Employment Specialist (Part-Time)
Pay Rate: $19.00-$20.00 (Shift Differential applied during evenings/overnights/weekends)
Schedule: Part-Time (Requires 16 hours of availability per week, with 8 of those hours on Saturday/Sunday)
Preferred Availability: Thursdays & Fridays
Sign-on Bonus: $600
The Arc of Centre County is currently recruiting full-time and part-time Employment Specialists for their Nittany Employment Services Department.
Employment Specialists are responsible for providing supportive employment services to individuals with a disability who are seeking or who have obtained competitive community employment. The Employment Specialist provides vocational planning services, including evaluation and employment preparation, job development, job coaching, and follow-along services. The overall goal of the Employment Specialist is to support individuals in each step of the employment process therefore allowing the individual to fully develop and utilize their vocational skill set.
Additional Benefits for All Employees:
- New Hire Referral Bonuses up to $1,000
- Paid Training (26 hours per year)
- Overtime Opportunities
- Mileage reimbursement (if applicable for community-based roles)
- Retirement Plan Options
- Holiday pay or differential pay for eligible shifts
Essential Functions:
- Support individuals in identifying and pursuing employment goals based on their skills and interests.
- Assist with job development activities including resumes, applications, employer outreach, and interviews.
- Provide on-the-job coaching, training, and ongoing support to promote independence and job retention.
- Conduct work assessments and help determine appropriate job matches and supports needed.
- Identify and help reduce barriers to employment by working with the individual and team.
- Develop and encourage workplace skills, appropriate behavior, and job readiness.
- Build and maintain relationships with employers, supervisors, and community partners.
- Ensure required documentation, reporting, and communication with funding sources and supervisors are completed accurately and on time.
- Follow all agency, employer, safety, and confidentiality policies while working in job sites and in the community.
- Support natural workplace relationships and help individuals integrate into their work environment.
Competencies:
To perform this position successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
Leadership Skills: Demonstrates ethics and integrity; shows initiative and responsibility; is willing to learn and grow; adapts to change; communicates effectively; values diversity; and builds positive working relationships.
Communication Skills: Speaks and writes clearly and professionally; follows written instructions accurately; and pays close attention to detail when reading and documenting information.
Teamwork: Works well as part of a team by supporting coworkers and contributing to shared goals. Maintains a positive attitude, is open to feedback, and helps create a respectful and collaborative work environment.
Quality of Work: Pays attention to detail and accuracy. Strives to improve performance, uses feedback constructively, and ensures work is completed correctly and consistently.
Independence & Time Management: Works independently under supervision, prioritizes tasks effectively, manages time well, and completes responsibilities on time or communicates when adjustments are needed.
Interpersonal Skills: Interacts respectfully and professionally with people from diverse backgrounds. Maintains confidentiality and remains open to others’ perspectives.
Qualifications:
- 18 years of age or older
- Possess a High School Diploma and at least three (3) months previous experience working with individuals with a disability; six (6) months of prior experience is preferred. Sales and business experience will also be considered. Any equivalent amount business/management experience or post-secondary education may be substituted for professional experience with the approval of the CEO.
- Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and demonstrate the ability to get to various employment locations in Centre County.
- Must be able to provide/attain transportation to and from work as scheduled and use personal vehicle to transport individuals in the performance of job duties. The Arc will reimburse the costs associated with the required increase in vehicle insurance coverage (for a single vehicle) when the increase is for this reason.
- Demonstrate the ability to maintain a flexible schedule, demonstrated time management, and must be able to respond to diverse physical demands of program schedule.
- Obtain a physical examination as required by The Arc’s policies and/or DPW regulations.
- Obtain Pennsylvania criminal history check, FBI criminal history check, and Child Abuse clearances in accordance with The Arc’s policies and/or DPW and ODP regulations.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the human service system and community resources.
- Demonstrate abilities in salesmanship, marketing to businesses and generating public relations.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of critical vocational rehabilitation and business information.
- Demonstrate the ability to work independently and complete job responsibilities.
- Demonstrate professionalism in dress, speech and mannerisms.