Position Summary                                                                                                                         

The Career Placement Specialist is responsible for assisting individuals with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities in exploring appropriate career opportunities. The process emphasizes recognizing meaningful career paths focusing on individual abilities. 

Responsibilities include career plan development: collaborate on personalized career plans for sustained employment, increased wages, benefits, promotions, and satisfaction; networking and collaboration: engage with individuals and networks to explore creative methods for securing desired career paths; innovative solutions: propose and implement alternative approaches to address barriers and facilitate career progression; community engagement: connect individuals with resources, support groups, and networks for enhanced career development.

The objective is to employ a person-centered approach to understand preferences, strengths, and needs resulting in clients achieving competitive integrated employment.

Education and Professional Work Experience

Minimum Qualifications

The formal education equivalent of an bachelor’s degree in psychology, vocational education, or a   related area; plus, three years of experience working with the disabled or in a related area.

Preferred Qualifications

The formal education equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Counseling, or a related field; plus, three to five years of consultative sales experience working in a sale and solution-based position.

• Experience in placement and job exploration.
• Working experience with case management systems.
• Working experience with individuals with disabilities.
• Working experience with high school students with disabilities.
• Working experience developing and conducting presentations for community outreach.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of vocational job placement and evaluation.
• Knowledge of bidding procedures and contracts.
• Knowledge of vocational/industrial safety programs.
• Ability to plan, organize, and oversee the work of others.
• Ability to prepare, present, and review oral and written information.
• Ability to develop, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of vocational programs, job standards, and industrial safety guidelines for the disabled.
• Ability to research laws, regulations, and standards that apply to the disabled.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of vocational job placement and evaluation.
• Knowledge of developing job clubs.
• Active listening skills.
• Social awareness skills.
• Critical thinking skills.
• Problem-solving skills. 
• Effective communication skills.

 Job Responsibilities and Expected Results                                                                              

1. The Career Placement Specialist will develop and maintain relationships with local businesses/industry representatives to facilitate applicants obtaining employment.
2. Completes all appropriate forms and reporting information in the case management system.

Provides case narratives that explain the progression of the case. Follows agency procedures on client contacts. 

3. Administers or arranges for assessment tools to identify vocational interests and career goals.
4. Provide career counseling to students regarding their chosen vocation, by helping students in assessment interpretation and program selection and sharing information on financial aid, social agencies providing support, and other educational institutions, and counseling individuals on time management and goal setting.
5. Develop and maintain referral sources and community contacts.
6. Participate with secondary schools and pre-ets sites to provide relevant information on careers, labor market, training, ARS, in order to help connect and increase placement for pre-ets students to VR.
7. Understand and remain compliant with policies and procedures.
8. Maintain an adequate rate of production in their assigned area and the required number of closures.
9. Evaluate job sites, obtain, and utilize current labor market information, and establish and maintain rapport with the business community to facilitate work experiences, volunteer opportunities, internships, job shadowing opportunities, or other career exploration activities.
10. Monitor and document job market information, including local industry needs and vocational skill requirements for employment, and maintain confidential student records.
11. Provide a satisfactory level of assistance and supportive services to assist the client in meeting their employment goal.
12. Assist instructors in obtaining and compiling student follow-up information, attend professional conferences, and workshops, and assist with special school functions.
13. Preserve the integrity of all employees, clients, and student information. Perform other duties as assigned.
14. Enter and maintain quarterly performance measures. 

Key Business Processes/Duties

1. Developing and maintaining relationships with existing and/or new companies
2. Developing maintain contacts and relationships with communities.
3. Conducting training on disability and sensitivity training
4. Identifying and offering customized solutions to employers
5. Maintain accurate records and reports.
6. Conducting labor market research, identifying trends, and sharing data with vocational counselors
7. Other duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities

1. Ability to provide career counseling. 
2. Positioning ARS clients for employment opportunities.
3. Ability to assess medical records to determine vocational placement.
4. Ability to interact with interdisciplinary teams to provide services.
5. Ability to provide career counseling.
6. Ability to monitor client progress and document in an electronic case file system.
7. Ability to interact with community service providers.
8. Ability to develop presentations for possible vendors and/or potential referral sources.
9. Ability to maintain a weekly schedule.
10. Ability to exercise responsible discretion to preserve confidential information.
11. Ability to work independently.
12. Ability to utilize agency policy to provide quality services.