Orientation and Training Center Manager; WMS

Orientation and Training Center Manager (WMS BAND 02)

This recruitment will be used to fill one position in South Seattle, WA. Standard business hours are Monday – Friday 8 am - 5 pm. Work is done in an office environment. Ability to telework dependent upon supervisory approval.

Contact Information: Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or  For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Rachel Vaughan via email jobs.gov. DSB Relocation Allotment: DSB offers, upon approval, a relocation bonus and allotment for those staff relocating and needing to make the move to, or across the beautiful state of Washington to join our team.

Who We Are: Washington State Department of Services for the Blind is "working together with individuals who are Blind, Deaf-Blind or Low Vision so they can flourish in their homes, communities, and workplaces." DSB's Vocational Rehabilitation program assists individuals with visual disabilities achieve gainful employment and economic vitality through integration into the nation's workforce, while assisting businesses with accessibility training, consultation, recruitment, and retention of qualified employees.

Together, these services lead to the greater employment of qualified Blind, Deaf Blind and Low Vision individuals and more accessible and diverse businesses. DSB is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness - qualifying employer.

About this Opportunity The goal of DSB's Vocational Rehabilitation program is to assist in the stable employment and skills development of Blind, Deaf Blind and Low Vision agency customers. The Orientation and Training Center (OTC) contributes to the agency mission by providing intensive training and other experiences that empower students to increase their self-awareness, self-advocacy, alternative skills of Blindness, and employability to their maximum potential.

The OTC accomplishes these goals through combinations of formal training in a classroom setting and a variety of community-based activities. This position provides leadership for the Orientation and Training Center to:

• Manage, grow and streamline residential program services to promote highest quality adaptive skills training and adjustment to blindness activities which provide agency customers a strong foundation for their job-readiness and vocational goals
• Educate and incorporate the Agency cultural values within teams
• Emphasize and encourage vocational context for all multidisciplinary team staff roles
• Establish, review and revise agency and program procedure
• Work to ensure staff continuously review and refine understanding of the subtle contexts of working in the field of disability
• Fill all staff vacancies in accordance with Collective Bargaining Agreement, state HR requirements, needs of agency and local team, and agency values for diversity/disability representation among the workforce
• Communicate staff performance expectations and conduct performance reviews and evaluations
• Resolve and mediate conflict situations

The focus of this position is to lead the OTC into alignment with the agency's culture, work and processes, and to assist the agency, staff and customers in achieving expected outcomes. This position is responsible for managing the programs and all customer activity performed by the agency in the Orientation and Training Center for residential and commuting students, located in the Seattle area.

This position is responsible for a multi-disciplinary team of nine staff members and has an annual budget of over $1 million. The OTC annually provides assessment, adjustment to blindness, self-advocacy, adaptive skills of living and vocational training services to 60-100 Washington State residents who are Blind, Deaf Blind and Low Vision to gain competitive, integrated employment. To learn the full expectations and responsibilities of this position, email the recruiter:
Rachel Vaughan  and request the full job description.

Duties associated with this position include:

• Communicate to staff, agency customers and external customers the Agency's scope and mission, the VR process, and the scope and impact of broader laws and regulations such as the reauthorization of the Rehab Act within the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Code of Federal Regulations, RSA technical guidelines, Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Washington State WAC 67-25, and DSB procedure
• Educate and incorporate the Agency cultural values and blindness expertise within teams and among external partners, including: belief in customer abilities, safety, respect, dignity, and movement towards their maximum independence; how targeted training, tools, high expectation and mentorship allow individuals with visual disabilities to achieve their life and vocational goals; promote diversity and champion the abilities of individuals with a disability;
  
  direct communications; performance- and team-orientation;…