Vocational Specialist

Vocational Specialist

Starting Rate: $22/hour

Environment: Special Education Program, Grades K-12

Spectrum Center Schools and Programs, a growing, dynamic organization with a social mission to offer hope, is seeking a Vocational Specialist to join our award-winning Special Education team and perform meaningful work in a culture that welcomes innovation, encourages creative expression and offers limitless potential for personal and professional satisfaction!

If you excel in hands-on, student-centered environments, are passionate about preparing individuals with diverse learning needs for meaningful employment, and bring creativity, persistence, strong relationship-building skills, and a solutions-focused mindset to your work — We Should Talk!

As a Vocational Specialist, you will lead and oversee the vocational training program in alignment with Spectrum practices and policies, and Department of Labor requirements. You will drive student success by managing individualized vocational training plans, delivering job coaching and career counseling aligned to IEP goals and individual career plans, and cultivating strong community-based partnerships and job sites that expand real-world learning opportunities.

Responsibilities Include:

• Administering vocational, career, and transition assessments—including annual age-appropriate inventories, work readiness evaluations, and student profiles beginning at age 14—and supporting teachers and coordinators in selecting and completing transition assessments for ITP development.
• Developing individualized vocational and career training plans aligned to IEP schedules and providing data and documentation to support IEP/ITP progress reporting.
• Supporting classrooms in facilitating on-campus unpaid vocational training, career exploration, work-based learning, and pre-employment curriculum activities.
• Designing and scheduling new on-campus vocational training opportunities to expand hands-on learning pathways.
• Procuring and distributing curriculum resources, tools, and materials necessary to sustain high-quality vocational programming.
• Ensuring compliance with WAI practices, Department of Labor regulations, and IEP/ITP goals while overseeing student training activities.
• Providing individualized job coaching on and off campus and training classroom staff and stakeholders on effective job methods, procedures, and coaching strategies.
• Managing daily operations of school-based businesses (SBB), overseeing student participation, and maintaining efficient business practices.
• Coordinating community-based work training by developing new employer partnerships, facilitating job matching, supporting employer relationships, monitoring satisfaction, and addressing concerns in collaboration with school staff.
• Creating and maintaining student work and training schedules while communicating updates consistently to students and staff.
• Overseeing student payroll processes for the WAI program by adhering to payroll procedures, processing work permits and renewals, preparing required documentation (including W-4 and I-9 forms), and training staff and students on payroll protocols.
• Submitting timesheets promptly and tracking payroll documentation to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Attending required trainings and meetings on and off campus to remain aligned with program expectations and regulatory requirements.
• Collecting and analyzing student data for WAI grant reporting and reporting outcomes as directed to demonstrate program impact.
• Performing additional duties and special projects as assigned to strengthen vocational outcomes and expand student opportunities.

Qualifications Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent w/ passage of basic skills test.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in education, social work, vocational rehabilitation or a closely related field of study preferred.
• Hold currently or have the ability to obtain a valid CA state driver's license.
• Willingness and ability to drive a company van and transport students within the community.
• Ability to obtain and maintain certification in company approved crisis management training.
• Prior experience and/or highly knowledgeable in providing children with vocational education, job coaching services and/or job experience training.
• Prior experience and highly knowledgeable in program management and/or development and working with databases/spreadsheets.
• Highly skilled in working with children with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, emotional behavioral disorders and/or other related disabilities.
• Proficiency in providing motivation and having critical conversations with students that move them toward realistic goals.
• Highly skilled in building relationships with students, parents, teachers and community and/or business partners.
• Proven ability to effectively prioritize tasks and meet deadlines while maintaining organization and attention to detail.
• Advanced oral and written communication, organization, conflict resolution, multitasking, problem solving, and decision-making ability.
• Well-versed in the use of relevant technology including experience with computers, Microsoft Office Suite, database entry and basic office equipment.

Spectrum Center Schools and Programs is a division of ChanceLight Behavioral Health, Therapy, & Education, the nation's leading provider of alternative and special education programs for children and young adults. For more than 50 years, and in partnership with over 235 school districts nationwide, we have helped change the direction of more than 240,000 student lives!

At ChanceLight we believe in providing more than just a job, as a member of our team you'll receive the opportunity to make meaningful impacts, the support needed to achieve success, and all the tools essential to reaching your personal & professional fulfillment! Your path to a truly rewarding career starts here – where growth, empowerment, and collaboration define our culture; and every day is a Chance to transform lives through education!

Perks and Benefits Include:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
• FREE Telehealth and Virtual Counseling Sessions
• FREE Health Advocacy Services and 24/7 Nurse Line
• Company Paid Life & Disability Insurance
• Company Paid Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Personal Protection Insurance Plans
• Cigna Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Babies Program
• Legal Services Insurance
• Pet Health Insurance
• Accrual-based Paid Time Off
• School Hours and Paid Holiday Schedule
• Extensive Personal and Life Event Paid Leave Policy
• 401k Retirement Saving Plan
• Perks at Work Employee Discount Program
• Opportunities for Growth & Development
• And So Much More!

If you're ready to start making lasting impacts on the lives of students and contribute to the creation of a brighter future — This Is Your Chance!

Join us and together, we can empower students to overcome challenges, build confidence and unlock their full potential!