Employment Training Specialist -Allegan/ Kzoo County

Job Title: Employment Training Specialist

Department: Community Employment

Job Classification: Exempt

Reports To: Community Employment Supervisor

Pay Range

Minimum: $35,360

Midpoint: $ 44,200

Maximum: $53,040

Why Work Here

At MRC Industries, we offer a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation, values diversity, and promotes professional growth. We are dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities through meaningful employment and community engagement. Join a team committed to fostering inclusivity and making a positive impact on people's lives.

Job Summary

Develops opportunities in the community to assist and enable individuals with developmental disabilities and severe and persistent mental illness to obtain and maintain long-term competitive employment. Engages in community outreach and networking opportunities; building and nurturing business relationships in order to develop job opportunities for the individuals we serve. Works with employers to examine job needs and work environments to determine need for workplace modifications and coaching/support needed to teach the job to the individual.

This position will support Allegan and some of Kalamazoo County. (Newly created role to support growth in Allegan Co).

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Assists individuals in obtaining appropriate competitive employment, ensuring job match consistent with individual's skills, strengths, and preferences.
• Assists individuals to be knowledgeable about job duties, benefits, rates of pay, employment policies and practices, and job location prior to acceptance.
• Establishes and maintains effective community employment contacts, working closely with local employers to develop and identify job opportunities.
• Provides on-going follow-up and support services to the individual to assist them in adjusting to and maintaining their employment. Assists individuals in accessing other community resources as necessary.
• Maintains contact with employers to provide follow-up support and ensure satisfaction with services. Assists individuals in obtaining information on how their employment income will impact benefits (i.e. SSI, SSDI) and monitors income and its relationship to benefits.
• Establishes and nurtures business relationships through participating and/or maintaining membership in community organizations such as Chamber of Commerce, business organizations, and service organizations and attending community events such as career fairs.
• Obtains funding for individuals in job development (i.e. MRS, CMH).
• Maintains an organized system of recording job openings, including the names of employers, persons referred, and actions taken, and completes documentation in the timeframe established by supervisor.
• Completes safety analysis of employment sites to assure a safe environment.
• Provides feedback of information with other personnel regarding community employment opportunities and labor market trends.
• Coordinates with community employment staff to arrange appropriate placements, transportation and coaching for employment sites.
• Assists employers to identify and eliminate barriers to employment for the individuals employed.
• Maintains contact with service team members (case managers, parents, guardians, etc).
• Trains individuals new to community employment.
• Assures the rights of individuals served are protected in accordance with the Michigan Mental Health Code and agency policy.
• Actively supports and be knowledgeable about 1) culturally competent, recovery-based practices, 2) person-centered planning as a shared decision-making process with the individual who defines his or her own life goals and is assisted in developing a unique path toward those goals and 3) a trauma informed culture to aid clients in their recovery process.
• Completes other miscellaneous duties as assigned.
  
  

Required Skills/Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Professionalism and the ability to communicate with people at all levels; building and sustaining professional relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal skills at technical and professional levels.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills and ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Must be administratively and pragmatically detail oriented.
• Ability to exercise independent and sound judgment.
• Must demonstrate experience learning and utilizing various softwares and databases including remotely within the community.
• Work well in a team as well as independently
• Must be able to accommodate schedule flexibility to meet client needs including occasional evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Must become certified as an Employment Training Specialist (ETS) within 6 months of hire.
• Criminal records, driving and recipient rights screening required.
• Valid Michigan driver's license, good driving record and the availability of licensed, insured vehicle for use on the job required.
  
  

Education And Experience

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• Prior experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness preferred.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to stand, walk, reach, bend, and handle objects, tools or controls.
• May occasionally require lifting up to 35 pounds.
  
  

Work Conditions

• Local travel throughout the community to meet with prospective and current employment locations, attend networking events, training and other local travel as required by position. Occasional overnight travel.
• Working hours will involve evenings and weekends as determined by the needs of the people we serve and program operations.
• Work may involve being outside in all weather conditions and indoor/outdoor industrial, retail, fast-food and other conditions.
• May be exposed to bloodborne pathogens, infectious diseases, and parasites.