Vocational Specialist

Overview

• Join a Team That Changes Lives For more than 170 years, Elwyn has been leading the way in supporting children, teens, and adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health challenges.
• As a mission-driven nonprofit, we’re here to create real change – helping people lead meaningful, fulfilling lives.
• Now, we’re looking for passionate team members to join us.
• Here, your work will change lives – including your own.
• You’ll make an impact every day, find purpose in what you do, and grow in a career that truly matters.
• At Elwyn, we take care of you while you care for others.
• We offer: Generous Paid Time Off Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision Benefit Packages Earned Wage Access/On-Demand Pay Paid On-the-Job Training Tuition Reimbursement Career Advancement Opportunities and Growth Flexible Schedules Retirement Savings Plan Join us and be a part of something bigger.
• Apply today.

Job Description

Elwyn is currently seeking a Vocational Specialist to assist individuals in navigating their career options. The focus is on providing intensive assessments to identify clients' strengths. This role engages in conversations with clients to understand their goals and preferences, analyzes their physical and emotional conditions, evaluates their milestones, and creates reference reports. Additionally, this position prepares clients for interviews and new jobs by offering effective coaching and counseling.

Duties and Responsibilities

Conduct thorough assessments to evaluate clients’ skills, abilities, and interests Develop individualized employment plans based on clients’ goals and aspirations Provide career counseling to enhance clients’ employability Assist clients in exploring career options and identifying suitable job opportunities Offer vocational training to enhance clients’ job-related skills Collaborate with educational institutions to coordinate transitional services for students Conduct workshops on topics such as resume building, job search strategies, and interview skills Help clients access community resources, including job fairs and job search websites Connect clients with potential employers Conduct employer outreach to establish partnerships and secure job opportunities Assist clients with disability disclosure and request reasonable accommodations from employers Advocate for clients’ rights in the workplace Monitor clients’ progress throughout the employment process Provide ongoing support and guidance Help clients develop effective workplace skills, including time management and problem-solving Work with counselors, psychologists, and social workers to ensure holistic support Responsible for on-call coverage including being responsible, on a rotating basis, for program coverage when staff members call out and no other coverage is available and promptly responding to the manager’s call within 15 minutes and being prepared to report to the program within one hour QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Associate’s or bachelor’s degree required A degree in psychology or human services is preferred At least two years in delivering personalized job development and supported employment services for individuals with physical or mental disabilities preferred Exposure to counseling work or relevant experience preferred Must possess a CEP (Certified Employment Professional) certificate or obtain it within 1 year of hire Ability to develop solutions for job seekers Deep understanding of counseling and guidance techniques Ability to work independently and as part of a team Ability to use critical thinking and clinical judgment in decision making Previous experience working within and managing a unionized workforce preferred Non-profit human service experience highly preferred Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage competing, priorities Strong attention to detail Strong time management and organizational skills Demonstrated ability to anticipate future needed changes or identify problem areas and take effective actions Must be able to perform CPR and crisis intervention using agency-trained protocols Must possess excellent customer interaction, collaboration, presentation, and written and verbal communication Demonstrated (basic, intermediate, advanced) experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; Access, Publisher and report-writer experience preferred