Employment Specialist

Job Title: Employment Specialist Location: Saint Louis, Missouri Department: NN Employment Services Employment Type: Full-Time Job Summary: Are you passionate about helping others achieve greater independence and success through meaningful employment? As an Employment Specialist, you will have the opportunity to make a lasting impact by empowering individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment to achieve their career goals. Join a compassionate, collaborative team where your work directly changes lives, builds community connections, creates employment opportunities, supports personal growth, and promotes long-term success. We are seeking an individual who is relationship-focused, resourceful, customer-service driven, and committed to helping others reach their fullest potential. In this role, you will provide individualized career planning, job development, placement, and retention services. You will partner closely with clients, employers, referral sources, and community stakeholders to create competitive employment opportunities while delivering ongoing guidance and support. This position combines career coaching, advocacy, employer engagement, and community outreach to help clients achieve sustainable vocational success. This position offers… Key Responsibilities: Assist clients with individualized career planning, vocational counseling, and employment preparation based on their strengths, interests, abilities, and goals. Develop employment opportunities by building and maintaining strong relationships with local employers and community partners. Support clients with job placement, onboarding, retention, and long-term workplace success. Teach and reinforce effective job-seeking, interviewing, workplace, and job-retention skills. Advocate for clients with employers, family members, referral sources, schools, and other stakeholders. Educate employers on the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities and facilitate workplace accommodations when needed. Conduct client orientations and provide information regarding services, rights, responsibilities, and disclosure practices. Participate in planning meetings and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to support client employment goals. Assist clients with benefits planning and employment-related decision-making regarding wages, hours, and career advancement. Promote services through community outreach, presentations, networking activities, and awareness events. Maintain regular communication with referral sources and provide updates regarding client progress, placements, and retention outcomes. Respond to workplace challenges or crises and provide appropriate support to clients and employers. Travel throughout the community to conduct job development activities, provide employment supports, and transport clients as needed. Complete required documentation and maintain compliance with confidentiality, contractual, and CARF standards. Perform other duties as assigned by Leadership. Education, Experience, and/or Credential Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited institution preferred. Minimum of one (1) year of experience providing employment services preferred. Knowledge of supporting individuals with disabilities and/or barriers to employment, education, or independent living. Knowledge of case management, rehabilitation methods, principles, and techniques. Understanding of mental health and substance use disorders and available community resources. Knowledge of treatment modalities, legal requirements, and procedures related to behavioral health services. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, internet-based platforms, and other electronic systems. Strong verbal and written communication skills Additional Qualifications: Current valid driver's license required. Acceptable driving record required. Current automobile insurance required. Successful completion of criminal background, driving record, abuse/neglect, and fingerprint screenings required. Strong customer service, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills. Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with clients, employers, referral sources, and team members. Ability to evaluate services and provide constructive input regarding program effectiveness. Flexibility to work evenings, overnights, and weekends as needed. Must provide evidence of being free from infectious and contagious diseases, including TB, prior to employment and annually thereafter as required. Physical Requirements: Perform sedentary work involving exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and negligible force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects. Use hands, fingers, and arms repetitively for typing, writing, and computer-related tasks throughout the workday. Remain seated for extended periods while performing job duties. Occasionally stand and walk for brief periods as needed to perform essential job functions. Maintain the physical ability to travel within the community and provide client support services as required. Position Perks & Benefits: Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive Career mobility: advancement opportunities/promoting from within Welcoming, warm, supportive: a work culture & environment that promotes your well-being, values you as human being, and encourages your health and happiness Brightli Snapshot 200 locations 4 states 19 subsidiaries and/or affiliates 5k+ employees About Brightli Brightli is on a Mission: A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance user care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients. As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we prioritize fostering a culture of belonging and connection within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences, as we believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives strengthens our mission. If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Firefly is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace. #J-18808-Ljbffr SLE Supported Living and Employment Services