EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS SPECIALIST

The Employment Relations Specialist works with individuals with autism to find meaningful, appropriate integrated employment.  Employment Relations Specialists provide work readiness training, job placement, on-the-job coaching, and ongoing support to clients and employers to ensure our clients reach their employment goals. The Specialist is responsible for developing and locating employment opportunities for individual clients with autism through the development of relationships with community businesses and potential employers. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Liaison with Businesses and Potential Employers:

• Identify potential employment sites and develop relationships with decision makers within those sites by learning about their businesses, hiring practices, business needs, and priorities, and identifying business needs
• Develop thorough task analyses of job responsibilities for available positions to facilitate matching of applicants and training of potential employees
• Conduct ongoing analysis of jobs and work with employers as needed to restructure jobs or tasks to maximize potential for successful job performance
• Maintain rapport and effective, regular communication with employers/managers to ensure appropriate level of support for the business and the supported employee
• Provide on-the-job training and coaching to supported employees, to teach job responsibilities and adapt to changes as they occur
• Facilitate employee job starts with employer, family/guardian (if applicable), and all relevant parties
• Provide training and consultations to employers/coworkers and others to develop natural supports for the employee within the work environment
• Identify opportunities for job/career growth with the employer and supported employee. Facilitate further training or coaching to assist both parties.

Job Development and Planning:

• Collaborate with Employment Services Coordinator on intake and assessment activities for individuals seeking services, for determination of service eligibility, vocational strengths, preferences, interests, abilities, and potential obstacles and other information relevant to acquiring and maintaining employment
• Develop individualized employment service plans focused on the development of job readiness skills, preparation and support for job acquisition, job specific training, and maximizing the Individuals involvement in the process of obtaining and maintaining employment.Coordinate/conduct the provision of individual and/or group, on-site and off-site job development, coaching and training to supported individuals, teaching them specific job tasks as well as their work responsibilities and professional behavior
• Coordinate individualized follow along supports to ensure ongoing employment retention and success, fading paid supports while increasing natural and community supports.
• Identify and implement transportation plans for supported employees, up to and including provision of transportation as needed to supported individuals to job sites or other sites relevant to job development
• Assist individuals in monitoring satisfaction with employment and increasing self-advocacy skills to enable them to pursue career interests and identify and capitalize on opportunities for growth.

Service Coordination:

• Serve as a liaison between individuals, employers, families/caregivers, funding source representatives, coordinators of other services delivered by ASNC, and other team members to facilitate communication and support to assist in the employment process.
• Conduct and/or participate in client review sessions with representatives of involved agencies and parent/advocates
• Develop and maintain schedule of services for individuals receiving services and staff, in collaboration with direct support staff, employers, family and other relevant parties
• Ensure timely completion of all required service documentation, in order to maintain funding authorization and ensure successful billing and reimbursement staff for services rendered in accordance with requirements of funding source.
• Provide training to direct support staff on topics including but not limited to best practices and strategies to teach and support individuals with ASD, task analysis, development of work systems, development of natural supports, acquisition of transportation, advocacy in work settings, location of resources, etc.
• Provide support and oversight to direct support staff working in collaboration with Employment Services Coordinator
• Maintain service recipient and staff files containing documentation of direct contact, correspondence, telephone conversation and other communication.
• Implement internal and external policies and procedures to deliver services and ensures that all aspects of service provision comply with all applicable ASNC, State, Federal, and Medicaid policies and regulatory requirements.
• Educate potential employers, parents, and the public about autism and related services.
• Assist with recruitment and hiring of Employment Support Professionals.

Additional Duties:

• Effectively utilize internal systems, including payroll systems, electronic health records, and online training systems
• Coordinate with accounting staff to ensure timely payroll, billing processes, and adherence to budget
• Participate in professional development activities such as in-service or trainings, and assigned conferences
• Engage in self-directed learning and internal/external trainings to stay abreast of changes within state service delivery system and remain fluent in all aspects of service delivery, including understanding of legislation and regulations related to supported employment, such as ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, Ticket to Work, IDEA, FLSA, other laws related to employment; including
• Performs other miscellaneous tasks that are integral or ancillary to services provided by ASNC
• Ensures that all services are provided with a commitment to CQLs basic assurances of health, safety, and work to meet the personal outcomes of individuals we support.

Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university in a discipline related to human services, and a minimum of two years of full-time, post baccalaureate, accumulated experience working with persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities; or Bachelors degree in a field unrelated to human services and a minimum of four years of full-time, post baccalaureate accumulated experience working with persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities; or Masters degree in a human services field and a minimum of one year of full-time, post-graduate, accumulated experience working with persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities

Supervisory Responsibilities
Supervises 5 or more non-supervisory staff.

Financial Responsibilities
Manage personnel expenses through the strict oversight of staffing schedules and service related expenditures. Participate in development of annual departmental budget.