NextGen Careers Employment Success Specialist - West

MassAbility is seeking a dedicated, mission-driven individual to partner with young adults, ages 18-30, living with disabilities and pursuing employment goals. In the role of NextGen Careers Employment Success Specialist, this individual will be part of a regionally based team implementing a transformational approach to Vocational Rehabilitation, known as / NextGen Careers / . Through Next Gen Careers eligible individuals obtain employment, and advance in or change to career ladder jobs, in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers and other industry sectors through pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, Job Driven trainings, and internships. In NextGen Careers, the young adult is at the center and uses self-advocacy skills to drive their own career plans towards obtaining competitive integrated employment. The NextGen Employment Success Specialist will be part of a team supporting young adults with disabilities to enhance their internal skills, specifically : self-capacity (confidence in their ability to perform a job), self-realization (understanding of their strengths and limitations), self-sufficiency (ability to be independent), and self-advocacy (ability to direct one’s own life).The NextGen Employment Success Specialist will contribute their specific expertise in areas of employers, labor markets, and employment opportunities (including apprenticeship and internships) as part of an Integrated Resource Team (IRT). IRTs use a team approach, including counselors, peer mentors, and employment specialists, to maximize wrap around services to support the young adult. They will work collaboratively with young adults to identify and provide choice, resources, and support, moving towards young adults taking more leadership roles in developing these skills, leading to increased independence and increased success throughout their career. They will work closely with NextGen Careers participants, employers in STEM sectors, and team members to place NextGeners in career ladder jobs. They will market and promote the services of NextGen Careers participants to employers and other stakeholders. The work of NextGen Careers is community-based. Next Gen team members will meet with young adults in a variety of settings that could include, but are not limited to, community-based settings, school and / or community programs, participant’s homes, health care settings, and / or in an office setting. While incumbents will typically work a standard work week; depending on the needs of participants and / or of the work required, there may be extended hours, nights, or weekends to respond to participants’ needs. This is a grant-funded position through 6 / 30 / 2026. MassAbility was awarded federal funds to develop and implement NextGen Careers as part of a five-year Innovation Grant. Renewable subject to available funding. NextGen Careers values equity, mutuality, and cultural sensitivity, and partners with young adults in a person-centered approach, with an emphasis on a holistic experience for the participant. MassAbility is a learning and participatory performance culture with an emphasis on high performance teams, individual performance / contribution / impact, and engaging in activities to promote and support a program / division / agency (e.g., committee membership, workgroup membership, presenting at staff meetings, achieving learning and performance goals). In addition, MassAbility is an agency committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial equity, as well as innovation and transformation and change, and creating a culture of agility, excellence, and belonging.

• This position serves the NextGen Careers Program and is assigned to the Springfield and Worcester Offices. The home office is Springfield and travel to Worcester and throughout the district is required. Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive) :
• Solicit employer participation in and engagement with NextGen Careers and NextGen Careers participants.
• Develop and nurture employer relationships, as well as relationships with other MassAbility agency staff all to support the goals of NextGen Careers.
• Educate, engage, and recruit employers in an inspiring, positive, and supportive way to increase their level of interest and enthusiasm about hiring NextGen job applicants.
• Coordinate and facilitate relevant employer specific services and activities to positively strengthen and build participants’ career self-actualization.
• Organize and host / co-host employment events.
• Assists other members of the participant’s Integrated Resource Team in establishing employer contacts and opportunities as may be needed.
• Develop working alliances with participants and employer partners based on mutual respect, trust, and accountability.
• Participate in participant’s discovery process to determine participant’s level of career self-actualization and baseline skills of self-capacity, self-realization, self-advocacy, and self-sufficiency.
• Provide coaching, counseling, and instruction to help strengthen the participant’s understanding and skill level of his / her self-capacity, self-realization, self-advocacy, and self-sufficiency.
• Participate in the development of and any modifications to participant’s career portfolio and serve as a resource for the services that may be required for the participant to achieve his / her career goals.
• Support other members of the participant’s Integrated Resource Team to ensure the participant’s voice and choice is truly represented.
• Utilize reflective learning and coaching practices in engagement with participants and team members. Required Qualifications :
• Basic understanding of young adults, especially young adults with disabilities.
• Basic understanding of how to successfully engage and develop a working alliance with employer partners
• Knowledge of the principles, techniques, and data of employment and the labor market, as well as principles, practices and techniques of marketing and sales knowledge.
• Ability to engage differently and to embrace new models of service.
• Ability to coach and experience with using a coaching approach to working with young adults. Preferred Qualifications :
• Ability to use and experience with using reflective listening strategies when working with young adults as well as working with other team members within NextGen Careers.
• Ability to inspire young adults throughout the NextGen Careers process.
• Commitment to flexibility, and “doing what it takes” to support participants.
• Ability and skills to establish working relationships with employer partners as well as other identified as key to supporting young adults.
• Ability to think critically, use reasoning and problem-solving skills, be able to organize and prioritize, and have persuasive interactions with others.
• Ability to use technology products including but not limited to Microsoft Office, Outlook, Teams, and Zoom, and employment specific software, databases, and related resources.
• Ability to serve diverse populations.
• Bilingual _About MassAbility _ MassAbility provides services that break down barriers and empower people with disabilities to live life on their own terms. Our programs focus on vocational rehabilitation, community living, and disability determination for federal benefit programs. We are change agents and community builders. And we put the people we serve at the heart of everything we do. We envision a Commonwealth that is open to all, where everyone can seize their true potential and contribute fully to our communities and the world. Together with stakeholders, partners, and allies, MassAbility collaborates, problem-solves, and innovates to bring about a better Massachusetts for everyone—one that is truly equitable, accessible, and inclusive. For more information about our agency and programs, visit : MassAbility | Mass.gov Pre-Offer Process
• A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit and click on "Information for Job Applicants." As part of the hiring process, the Office of Human Resources will be verifying any college-level degrees conferred to the selected candidate. Additionally, any licensure required for the position will be verified. Information provided as part of the hiring process is subject to the Massachusetts Public Record Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website. Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. Education and license / certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website. If you would like to request an ADA or religious accommodation, please click on the link and complete theReasonable Accommodation Online Request Form. For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option 4. Applicants should upload a cover letter and resume for the West Region
• NextGen Careers Employment Success Specialist
• requisition.
• First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days. Applicants must have (A) a Bachelor's degree in marketing, business management, business administration, public relations, vocational rehabilitation, counseling, psychology, public administration, human resources or related field and (B) at least two (2) years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional experience in : business management, business administration, public relations, marketing, personnel interviewing, recruitment or job placement; employment, vocational counseling, psychology, sociology, education or rehabilitation counseling or guidance; job analysis or position classification work, of which (C) at least one (1) year must have been working with individuals with disabilities, or (D)any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below. Extensive travel is required; incumbents who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to assignment. Substitutions : I. A Master's degree or higher in marketing, business management, business administration, vocational rehabilitation, public relations or public administration, counseling, psychology, human resources or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (B) experience. Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range. Comprehensive Benefits When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards! An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role. Job :
• Community and Social Services Organization :
• MassAbility Title : NextGen Careers Employment Success Specialist - West Location : Massachusetts-Springfield-243 Cottage Street Requisition ID : 250000UE