Adult Work Readiness Coordinator

Partners for Youth with Disabilities Seeks

Adult Work Readiness Coordinator

About Partners For Youth With Disabilities

The mission of Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD) is to empower youth with disabilities to reach their full potential by providing transformative mentoring programs, youth development opportunities, and inclusion expertise. PYD motivates youth to reach their personal, educational, and career goals, and guides organizations in becoming more inclusive to youth with disabilities.

PYD is a pioneer in its space. Founded in 1985 – a full five years before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act – PYD began as a one-to-one mentoring program for youth with disabilities, providing these youth with adult role models and, through these mentors, an extended support system. Over the past 35 years, PYD has established itself as a national, highly sought-after leader in its field, with a reputation for delivering innovative and high-quality programs and services. PYD empowers more than 500 youth annually through direct service programs and has delivered inclusion best practices training to more than 10,000 individuals across 300 organizations, spanning 13 states. PYD delivers impact at both the local and national levels, including:

• Award-winning programs serving youth ages six to twenty-six experiencing a broad range of disabilities across Massachusetts, including Mentoring, Career Readiness, Young Leaders Rising, and the Youth Leadership Forum
• The Career Readiness Academy, which provides PYD’s highly renowned Career Readiness curriculum, start-up training, evaluation, and technical assistance to partner organizations and schools across 13 states
• The National Disability Mentoring Coalition, which leverages the networks and collective influence of 550 membership organizations to raise awareness of the importance and impact of mentoring in the lives of people with disabilities, and to increase the number and quality of disability mentoring programs around the country
• The Disability Mentoring Certification Program, the first training program of its kind for mentoring programs and professionals
• Live trainings, audits, and learn.pyd.org, all focused on increasing the inclusivity of workplaces, organizations, and communities across the country
  
  

Headquartered in Boston, MA, Partners for Youth with Disabilities has a staff of 21 and an annual budget of $2M . A highly engaged, mission-driven, 14-member Board of Directors partners with the leadership team to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of the organization. With an exceptionally strong reputation at the forefront of the field, an established set of programs delivered in Massachusetts, and a solid foundation of national work, PYD is poised to continue to significantly expand the organization’s leadership position, reach, and impact – at the individual, organizational, and societal level.

Opportunity Going Forward

The Adult Work Readiness Coordinator is a new position reporting to the Assistant Director of Career Readiness who is critical to ensuring PYD’s mission is realized. The Adult Work Readiness Coordinator is responsible for delivering positive youth development programming and supporting the administrative functions necessary to ensure effective service delivery.

PYD (Partners for Youth with Disabilities) is partnering with a day program to deliver a comprehensive Career Readiness Program aimed at providing career and job-readiness training for young adults with autism (ages 18-26). This innovative program focuses on preparing young adults for competitive employment by using PYD’s curriculum. The Career Readiness Program prepares participants for careers in construction, customer service, and hospitality, while developing essential job-readiness and soft skills.

Desired Credentials/Profile of the Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Special Education, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field (preferred)
• Previous experience working with individuals with autism or other developmental disabilities, particularly in a vocational or job-readiness context (preferred)
• Knowledge of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and how they apply to curriculum and program development for youth with disabilities
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and support diverse individuals
• Ability to adapt and provide flexible support based on students' unique needs and learning styles
• Experience in career development or job coaching is a plus
• Passion for supporting young adults with disabilities and promoting inclusive workforce opportunities
• Legally authorized to work in the U.S
• Able to independently travel across Eastern Massachusetts
  
  

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

Essential Responsibilities:

• Curriculum Support:
• Implement PYD’s Career Readiness curriculum to identified program members at local day program
• Adapt materials and resources to meet diverse learning needs and styles based on UDL principles
• Facilitate job-readiness training for program members, covering skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, professionalism, time management, and workplace etiquette
• Support students in securing real-world work experiences with local business community partners in sectors like construction, customer service, and hospitality
• Monitor and provide on-site support during work experiences, ensuring that students receive hands-on exposure to job responsibilities and industry-specific tasks
• Offer individualized support to students to help them navigate challenges, build confidence, and maintain focus on their career goals
• Collaboration & Partner Engagement:
• Engage with day program staff, PYD team members, and business community partners to develop and maintain a network of employers willing to offer work experiences
• Provide ongoing support for employer partners to ensure successful integration of youth with disabilities into the workforce
• Coordinate with local businesses and organizations to ensure that students have access to appropriate and accessible job opportunities
• Program Evaluation & Reporting:
• Collect data and feedback from students, employers, and day program staff to assess program success and identify areas for improvement
• Participate in regular team meetings to discuss participant progress, refine program approaches, and contribute to continuous program improvement
• Assist in maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of student progress, work experiences, and mentoring sessions
  

Marginal Responsibilities:

• Attend monthly staff meetings, quarterly National Disability Mentoring Coalition meetings, and team meetings and supervision
• Contribute to the newsletter, blog, social media content, and other promotional collateral
• Support the planning and management of PYD community and fundraising events
• Assist with grant reports and proposals as necessary
• Assist with special projects as they occur
  
  

Diversity and Inclusion

At Partners for Youth with Disabilities, we are committed to equal opportunity and the diversity of our workforce, and strongly encourage diverse applicants to apply. We strive for our staff to be representative of the full diversity of the youth and families we serve.

Compensation and Benefits:

The Adult Work Readiness Coordinator is a non-exempt position with a starting salary range of $46,000-$51,000. PYD provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with 3% employer contribution, FSA and TSA plan, paid time off (vacation, sick, personal, and holidays), with a generous annual employer contribution, employer-paid life and AD&D insurance, and employer-paid short-term & long-term disability insurance.

Application Process and Additional Information

Candidates must include a resume and a cover letter that describes how their qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of PYD. If taking the job would require a candidate to move to Greater Boston Area, s/he/they should mention why that is a good fit for them at this time. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled.

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