EXCENTIA JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Employment Specialist
Division: Unlicensed
Service: Employment Services
Department: Life Enrichment Services
Reports To: Director of Life Enrichment Services
FLSA Status: Hourly, non-exempt
Prepared By: Laurie A. Kleynen
Approved Date: April 3, 2017
Hours: 40 hours per week; flexible to meet the needs of the program
SUMMARY:
Assist individuals in a person-centered manner to prepare for, obtain, maintain and succeed in their employment endeavors.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Help individuals identify their needs and preferences in work opportunities, schedules, transportation, salary, location, etc.
- Pursue employment opportunities that fit the needs of the individual.
- Continuously search and expand knowledge of community resources related to employment.
- Utilize multiple resources/connections to develop job leads for individuals.
- Actively develop positive relationships with employers throughout the community to facilitate successful job matches for individuals.
- Maintain a strong understanding of individuals rights in the workplace.
- Stay abreast of what is happening both nationally and statewide in employment for individuals.
- Be well versed in all phases of the employment process, from the assessment or discovery phase, all the way through to the fading, and follow along phase of supports on the job.
- Be integral in identifying and ultimately supervise personnel that would become competent and certified employment professionals.
- Additional expertise is needed for this position, not limited to building social capital, social role valorization (normalization), assistive technology, systematic teaching, self-employment and entrepreneurial ideas, benefits counseling, etc.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodates may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
BA or AA in Business, Rehabilitation, Special Education or related field with two years of supported employment work experience preferred, or will consider six years of working with people with disabilities in a community/work setting.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of individuals, family members, staff, professionals, vendors and medical personnel. This position requires exceptional people skills, creativity, initiative and a solid understanding of resources and employment opportunities in the identified area.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Current and valid Pennsylvania drivers license required and reliable transportation required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally life and/or move more than 100 pounds with assistance, i.e., lift, cart, etc. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but can be loud at times.
This position may involve evening and weekend work. Hours are flexible totaling 40 hours per week.
