Vocational Services Specialist

JCC Association of North America; New York (NY); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Educational Alliance in New York City seeks a full-time Vocational Services Specialist to coordinate vocational rehabilitation and employment services for residents in a trauma-informed residential program.

You will provide individual and group counseling, connect clients to training, and partner with employers and state resources to expand job opportunities. Strong collaboration with clinical and case management teams is essential.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or Counseling required.
• Experience with individuals with substance use disorders.
• Knowledge of workforce development systems and employment services.
• Weekend availability required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct employment readiness and vocational assessments for new clients.
• Develop person-centered employment and career plans.
• Deliver 1:1 counseling and group vocational sessions.
• Provide resume development, application support, and interview preparation.
• Facilitate job matching and placement activities.
• Coordinate with clinical teams for integrated care.
• Maintain client-level tracking and required OASAS reporting.
• Ensure confidentiality and CFR compliance.

Skills

Substance use disorders experience

Workforce development knowledge

Counseling or case management

Strong communication skills

Education

Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or Counseling

CRC Preferred

Tools

Relias

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Electronic Health Records

Job description

Location and Job Title:

Vocational Services Specialist
Educational Alliance
197 E Broadway
New York, NY 10002

Principal Responsibilities:

Educational Alliance brings together and partners with diverse communities in Lower Manhattan, offering individuals and families high-quality, multi-generational programs and services that enhance their well-being and socioeconomic opportunities. We are a place where everyone is welcome and where progress is powered one relationship at a time. We are proud of our legacy as a Jewish organization, and we provide high-quality, transformational services and programs to all New Yorkers through our network of community centers on Manhattan's Lower East Side and East Village. As we have for 130 years, we offer best-in-class programming-now across 15 sites--focusing on a mix of education, health and wellness, arts and culture, and civic engagement.

The Center for Recovery and Wellness takes a holistic, strengths-based approach to recovery and wellness that responds to the distinct needs of each individual. Programs include residential and outpatient addiction treatment, recovery services, prevention education, and community programming. CRW offers culturally competent, evidence-based programs and services that strengthen individuals and communities, enhance resiliency, and foster lasting recovery

We are seeking a full-time Vocational Services Specialist who will be responsible for coordinating vocational rehabilitation and other employment-related services for a 100-bed residential, trauma informed, modified therapeutic community for residents being treated for substance use disorder. Services provided are individual and group counseling, referring clients to employment and skills based training services, legal services, and budgeting.

$26.66 hourly

RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Client Services

• Conduct employment readiness and vocational assessments for all new clients
• Develop person-centered employment and career plans
• Deliver ongoing 1:1 counseling and group vocational sessions
• Provide resume development, application support, and interview preparation
• Facilitate job matching and placement activities
• Conduct post-placement follow-ups at 6-day, 30, 60, and 90-day milestones

Job Development & Employer Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with local employers across industries
• Establish and document new employer partnerships each quarter
• Conduct outreach and business engagement activities
• Educate employers on recovery-friendly workplace practices
• Collaborate with OASAS job development resources and statewide initiatives

Regional Coordination

• Deliver services across all OASAS-certified programs in Manhattan
• Provide on-site or virtual services to partner agencies
• Coordinate with clinical and case management teams for integrated care
• Participate in monthly meetings with the OASAS Technical Assistance Liaison
• Attend required OASAS trainings and align with statewide workforce strategies

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain client-level tracking of services and outcomes
• Complete required monthly OASAS reporting, including:
  • Job assessments completed
  • Job search activities
  • Job placements and retention outcomes
  • Employer engagement activities
• Ensure all reporting uses unique identifiers (no PII)
• Maintain compliance with grant deliverables and data collection standards -

Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Maintain compliance with:
  • 42 CFR Part 2 confidentiality requirements
  • HIPAA and OASAS regulations
• Ensure services are non-duplicative of other OASAS-funded vocational services
• Participate in supervision and professional development activities
• Maintain documentation aligned with audit and CFR reporting requirements

Other

• Attend weekly staff meetings
• Attend training as required
• Perform special projects and other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or Counseling, CRC Preferred
• Experience working with individuals with substance use disorders
• Knowledge of workforce development systems and employment services
• Demonstrated experience in job placement, counseling, or case management
• Knowledge of labor market trends and workforce systems
• Access VRcredential or experience
• One year of experience in career counseling of clients with substance abuse disorders
• Knowledge of strengths-based counseling, cognitive behavioral treatment and behavior modification in practice
• Weekend availability required.
• Ability to multitask and handle challenging situations in a professional and courteous manner
• Ability to work professionally and empathetically with a diverse group of clients and staff.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with a broad variety of people, including other team members and management.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• competency with computer based programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook email, Relias, and Electronic Health records

Salary:

$2666

Agency Information:

A nonprofit beacon of hope for over 130 years, as a historically Jewish organization Educational Alliance believes in the power of communities to lift up people of all ages and turn strangers into neighbors. We offer high-quality, affordable education programs, health services, and diverse cultural enrichment right where New Yorkers live and raise their families. We make the city a brighter, friendlier and more supportive place. Our community centers offer multi-generational programs that push boundaries and break barriers, sharing critical tools to foster relationships and advance the well-being of people in New York City.

Our pioneering educational programs--like 2Generation Head Start, and courses ranging from art to fitness, career readiness to citizenship--are carefully curated and developed with our city's residents in mind. We offer dozens of options and we never stop innovating to help people of all ages grow, connect, and engage.

Guided by Jewish values, Educational Alliance celebrates the differences and individuality every person brings when they walk through our doors because we know that there is more that connects us than keeps us divided. Today, our reach extends beyond the city as our innovative programs serve as models for other organizations to adopt and implement in their communities. We invite you to join us as we partner with our neighbors, strengthen our city, and pave the way for more generations of New Yorkers to live enriched and fulfilling lives - because you belong here.