Employment Specialist & Pre-ETS Coach

About RISE Services

RISE Services is a mission-driven organization with deep expertise in helping individuals with disabilities obtain and maintain competitive, integrated employment. We provide person-centered services that help individuals build skills, explore career pathways, access opportunities, and achieve meaningful outcomes in work and community life.

RISE Services is seeking a compassionate, motivated
Employment Specialist / Pre-ETS Coach
to support individuals with disabilities, including students ages 14–21 with IEPs or 504 Plans, as they prepare for, obtain, and maintain meaningful employment.

This role provides both adult employment services and Pre-Employment Transition Services, including career exploration, job readiness training, work-based learning support, job development, job coaching, and retention services. The ideal candidate is relationship-driven, student- and participant-centered, organized, and committed to helping individuals achieve long-term employment success through customized, person-centered supports.

• Conduct intake assessments to identify skills, interests, support needs, career goals, and barriers to employment.
• Develop individualized employment or service plans in collaboration with participants, students, families, support teams, schools, and vocational rehabilitation counselors.
• Support students and participants in exploring career interests, strengths, post-secondary options, training opportunities, and employment goals.
• Coordinate resources and strategies to address barriers to employment and workplace success.

• Provide coaching in resume development, interviewing, workplace communication, professionalism, self-advocacy, independence, and positive work behaviors.
• Conduct mock interviews, role‑play activities, and individualized career‑readiness activities.
• Support participants and students in understanding employer expectations, workplace culture, accommodations, and professional conduct.
• Assist students with employment preparation tasks such as work permits, job readiness steps, and work experience planning.

• Assist with job search strategies, applications, networking, online platforms, and community connections.
• Identify competitive employment opportunities and short‑term work‑based learning or trial work experiences aligned with individual goals and strengths.
• Coordinate interviews, application follow‑up, employer communication, and placement support.
• Advocate appropriately for participants and support accommodation discussions when needed.

• Provide job coaching and on‑site or off‑site support to promote successful onboarding, skill acquisition, and workplace independence.
• Help individuals learn job tasks, adapt to routines, and build positive relationships with supervisors and coworkers.
• Monitor job satisfaction, performance, hours worked, retention, and skill development.
• Intervene early to address challenges and prevent job loss.

• Communicate and collaborate with DARS, DORS, school staff, families, employers, community partners, and internal team members.
• Build and maintain employer and community relationships to expand employment and work‑based learning opportunities.
• Participate in job fairs, hiring events, school/community meetings, networking activities, supervision, and quality assurance activities.

• Maintain accurate, timely documentation, including progress notes, service records, outcome tracking, and required reports.
• Document measurable outcomes such as placements, work experiences, hours worked, retention, skill gains, and service activities.
• Ensure documentation complies with RISE Services policies, vocational rehabilitation requirements, and program/funding expectations.

• Maintain knowledge of supported employment, Pre‑ETS, transition services, disability rights, accommodations, vocational rehabilitation, and employment best practices.
• Participate in required training and…