Employment Specialist

Reports to:

Director of Vocational Services

FLSA Status:
Exempt Salary

Salary:
Starting at 50,000 with full benefit package

Location:

Denton County and surrounding areas

Department:
Vocational Services Program

Average Hours Per Week: 40 hours/week

Travel:
Local travel daily

Technology:
Laptop & Cell phone

29 Acres is a non-profit organization that serves adults with autism and other neurodiversity through a suite of support services including a living community, 2-year transition academy, day program, and employment support.

The Employment Specialist is an innovative and collaborative professional responsible for helping clients 16+ with autism and other neurodiversity achieve meaningful employment. This role primarily supports individuals living at the 29 Acres Living Community and students enrolled in the Transition Academy, utilizing services through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The Employment Specialist may also provide employment services to TWC clients who are not affiliated with 29 Acres, as well as HCS clients, on a case-by-case basis.

The Employment Specialist builds and maintains strong community partnerships to create employment opportunities that align with each individual's strengths, interests, and vocational goals. They guide clients through every stage of the searching, employer outreach, work experiences, job placement, and individualized job coaching.

Working closely with clients, families, employers, TWC counselors, and the interdisciplinary team, the Employment Specialist develops and implements individualized employment plans while providing ongoing support to promote job retention, increased independence, and career growth. This position is responsible for maintaining accurate documentation, meeting TWC service requirements and timelines, and ensuring services are person-centered and aligned with each client's vocational goals.

• Forward and innovative thinking on employment opportunities in the community
• Develop a network and contacts within the community for employment needs and partnerships
• Work together with employment team for opportunities for clients
• Provide job follow-up services and understand how to fade supports to natural employment supports
• Develop and implement individualized employment plans with clients and ensure that they understand the metrics of each devised plan
• Perform other assignments as delegated by the leadership team
• Occasionally teach pre-employment vocational training

• Meet weekly with Director of Vocational Services to review client job search progress
• Conduct case notes in slack with descriptive notes, observations, goals, successes and feedback
• Maintain effective communication with all staff involved in the client’s vocational plan
• Communicate with client’s circle of support prior to accepting a job offer to ensure it is the right fit

• Meet 1-on-1 with clients, engaging them in conversation to determine their specific backgrounds, career aspirations and personalities to find successful competitive employment based off their interests, desires and goals
• Follow up with employers after interviews to further assist with potential job offer
• Be meaningful and diligent while submitting job applications for clients – apply to jobs that meet their interests and skill sets
• Keep job application trackers up to date for each client using google sheets
• Provide pre-employment training such as elevator speech, resume writing and interview prep
• Coordinate interviews with employers, being the main point of contact during the employment search
• Attend interviews, supporting and serving as an advocate for clients
• Provide onsite job coaching when clients are placed at a job site
• Provide some…