Training Specialist - Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties

MRC Industries

Job Title: Employment Training Specialist

Department: Community Employment

Job Classification: Exempt

Reports To: Community Employment Supervisor

Pay Range:

Midpoint: $ 44,200

Maximum: $53,040

At MRC Industries, we offer a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation, values diversity, and promotes professional growth. We are dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities through meaningful employment and community engagement. Join a team committed to fostering inclusivity and making a positive impact on people's lives.

Develops opportunities in the community to assist and enable individuals with developmental disabilities and severe and persistent mental illness to obtain and maintain long‑term competitive employment. Engages in community outreach and networking opportunities; building and nurturing business relationships in order to develop job opportunities for the individuals we serve. Works with employers to examine job needs and work environments to determine need for workplace modifications and coaching/support needed to teach the job to the individual.

This position will support Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties. It is an onsite position and newly created role to support growth. We are experiencing record‑breaking growth and are looking for ambitious individuals to join us as we expand our services to different counties.

• Assists individuals in obtaining appropriate competitive employment, ensuring job match consistent with individual's skills, strengths, and preferences.
• Assists individuals to be knowledgeable about job duties, benefits, rates of pay, employment policies and practices, and job location prior to acceptance.
• Establishes and maintains effective community employment contacts, working closely with local employers to develop and identify job opportunities.
• Provides on‑going follow‑up and support services to the individual to assist them in adjusting to and maintaining their employment. Assists individuals in accessing other community resources as necessary.
• Maintains contact with employers to provide follow‑up support and ensure satisfaction with services. Assists individuals in obtaining information on how their employment income will impact benefits (i.e. SSI, SSDI) and monitors income and its relationship to benefits.
• Establishes and nurtures business relationships through participating and/or maintaining membership in community organizations such as Chamber of Commerce, business organizations, and service organizations and attending community events such as career fairs.
• Obtains funding for individuals in job development (i.e. MRS, CMH).
• Maintains an organized system of recording job openings, including the names of employers, persons referred, and actions taken, and completes documentation in the timeframe established by supervisor.
• Completes safety analysis of employment sites to assure a safe environment.
• Provides feedback of information with other personnel regarding community employment opportunities and labor market trends.
• Coordinates with community employment staff to arrange appropriate placements, transportation and coaching for employment sites.
• Assists employers to identify and eliminate barriers to employment for the individuals employed.
• Maintains contact with service team members (case managers, parents, guardians, etc).
• Trains individuals new to community employment.
• Assures the rights of individuals served are protected in accordance with the Michigan Mental Health Code and agency policy.
• Actively supports and be knowledgeable about
  1) culturally competent, recovery‑based practices,
  2) person‑centered planning as a shared decision‑making process with the individual who defines his or her own life goals and is assisted in developing a unique path toward those goals and
  3) a trauma informed culture to aid clients in their recovery process.
• Completes other miscellaneous duties as assigned.

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,…