Vocational Specialist

Spectrum Center Schools and Programs, a growing, dynamic organization with a social mission to offer hope, is seeking a Vocational Specialist to join our award-winning team and perform meaningful work in a culture that welcomes innovation, encourages creative expression and offers limitless potential for personal and professional satisfaction!

If you thrive in a fast-paced, goal-oriented, outcome-driven environment, seek a career with genuine purpose, and possess a problem-solving mindset, a sense of humor, and a stellar work ethic — We Should Talk! 📲

As a Vocational Specialist you will manage and oversee the vocational training program in accordance with Spectrum practices and policies, Work Ability I Program guidelines, and department of labor requirements.  Vocational Specialist will manage student vocational training plans to ensure the highest level of success for students participating in the Work Ability program and provide vocational training, job coaching, and career counseling per student IEP goals and individual career plans, as well as develop new community-based partnerships/job sites as needed.

‖ Responsibilities Include:

• Providing vocational, career, and transition inventories, to include, but not limited to annual age-appropriate vocational/career inventories, work readiness evaluations and/or profiles available for each student served, starting at age 14; assisting teachers and educational coordinators in selecting age-appropriate transition assessments for ITP development, and assisting classroom staff in completing vocational inventories/transition assessments.

• Completing vocational and career training plans based on IEP schedules, and when needed providing information/data for IEP/ITP progress reports.

• Assisting classrooms with on-campus unpaid vocational training, work and career exploration, and pre-employment curriculum activities.

• Developing and scheduling new on-campus training opportunities as needed.

• Ordering and distributing necessary curriculum resources, tools and materials related to vocational training.

• Contributing to supervision of student training per WAI practices, DOL regulations, and IEP/ITP goals/plans.

• Providing job coaching to selected students on and off campus, and training to classroom staff (and others) on job methods and procedures.

• Managing or providing oversight for daily operations related to student stores (also known as: School-based business-SBB).

• Providing job coaching at the SBB as needed, and making necessary purchases only as needed and in a timely manner.

• Managing overall community-based work training for students. This includes developing new work training opportunities as needed, following job development procedures, providing information to staff about community training opportunities, assisting with job matching, providing job coaching for selected students, providing training for classroom staff on job coaching strategies, providing ongoing assistance to employer partners, communicating consistently with employment sites, assuring employer satisfaction, and communicating any employer concerns to school staff.

• Creating work schedules and training schedules and providing schedules to both students and staff on an ongoing basis.

• Overseeing student payroll associated with the WAI program. Adhering to payroll procedures, submitting work permits and renewals, preparing W-4 and I-9 documentation for the Program Director, and providing training to staff and students on all payroll related items for the WAI program.

• Submitting timesheets to the Program Director in a timely fashion and tracking all payroll items for the WAI program appropriately.

• Attending all required training and meetings, both on and off campus.

• Collecting and tracking student data for WAI grant and reporting out as directed (including all students served).

• Performing other duties and projects as assigned.

‖ Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in education, social work, vocational rehabilitation or a closely related field of study.
• Hold currently or in the process of obtaining a valid state driver's license.
• Prior experience and/or highly knowledgeable in providing vocational and/or job coaching services.
• Prior experience and highly knowledgeable in program management and/or development and working with databases/spreadsheets.
• Highly skilled in working with students with developmental disabilities and/or challenging behaviors.
• Solid motivational skills and willingness to be flexible and adapt to changing priorities and new initiatives.
• Advanced oral and written communication, organization, conflict resolution, multitasking, problem solving, and decision-making ability.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of staff members, students, parents, customers, and the public.
• Highly skilled in building relationships with students, parents, teachers and community and/or business partners.
• Well-versed in the use of relevant technology including experience with computers, Microsoft Office Suite, database entry and basic office equipment.

Spectrum Center Schools is a division of ChanceLight Behavioral Health, Therapy, & Education, the nation’s leading provider of alternative and special education programs for children and young adults. For more than 45 years, and in partnership with over 235 school districts nationwide, we have helped change the direction of more than 240,000 student lives!

💻 Learn more about our history, our mission and the program services we provide by visiting the link below:

• https://bit.ly/m/WorkWithPurpose

At ChanceLight we believe in providing more than just a job, as a member of our team you'll receive the opportunity to make meaningful impacts, the support needed to achieve success, and all the tools essential to reaching your personal & professional fulfillment!  Your path to a truly rewarding career starts here – where growth, empowerment, and collaboration define our culture; and every day is a Chance to transform lives through education!

‖ Perks and Benefits Include:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
• FREE Telehealth and Virtual Counseling Sessions
• FREE Health Advocacy Services and 24/7 Nurse Line
• Company Paid Life & Disability Insurance
• Company Paid Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Personal Protection Insurance Plans
• Cigna Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Babies Program
• Legal Services Insurance 
• Pet Health Insurance
• Accrual-based Paid Time Off 
• School Hours and Paid Holiday Schedule
• Extensive Personal and Life Event Paid Leave Policy
• 401k Retirement Saving Plan
• Perks at Work Employee Discount Program
• Opportunities for Growth & Development
• And So Much More!

If you're ready to start making lasting impacts on the lives of students and contribute to the creation of a brighter future — This Is Your Chance!

Join us and together, we can empower students to overcome challenges, build confidence and unlock their full potential!

Careers, With ChanceLight 💙 Work. With Purpose.

^{Copyright © 2024 ChanceLight Behavioral Health, Therapy, & Education, a ChanceLight® company  *Benefit plans and eligibility requirements may vary based on role and employment status.} 

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