Employment Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Join us! Come to work with Purpose. We are a passionate team of social change-makers, diverse thinkers, and problem solvers. Our purpose is to provide the best possible services that ensure full access to quality living and spread the power of inclusivity. We serve over 7,000 people with disabilities, behavioral health challenges, and those who are Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing. If you don’t want just any job—if you want to work where you can create truly transformational change—then Anixter is the place for you. Take a look at the job description to learn more!

SUMMARY: (Summary description of the primary duties and objectives of the position.)

The Employment Specialist is a disability and employment expert whose primary focus is to initiate and maintain ongoing contact with a variety of businesses and industry representatives with the goal of identify hiring needs, facilitating hires, and supporting individuals with maintaining employment via the provision of tailored job retention supports. Approximately 70% of this role is dedicated to working directly with clients on job development, placement, and ongoing employment support, while 30% of time is focused on building and maintaining partnerships with employers, community partners, and other stakeholders to expand employment opportunities. The Employment Specialist has knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act and a proven track record in creating strategic partnerships that advances employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as individuals managing mental health conditions. The Employment Specialist is business savvy, demonstrates effective written and verbal communication skills and has expert knowledge of workforce development models and best practices. The Employment Specialist will also engage clients who are referred from Anixter’s internal service lines and community partners including the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). Individuals who manage their time well, are adaptable and who desire opportunities for growth and want to make a big community impact do well and historically report they enjoy the Employment Specialist role!

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: (Individual duties, assignments, and responsibilities required of the position.)

• Achieve placement targets set by the Employment Service Program Manager (2 new job starts per month with 50% resulting in at least 90 days of employment) by six months of beginning in the Employment Specialist role.
• Capture expected monthly target for Rule 132 Medicaid Billing 2hrs/day (specific to mental health members).
• Meets recruitment, hiring, training and retention goals for people with disabilities; advises on disability-hiring and retention best practices, supporting requests for reasonable employee workplace accommodations as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Engage and build a therapeutic alliance with clients who are in job seeking and exploration phases to promote job attainment and sustainment according to their skills, abilities, interests, and preferences.
• Cultivate strong relationships with client’s treatment team to promote wrap around support and to engage new referrals for employment services. 
• Collaborate and communicate with coworkers, supervisor, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors, benefit planners, natural supports, family, and any other pertinent collaterals to support clients with job attainment and sustainment as desired. Support the development of internal mentors to leverage natural workplace support. 
• Cultivates and maintains collaborative relationships with partner, community, and industry- related organizations and identifies potential collaboration efforts to reach target customers/job seekers. 
• Develop relationships with employers through face-to-face job development activities based off client work skills, abilities, interests, and preferences. 
• Presents, promotes, and markets programs to individuals, groups, community organizations and service providers. Trains and present topics on workforce development topics. 
• Attends and assists with the planning of educational, outreach and other industry-related events. 
• Develops strategies to identify and address larger cultural issues within businesses that create barriers to employment for people with disabilities who are justice involved. 
• Actively participate in relevant Anixter and site meetings and committees. 
• Comply with all agency and funder collaboration, reporting and billing requirements by deadlines. 
• Participate in client/funder staffing progress meetings. 
• Responsible for following all Anixter Center policies. Performs other related duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS (Competencies, skills, abilities, experience, education necessary.)

• Bachelor’s Degree (preferred) with a Major in the field of psychology, special education, rehabilitation services, or developmental disabilities preferred or at least 3 years of supervised experience in a mental health or human services setting.
• Valid driver’s license and daily access to a vehicle with $100,000/$300,000 liability insurance.
• Disability awareness background, including familiarity with the ADA, reasonable employee accommodation process, and vocational rehabilitation best practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-directed, able to work remotely, within the community and in an office setting.
• Ability to shift between multiple priorities, excellent time management skills.
• Ability to navigate sensitive scenarios with multiple stakeholders.
• Diversity / cultural competence.
• Business-oriented professionalism.
• Networking savvy including cold-calling businesses in person, attending networking meetings and events, etc.
• Maintain CPR/First Aid/NCI and participate in any other training deemed mandatory or relevant by the agency and/or hospital system.
• Submit to background and medical checks by hiring agency and hospital system as required for employment in healthcare setting.

Nonessential Skills and Experience:

• Proficient in American Sign Language (ASL) preferred but not required.
• Bi-lingual Spanish is preferred but not required.
• Ability to promote and adhere to company values.
• A commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT (Expected working conditions, physical effort required & approximate amount of travel.)

Transportation: A valid Illinois Driver’s License, daily access to a well-maintained vehicle and $100,000/$300,000 liability insurance is required. Willingness to drive clients in personal vehicle and self-transport to Anixter Center and external partner sites, as required.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: Professional office work environments; the noise level in the work environment is low to moderate. This position is 65%-70% community based.

Geographic Area: Scope of position covers entire Chicago metropolitan area; West and South sides of Chicago, preferred.