Employment Training Specialist

Location: Westchester County, NY (multiple locations; travel required)

Schedule

Full-time, Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Responsibilities

• Ensures health, wellness and safety by supervising individuals supported and managing crisis situations while adhering to policies, procedures, regulations, and OPWDD Core Competencies.
• Implements person‑centered plans and assists with a variety of tasks for people we support, including participating in development of staff action plans, developing job placement, supporting person‑centered advocacy, and facilitating ethical decision making.
• Supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to set and meet employment goals, providing pre‑employment counseling, job development activities, and training groups.
• Manages a caseload of individuals, arranging workplace visits, virtual and one‑on‑one meetings, coordinating required meetings, and liaising with Care Managers and other professional supports.
• Provides direct supervision, on‑site job and job‑skills training, coaching, and support at job sites, tailored to each person’s employment goals and level of need.
• Travels across the assigned region to visit employed individuals, obtains feedback from managers, addresses issues, and escalates concerns to an administrator as needed.
• Participates as a member of a multidisciplinary team, communicating programmatic needs, providing feedback, and maintaining a solution‑oriented approach during conflicts.
• Maintains a therapeutic environment using Personal Outcome Measures, Person‑Centered Thinking, and Informed Decision Making.
• Models professionalism, punctuality, ownership, and accountability; manages time and responsibilities to ensure appropriate support and monitoring of all cases.
• Facilitates fire‑safety learning and training, including emergency and evacuation drills at assigned worksites.
• Develops and maintains specialized clinical knowledge for person‑specific needs (e.g., autism spectrum disorders, challenging behaviors, complex medical needs) related to employment.
• Completes required paperwork and documentation (notifications, logs, incident reports, progress notes, etc.) accurately and within appropriate timeframes for compliance and billing.
• Complies with all Federal, State, Local, and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA.
• May perform direct support professional tasks such as personal care and assistance with activities of daily living when trained, authorized, and outside of employment schedule.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least one year of work experience providing vocational or pre‑vocational services to individuals with disabilities.
• Completion of required trainings, including OPWDD‑approved vocational rehabilitation or supported employment training program and annual retraining as required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings or weekends, and regular travel throughout the assigned region.
• Basic computer skills (email, Workday, related systems).
• Ability to model and teach work‑readiness skills and appropriate workplace behavior.
• Demonstrated sound judgment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and time‑management skills.
• Highly flexible personality and willingness to take initiative.
• Willingness to work with I/DD populations in occupational settings and comfort working with employers.
• Physical ability to meet essential demands: frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling, reaching; lift/move up to 25 lb occasionally; assist individuals with job functions.

Preferred Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or some college coursework (may be required for certain contracts).
• Two years of experience assisting people with barriers to employment (may be required for certain contracts).
• Work or life experience with individuals with I/DD.
• Valid New York State driver’s license (highly preferred for assignments in areas with limited public transportation).

Pay

$19.05 per hour