate and schedule onsite skills trainers to meet the support needs of the interns.Work with the business liaison, onsite team, and Abilis Competitive Employment staff to secure competitive, integrated employment at the host business or in the community.Ability to embrace various forms of technology in order to make communication and curriculum more effective.Possess a valid drivers license that allows a person to be insured as designated by Abilis vehicle insurance carrier.If necessary, ability to operate agency vehicles in a safe manner.Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Recommended:Minimum of a Bachelors degree.A minimum of two years successful, recent, and relevant experience as an instructor for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Demonstrated ability to employ a variety of instructional strategies that connect the curriculum to the learner.Willingness to become knowledgeable of current best practices in the field of transition and supported employment.Experience in differentiating lessons and settings to meet the needs of interns and their varied learning styles.Effective interpersonal communication skills that promote relationship-building with interns, families, host business staff, Project SEARCH team members, and other community agencies.Organizational ability, self-directedness, and initiative when given a variety of responsibilities and assigned tasks.Ability to make decisions and problem-solve within a team of service providers.ADDITIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITYFollow the established philosophy of Abilis.Ensure telephone calls, emails and texts are returned within the next business day to colleagues, community partners, and families.Complete tuition related invoices to school, state agencies or families.Complete daily THERAP reporting.Together with the business liaison, maintain a safe, healthy work environment according to OSHA regulations and Abilis policies.Occasionally participate in designated professional in-service training.Attend the summer week-long Project Search Conference