Employment Specialist

Job Details

Level: Experienced |

Location:

Administrative Office - New York, NY 10001 (Hybrid) | Position Type:
Full Time | Education Level: GED or Equivalent | Salary Range: $24.00 – $28.00 per hour |

Job Shift: Any |

Purpose:

To provide assistance, support, training and coaching on needed skills necessary to enable program participants to obtain or maintain competitive employment in integrated work settings. This work is performed in services such as Supported Employment (SEMP), ACCES‑VR or Community Based Pre‑Vocational (Pre‑Voc) training.

SEMP and/or Community Based Pre‑Voc Program Coordinator or Director.

• Develop key questions or learning experiences to assess present levels of skills with a potential program member.
• Provide feedback/input to Birch leadership on appropriateness of Birch services for the individual.

• Develop assessment opportunities and experiences to better understand top strengths and areas for growth.
• Develop a scope and sequence (a learning plan) that will help drive skill development for the individual to meet their life plan goals.
• Work with and seek feedback from your direct manager to ensure your plan, tactics and approach are effective for helping drive results for the program member.
• Devising internal learning plan goals and monitoring progress toward meeting those goals by an established date.

• Proactively share plans and seek feedback from your direct manager/coach to ensure plans, strategy, approach and tactics are as effective as possible.
• If necessary, complete a discovery report for the Employment Training Program (ETP) within the allotted timeframe that will yield a clear plan of top strengths, areas of growth and best fit job opportunities for the program member.
• Attend OPWDD Innovations training (ETP 101) and seek support from supervisor/coach on effective strategies for completing discovery.

• Develop volunteer experiences, internship opportunities, situational assessment sites and paid work opportunities that align with service/program goals and the interests of the program member.
• Contact and convince potential employers and work experience sites, modify existing jobs to better meet the program member’s needs, and provide information on incentives and supports available to employers.

• Maintain a calendar to clearly identify all billable time (direct and indirect hours) worked.
• Create task/to‑do lists for work with your supervisor/coach and with each program member.
• Complete data collection (progress notes) within 48 hours of providing services.
• Draft Staff Action Plans within 2 weeks after a Life Plan meeting and complete monthly progress reports with any additional required documentation.

• Assist program participants in securing work opportunities.
• Support individuals in applying for paid employment.
• Serve as liaison between a potential employer, program member and other supports/stakeholders.
• Assist an employer, as necessary, with position modifications.

• Maintain necessary contact with family members, residence managers and service coordinators for the individual.
• Participate in and send a recap/notes for Life Plan meetings.
• Draft Staff Action Plans.
• Write detailed data collection notes to Precision Care.
• Write thorough monthly updates.
• Complete ACCES‑VR billing forms (if needed).
• Complete Pre‑Voc annual assessments and/or ETP discovery documentation.

Meet with a coach/supervisor at least once per week to proactively name progress toward goals, identify what’s on track and not on track, and propose solutions and next steps. Use the coach as a resource for meeting your goals, not as a manager of your goals. Seek advice from colleagues and external partners to support your own development and progress toward goals for the position.

• Participate in all required/mandated trainings.
• Maintain all certifications related to job responsibilities (transcript for OPWDD and/or ACCES‑VR…