Vocational Specialist

Join Tessera and make a difference! Tessera is:

• A national leader in employing individuals with disabilities and veterans.

• Composed of a dynamic growing team of social entrepreneurs.

• Operating self-sustaining businesses across 14 states and in the District of Columbia workforce of over 1600 employees.

• Dedicated to delivering an exceptional customer experience to our customers.

• Committed to offering an outstanding employee support and development program.

Tessera is dedicated to Creating Opportunities for People with Disabilities by hiring and supporting individuals with disabilities as well as veterans with disabilities. We take pride in our purpose-driven culture our core values - Inclusion Partnerships Integrity - and our commitment to providing a safe and respectful work environment to our employees.

Location: Colorado Springs Colorado (United States Air Force Academy)

Type: Non-exempt Hourly

Compensation: $26.00 - $30.00 per hour

Work Schedule: Full-time Monday Friday 7:30 am 4:00 pm (Flexible start and end times depending on business needs.)

Deadline: July 18 2025

As a Vocational Specialist youll The Tessera Vocational Specialist serve as a subject matter lead within a cross functional team supporting a caseload of approximately 90 employees with significant disabilities. This position works directly with employees supervisors site leadership and the Regional Vice President to ensure employees with disabilities receive support and accommodations. Requires a combination of employee-focused activities and preparation and updating of required disability documentation requiring professional-level writing and editing. This position will require the Vocational Specialist to interact in person telephonically and via email/fax with managers supervisors employees candidates medical providers and government rehabilitation agencies.

• Promotes the Tessera mission and educate supervisors managers and employees on disability awareness and the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) for Tessera workplaces.

• Works as a member of a diverse Cross Functional Team consisting of professionals dedicated to servicing a large and diverse number of Tessera sites.

• Develops collaborative relationships with Tessera site management and supervisors to support all Tessera employees of all abilities. This will require monthly meetings with site management and supervisors to review accommodation information of employees for their federal AbilityOne reports.

• Supports the RVP recruiters HR Partners and site managers in maintaining the AbilityOne disability ratio.

• Manages a caseload of approximately 70-90 Tessera employees with a wide variety of disabilities; ensure that these employees are being provided job customization and individualization as well as the most appropriate accommodations to allow them to perform their work successfully and safety.

• Provides job coaching as needed for employees to learn job tasks/functions.

• Works with Tesseras Career Advisor to encourage upward mobility within Tessera and outward mobility beyond Tessera depending on their career aspirations.

• Works with site and safety personnel to help reduce injuries among Tessera employees.

• Reviews and assesses disability documentation for applicants and current employees to ensure they qualify under the AbilityOne program. Frequently this will require phone calls to applicants.

• Maintains required documentation for each employee on caseload to include: Federal AbilityOne reports case notes accommodation plans and summaries.

• Administrative support duties including obtaining new disability documents and preparing for internal and external audit reviews.

• Makes phone calls to physicians mental health providers state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies and Veterans Affairs offices to assist applicants and employees with obtaining qualifying AbilityOne documentation.

• Edits and proofs colleagues Federal AbilityOne reports.

• Creates and corrects AbilityOne reports two weeks before the federal deadline.

• Assists with crisis intervention suicide prevention and suicide safety planning to support employees who are struggling or in crises.

• Assists employees with paperwork including benefits enrollment and accessing their information within the Workday system.

• Assists employees in applying for internal positions within Tessera.

• Connects employees with internal resources such as HR Career Advisor CES Benefits Security etc.

• Performs check-ins with all employees on caseload during their first 30/60/90 days of employment and minimum of twice annually thereafter documenting these check-ins with case notes in Workday Tesseras HRIS. Discusses safety considerations and career mobility in all check-ins.

• Oversees responds and follows up on accommodation requests in a timely manner. This includes: providing employees with ADA packets when accommodations require additional documentation from the provider. Upon receipt of completed packet assist managers and supervisors with determining if limitations can be accommodated.

• Gathers promotes and coordinates Veteran resources to ensure Tessera employees are supported.

• Assists in the development and support of innovative job positions. Establishes relationships with local nonprofits or government organizations to assist recruiters in finding applicants. Collaborate with Job Coaches from external agencies.

• Supports and occasionally attends recruiting functions to assist the cross-functional team members in networking with local employment vendors.

• Acts as an advocate participant and/or consultant in employee relations matters that are being managed by Tessera Human Resources staff.

• Maintains and promotes collaboration with all employees departments and service providers in a team-oriented environment.

• Creates and presents trainings on a quarterly basis to all sites.

• Maintains knowledge of disability-related topics and trends such as person-centered planning supported employment systematic instruction ADA suicide prevention mental health mandatory reporting and ability awareness. This would require attending training through SourceAmerica JAN WISE APSE etc. on each topic.

• Has knowledge of and follows Tessera processes for mandatory reporting ADA suicide safety planning etc.

• Has excellent time management problem-solving professional writing and oral communication skills.

• Is self-directed and can work independently.

• Cultivates a safety mindset by working with site and safety personnel to help reduce injuries among Tessera employees and educates supervisors of safety concerns as it relates to accommodation plans for individuals. Reviews accommodations with individuals and site leadership for potential safety related awareness.

• All Other Duties as Assigned.

Youd make an excellent Vocational Specialist if you:

• Consider yourself a people person.

• Love working on collaborative teams.

• Are dedicated to internal and external customer service.

• Take pride in your work.

• Are drawn to serving others and want to challenge yourself through mission-driven work.

Tessera is proud to offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package to our eligible full-time employees.

• Medical Dental Vision Life & Short-Term Disability Insurance

• Elective 401(k) retirement plan with a 3% employer discretionary contribution after 90-days of employment

• Flexible Spending Accounts for both medical and dependent care

• 11 paid federal holidays accrual of 12 paid days of vacation at the start of employment paid sick leave

• Potential shared earning bonus

• Tuition assistance is available after 1 year of employment and potential scholarships for qualified dependents

• Professional development certifications and training opportunities

• Verizon wireless discount

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and an engaging wellness program

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility for full-time employees

Summary of desired skills and experience for the Tessera Vocational Specialist:

• Two years of college is required.

• Bachelors degree in Social Sciences Sociology Psychology Education Kinesiology or related field is preferred.

• 0 3 years of previous experience in Social Services Education or Disability Support Services is required.

• Veterans and people with disabilities encouraged to apply.

• Vocational Specialists will take CPR and First Aid within the first six months of employment and complete an OSHA 10 course (or equivalent) within the first year of employment.

• A valid state drivers license is required with the ability to obtain and maintain coverage by Tesseras insurance.

• Access to a federal military installation requires a REAL ID-compliant drivers license or an acceptable alternative such as a U.S. passport or military ID in accordance with the REAL ID Act. Please visit this website for more information: be able to obtain and maintain applicable security clearances and installation access. A background check and E-Verify will be conducted for this position.

To Apply: Visit our website at to complete an application.

Current Employees: need to log into their Workday to apply through the Jobs Hub. Please reach out to your Recruiter if you need assistance.

Tessera is a national non-profit government contractor that is dedicated to Creating Opportunities for People with Disabilities through hiring and supporting individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. We take pride in our mission-focused culture our Core Values Diversity Partnership Commitment Integrity and Quality and our dedication to providing a safe and respectful work environment to our employees.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Tessera is here to help you with the recruitment process.

If you require an accommodation or support please contact us at

ext. 349 or email.

Tessera is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Women/Minority/Veteran/Disabled - Tessera participates in E-Verify