Employment Specialist - Work Therapy Assistant

About the role

The Employment Specialist works with and helps program participants who have varied abilities, including cognitive/intellectual disabilities, mental illness, brain injury, and physical disabilities, to obtain work through Customized Employment. Customized Employment is a process that allows individuals with disabilities and employers to negotiate job tasks and/or reassign job duties to improve overall contribution in the workplace.

Responsibilities

• Act as a liaison between local businesses (employers) and program participants for community-based employment opportunities.
• Obtain and set up sites in the community for work assessments, job try-outs, internships, and volunteer opportunities.
• Aid program participants in finding, obtaining, teaching, and on-going support with community jobs.
• Facilitate problem resolution among individuals, families, case managers, community members, staff, and others so that supports can be coordinated and individuals can achieve their optimum success.
• Aid the program to meet Department of Labor, MN state licensing, and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) standards.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Current and valid driver's license.
• Basic math skills sufficient to add, subtract, multiply, and divide.
• Clear communication skills to understand and communicate complex employment services with community members, employers, and teams.
• Basic computer skills sufficient to create word documents, receive and respond to email.
• Able to read and write English.
• One year experience implementing training/employment programs for individuals who have cognitive/intellectual disabilities, mental illness, chemical dependency, physical disability, brain injury, and/or displaced workers OR one year experience in an employment field plus one year working with the disability population.
• Knowledge, training/certification/education, and/or implementation of Customized Employment.
• Experience working with Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
• Experience finding resources involving assistive technology to maintain successful employment.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications: Must be at least 18 years of age, current and valid driver's license, basic math skills, clear communication skills, basic computer skills, able to read and write English, one year experience implementing training/employment programs for individuals who have cognitive/intellectual disabilities, mental illness, chemical dependency, physical disability, brain injury, and/or displaced workers OR one year experience in an employment field plus one year working with the disability population.
• Preferred Qualifications: Knowledge, training/certification/education, and/or implementation of Customized Employment, experience working with Vocational Rehabilitation Services, experience finding resources involving assistive technology to maintain successful employment.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Effective problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• 12 paid holidays each year.
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans.
• Fertility care, including IVF.
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children.
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children.
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years).
• Employer-paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury.
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care.

Pay

$24.12 - $30.89 / hourly

Schedule

Rotating Shift (hours may vary depending on the needs of the program, ex: 7 am - 3:30pm; 3 pm - 11 pm)