Employment Specialist

Job Title: Supported Employment Specialist
Job Status: Full-Time
Department: Supported Employment
Position Reports To: Supported Employment Manager
Executive Report: Director of Services

JOB DESCRIPTION
This position provides person-centered vocational and employment services to adults with disabilities or other barriers to employment and supports high school seniors participating in Norse Project SEARCH at Northern Kentucky University. The Employment Specialist guides participants through career discovery individualized planning employer outreach applications interviews placement on-the-job training and long-term follow-up. The role collaborates with participants families and support teams employers referral partners and agency staff to promote informed choice independence job retention advancement and successful employment outcomes while maintaining accurate service and program documentation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Partner with participants and their support teams to complete career discovery and develop individualized person-centered employment plans based on strengths interests preferences support needs and characteristics of a successful job match.
Help participants prepare résumés cover letters references portfolios letters of introduction thank-you notes applications and interview skills.
Identify employment pathways and prospective employers; build relationships with community organizations employers referral partners and funding partners; educate stakeholders about supported-employment opportunities; market services; and negotiate job placements aligned with participant goals and abilities.
Orient participants to job sites supervisors coworkers schedules pay practices policies production expectations and safety requirements.
Provide on-site job coaching workplace-readiness training systematic instruction technical assistance demonstrations natural-support development and feedback until participants achieve the greatest practical level of independence.
Monitor performance productivity and workplace adjustment; provide retraining intervention behavior-support strategies or other assistance when needed.
Provide technical support and assistance to employers by demonstrating effective training and supervision practices and helping identify and implement reasonable job modifications adaptations and accommodations.
Maintain ongoing communication with participants employers coworkers families or other supports agency staff referral sources and interdisciplinary partners; advocate for participant needs and rights as appropriate.
Provide extended follow-up services that support job retention resolve communication or performance concerns and explore advancement or new career opportunities.
Provide on-site employment supports for Norse Project SEARCH interns across Northern Kentucky University departments.
Complete timely and accurate documentation and reporting including case notes service records placement statistics performance data funding and referral-partner requirements and other records required by regulations funders referral sources and agency procedures.
Perform other related duties that support successful operation and outcomes of the Supported Employment program and overall agency.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Strong interpersonal relationship-building advocacy and customer-service skills.
Clear professional written and verbal communication with participants employers support teams and community partners.
Ability to apply person-centered practices teach skills using systematic instruction and adapt training to individual learning needs.
Ability to assess job fit analyze workplace tasks monitor performance and develop practical supports modifications or accommodations.
Employer-engagement networking job-development and placement-negotiation skills.
Creative problem-solving sound judgment initiative and the ability to respond constructively to workplace challenges.
Strong organization time management scheduling recordkeeping and regulatory-compliance skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn agency documentation and data systems.
Ability to work independently in community settings while collaborating effectively with an interdisciplinary team.
Knowledge of community resources disability employment supports confidentiality informed consent and participant rights or the ability to acquire this knowledge quickly.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelors degree in social services rehabilitation education business or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience sufficient to perform the essential functions will be considered.
Experience supporting people with disabilities or other barriers to employment is preferred; experience in vocational services job coaching case management employer relations or community-based services is a plus.
Valid drivers license reliable transportation and ability to travel to community employment and program sites are required.

BENEFITS
Medical Dental Vision Coverage
Critical illness accident hospital indemnity coverage
401K (3% Employer Match after one year of employment)
Short- and Long-term disability (Employer paid)
Basic term life (Employer paid)
FMLA
Generous Paid Time Off
12 Paid Holidays



*Proudworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer

ABOUT PROUDWORKS

Proudworks has been serving individuals and businesses in Northern Kentucky since 1973 initially established as the Boone Adult Work Activity Center (BAWAC) led by our founding President & CEO Ken Schmidt. As a mission-driven nonprofit we are focused on transforming barriers into opportunitieshelping people live learn work and thrive in the community.

Through our Community Rehabilitation Services (Adult Day Training) we support individuals in building job & life skills confidence and meaningful community connections. Our Supported Employment program connects individuals to competitive jobs providing personalized coaching and ongoing support to help them succeed in the workplace.

Our Production department partners with local and regional businesses to deliver high-quality assembly packaging and fulfillment workcreating valuable real-world work experiences for people with addition our Transportation team provides safe reliable access to programs employment and medical appointments helping remove one of the biggest barriers to independence.

For more than 52 years Proudworks has continued to evolve to meet the needs of our communitydriven by a commitment to inclusion opportunity and impact and made possible through the dedication of our clients staff partners and supporters.

BENEFIT PROGRAM

Featured benefits for full-time team members include:

• Health dental and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Critical illness accident and hospital indemnity insurance
• Pet insurance and pet discount program
• 401(k) plan
• Generous paid time off policy
• Generous holiday schedule

Equal Opportunity Employment
Proudworks and Current HR (organizations) provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin age disability or addition to federal law requirements the organizations comply with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which it has operations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting hiring placement and compensation.