Vocational Specialist

Merakey; Harrisburg (Dauphin County); On-site; USD 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

DailyPay

Well-being platform

Backup childcare

EAP counseling

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Pryor Online Learning

Job summary

Merakey in Harrisburg, PA is seeking a dedicated Vocational Specialist to help adults with serious mental illness achieve employment and educational goals within the Supported Employment framework. You will lead consumer engagement and deliver recovery-oriented services in homes and community settings.

Daily responsibilities include assessments, individualized plans, job coaching, and employer outreach, with travel across Dauphin County using your own vehicle.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience working with adults with serious mental illness or in related human services roles.
• Valid Driver’s License. Travel across Dauphin County.

Responsibilities

• Conduct vocational assessments, develop individualized employment plans, and provide job coaching, placement, and retention support.
• Perform weekly home and community visits, using your own vehicle to assist with transportation and job-related tasks.
• Participate in daily team meetings and Community Support Planning to align vocational goals with mental health recovery.
• Support individuals in developing daily living skills, including hygiene, nutrition, money management, and social engagement.
• Build relationships with employers, present the benefits of inclusive hiring, and lead job readiness workshops.

Skills

Experience with SMI

Driver's license

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

• Demonstrated experience working with adults with serious mental illness or in related human services roles (e.g., caregiving, residential support, home health, etc.)
• Valid Driver’s License. Travel is necessary to offer support across Dauphin County.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience working with adults with serious mental illness or in related human services roles (e.g., caregiving, residential support, home health, etc.)
• Valid Driver’s License. Travel is necessary to offer support across Dauphin County.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in rehabilitation counseling
• Previous experience in supported employment or mental health recovery settings

Make a meaningful impact by supporting individuals with serious mental illness in achieving employment and educational goals. As a Vocational Specialist, you’ll lead consumer engagement using the Supported Employment model, working in homes and community settings to provide personalized, recovery-oriented services.

Join our team in our Harrisburg, PA location supporting Dauphin County.

Earn $23.33/hour.

Position Details

• Conduct vocational assessments, develop individualized employment plans, and provide job coaching, placement, and retention support.
• Perform weekly home and community visits, using your own vehicle to assist with transportation and job-related tasks.
• Participate in daily team meetings and Community Support Planning to align vocational goals with mental health recovery.
• Support individuals in developing daily living skills, including hygiene, nutrition, money management, and social engagement.
• Build relationships with employers, present the benefits of inclusive hiring, and lead job readiness workshops (e.g., resume writing, interview prep, workplace safety).

Join a team that values compassion, creativity, and commitment to recovery. If you're passionate about helping others build meaningful lives through work and community connection, we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits

Merakey offers generous benefits that promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan -- both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions.
• DailyPay -- access your pay when you need it!
• On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
• Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
• Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
• Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
• Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

Learn more about our full benefits package - https://www.merakey.org/careers/benefits

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Click here to watch a video about Merakey.

Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply!