Director, Disability Services

Director, Disability Employment Services

Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and monitoring of the JVS Career & Employment services for people with disabilities. Directs staff and administers operational plans. Launches innovative programs to populations served. Develops and monitors outcomes, grants, and budgets. Collaborates with Jewish Federation and affiliate agencies. Represents programs, services, and projects to professional organizations, civic groups and public agencies and the community.

Provides guidance and back up to all program staff.

Knowledge,

Skills and Abilities

:

• Develops, recommends, implements, and reviews programs, projects, and services for agency clientele, establishing and adjusting staffing patterns as needed and providing overall guidance to maintain professional and ethical standards in service delivery.
• Monitors and evaluates employment trends to create responsive programming and placement services. Implements new programming in response to community needs and program performance.
• Develops and implements standardized procedures that strengthen program operations, improve efficiency, and enhance participant outcomes, while supporting inclusive employment practices across diverse communities. Monitors performance relative to community impact and funding requirements and adjust services, programs and projects within budget parameters.
• Research and assists in writing grants for new and continuation funding from both private and public entities, develops program concepts, and prepares program.
• Establish and maintain relationships with potential and continuing funding sources (including Il Dept. of Rehabilitation (DRS) and Dept of Human Services) and negotiate programmatic and budgetary goals to finalize.
• Directly supervises employment supervisor and staff to provide quality, effective services to achieve positive employment outcomes.
• Explores technology options and utilizes appropriate tools to improve program efficiency and outcomes, while supporting staff in learning and applying new systems as needed. Develops and implements marketing plans to expand client recruitment and supports the design of program marketing materials while training staff to facilitate cross-program marketing. Collaborates with Jewish Federation staff and staff of affiliate agencies in developing and delivering programs.
  
  Represents programs, services and projects to professional organizations, civic groups, public agencies and the community.
• Maintains liaison with other JCFS departments and services to strengthen partnerships and collaboration for the benefit of clients and program operations. Coordinates with the Senior Director, Employment to strategize employer partnership development and education.
• Oversees data gathering and analysis, develops methods to capture required departmental information, and supervises the timely completion of management, statistical, and special reports, including submissions to funding bodies, while establishing service delivery goals tied to community impact, grant and contract requirements, and outcome measurement. Follows prescribed safety procedures and acts to ensure safety for self, co-workers and consumers.
• May work directly with parents/guardians to keep them informed of service delivery strategies and outcomes. May oversee and/or handle difficult cases.
• Carries out responsibilities in accordance with professional standards, works cooperatively with co-workers, maintains positive relationships with employees, clients, and external partners. Where appropriate, demonstrates empathy and concern in client interaction and complies with all appropriate agency policies and procedures.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Spearheads the overall direction and management of programming and of its coordination, and evaluation.
• Supervises supervisor and direct service staff.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Agency's policies and applicable laws.
• Interviews, hires, and trains employees; plans, assigns, and directs work; appraises performance on a timely basis; rewards and disciplines employees; addresses complaints and resolves problems.
• Oversees and coordinates all employment development activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree, master's preferred, in psychology, counseling psychology, rehabilitation, social work or other appropriate behavioral science or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of seven years of experience in workforce development, especially in placement services for people with disabilities. Working knowledge of DRS a plus.
• Five years' supervisory experience with proven outcome employment results, managing multiple funding streams concurrently.
• Training in Customized Employment strategies with a nationally recognized training provider.
• Proven experience in creating and implementing programmatic changes to increase outcomes with heightening staff morale and motivation.
• Proven experience creating and balancing budget…