Employment Specialist

Employment Specialist

***Must Be ACRE Certified***

Summary: The Employment Specialist (ES) (full or part-time) is trained to provide a thorough assessment of a client's work skills, job development, short-term job coaching, and ongoing support to individuals seeking integrated employment. The ES helps our clients successfully find, maintain, and grow in the workplace. The ES transports clients, provides coaching, teaches, and mentors. The ES assists with interviews, applications, and resume creation. The ES is instrumental in client success with on-the-job support.


Minimum Qualifications:

• Excellent communication skills
• Highly organized with time and data
• Current and active driver's license
• Ability to obtain company-sponsored CPR/First Aid Certifications within 90 days of employment
• Has a current ACRE (Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators) certification
• Honest, motivated, hardworking, communicate clearly and often, and a problem solver
• 6 months experience working with people with disabilities.
• Must have a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and ability to transport clients.
• Experience with mentoring, coaching, or teaching.
• 1 year or more experience working with people with disabilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with mentoring or coaching or teaching
• 1 year of more experience working with people with disabilities

Responsibilities:

• Promotes a positive work environment.
• Serves as a representative and first point of contact for OPPO to employers.
• Provides initial assessment, job development, job placement, job coaching, and ongoing training to enable the individual to obtain and maintain employment.
• Identifies client's individual strengths, interests and abilities, and potential barriers.
• Ensures employment opportunities align with client's abilities following the completion of WSA/Discovery assessments
• Conducts a thorough Job Analysis that breaks down and prioritizes what the client needs to do each day.
• Provides monthly written reports to the VR Counselor on client progress.
• Completes all OPPO documentation as needed and on a timely basis, including clocking in and out for each shift.
• Communicates on a regular basis with the client and VR Counselor and works to resolve concerns, issues, or disagreements.
• Provides written reports in a timely manner for invoicing of services provided.
• Mentors clients on how to obtain and maintain desirable and successful employment
• Supports clients in following all employer policies including proper clock ins and outs.
• Helps the client fulfill job duties, including verbal prompts and redirection, as needed.
• Communicate and advocate for client needs including any needed ADA accommodations
• Assist clients to socially integrate into employment settings, and company culture and establish an internal support structure
• Ensure the client is assisted in a manner that facilitates growth.
• Dresses professionally at all times conforming to the client's work location policies and needs
• Attends mandatory OPPO employee training, presentations, and staff meetings
• Networks and develops positive partnerships with local businesses in person and via cold calling.
• Creates job positions that mutually benefit clients and partner employers.
• Drives to and from client's job sites, and as needed, including driving clients to or from work.
• Other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting, standing, and walking.
• Has the ability to lift up to 50 pounds, use mechanical lifts where required, and transfer individuals correctly

Reports to:

• VR Manager / Team Lead

Direct Reports:

• No direct report

FLSA Status:

• Nonexempt (hourly)

Discretionary Benefits:

• PTO for all (including part-time)
• Mileage reimbursement program
• Medical, Vision, Dental, HSA, EAP

About the Company: OPPO provides person-centered, long-term, home, and community-based solutions, including employment to people in Colorado and Utah. We have a team of over 150 impactful people empowered to create safe, happy, and healthy OPPOrtunities for our residents, patients, clients, and team. Everyone has the right to these OPPOrtunities, and we focus on ensuring it to those who would otherwise be marginalized.