Outreach Specialist – Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Job Description Summary

The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness at OCALI increases access, communication, and equity for learners who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired. We do this by connecting resources and providing training for professionals and fostering relationships to equip communities to support families and learners where they are, with what they need, when they need it, to learn, grow, and live their best lives. The Outreach Center is responsible for developing relevant and effective products, delivering training, and providing technical assistance to support local education agencies (LEAs), their leadership, building, teacher-based teams and families across Ohio. Their charge is to build the capacity of LEAs across Ohio to serve learners with sensory differences. We are currently seeking to hire an Outreach Specialist with expertise in working with learners who are deaf/hard of hearing. OCALI offers a flexible work environment.

Qualifications:

• Extensive experience serving students with a range of hearing status, language use, and communication modes.
• Able to remain philosophically neutral when presenting information to a wide range of audiences.
• Expertise/experience in improving literacy skills for students who are deaf/hard of hearing and in-depth knowledge of state-wide literacy initiatives and policies and their applications to D/HH learners.
• Knowledge of and experience with cross agency collaboration and educational environments.
• Well-versed across the spectrum of school settings, facilitating communication among school personnel, families, and other providers with an emphasis on access, equity, inclusivity, and educating the whole child. 
• Professional development or training experience including production and creatively delivering content in virtual environments through a variety of modalities; knowledge of ScreenFlow and/or Adobe video editing platforms or willingness to learn this software is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex D/HH research concepts into practical strategies and share those in meaningful ways with a variety of audiences.
• Knowledge of and experience with assessing learners who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Experience with consultation and coaching educators to implement evidence-based strategies for students who are deaf/hard of hearing.
• Innovative thinker, strong initiative, driven to complete projects, meet contract deliverables, and leverage resources while maintaining focus on the organization’s mission.
• Communicates professionally and effectively in English and American Sign Language, with internal teams and external partners and/or customers. ?
• Experience and proficiency with technology applications (including but not limited to: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) and online environments such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
• Ability to effectively plan, develop and host virtual meetings and conduct virtual trainings to ensure goals and objectives are met and accessibility needs of attendees are honored.
• Ability to independently travel within Ohio for meetings, consultation, and professional development when needed.
• Self-directed professional, with strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written English skills for technical content, with the ability to edit for clarity and readability tailored to the audience.
• Team player who values the success of the overall group.
• Master’s degree in disability or leadership field.
• Ohio licensure in deafness/hearing impairment.
• Knowledge of and experience with assistive technologies (AT) preferred.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

• Leverages expertise in deafness in collaboration with Outreach Center team and the teams from OCALI to establish and implement priorities for high tech and high touch support to regional structures (SST, ESC, etc.) and LEAs.
• Creates resources and workflows that may not have an established history including the ability to scope, plan, manage, and assess projects across a full life cycle, utilizing the technology applications provided.
• Links existing research and state priorities to professional development projects ensuring that promising practices and evidence-based strategies are implemented.
• Works collaboratively with internal and external partners to build local and regional capacity to serve individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing, based in principles of access, equity, inclusivity, and educating the whole child.
• Identifies, leverages, and develops partnerships for implementation with fidelity of evidence-based practices for individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing.
• Presents, co-presents, facilitates, and/or co-plans conference sessions at the annual OCALICON conference.
• Engages with a team in development of effective training, both online and face-to-face, for professionals working with children and youth who are deaf/hard of hearing.
• Works with internal and external partners on meaningful and effective product development to build capacity of educators, family members, and the community.
• Provides consultation, technical assistance, and coaching to regional structures (SSTs, ESC, etc.) and LEAs as they work to build capacity to meet the needs of students who are deaf/hard of hearing and attends meetings and events that build and maintain relationships with these regional structures.
• Demonstrates accuracy, responsiveness, and excellent communication when fielding center phone calls, participating in meetings and trainings, and responding to emails and other written correspondence with internal and external customers.
• Responds appropriately to technical assistance requests, including requests from across the lifespan.  
• Works as part of the Outreach Center team to enact the vision and mission of OCALI.
• Completes other duties as assigned by OCALI directors and the center director, which may include supporting district technical assistance initiatives, grant writing, meeting attendance, developing reports, analyzing data, etc.
• Generates and delivers content through social media using applicable software.

What’s in it for you?

OCALI offers excellent benefits and retirement packages, including eligibility in SERS, as well as access to:

• A mission-driven, innovative, and growing team
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and generous holiday schedule
• Flexible and fast-paced work environment
• Professional learning opportunities

Salary:

Commensurate with experience and in accordance with specified salary schedule.

Reports To:

Directly supervised by the Program Director of the Outreach Center, but ultimately accountable to OCALI Leadership Team.

Application Procedures:

OCALI is a division of the ESCCO, please complete the employment application through www.escco.org.
 
For questions, please contact:
Christine Croyle at christine_croyle@ocali.org