Employment Specialist

Description

Location: Trumbull, CT, with regular statewide travel based on program, employer, and participant needs. 

Pay: $21.00 to $25.50 per hour 

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, hourly 

Job Type: Full-time and part-time opportunities 

Work Setting: Community-based settings, employer locations, schools, organizational offices, program sites, and other locations based on participant and program needs. 

Shift and Schedule: Variable by program assignment. Day, early-morning, evening, weekend, or holiday availability may occasionally be required to support interviews, onboarding, job coaching, workplace training, and retention services. 

About The Kennedy Collective

The Kennedy Collective is a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, veterans, and individuals facing barriers to employment. Our work spans Administration, Program Services, Social Enterprises, Workforce Development, and Mobility & Travel Training Services, creating pathways for people to flourish and thrive. 

The Opportunity

As an Employment Specialist, you will help individuals prepare for, obtain, and maintain competitive, integrated employment. You will provide career-development support, job coaching, placement assistance, workplace accommodations, and retention services while building productive relationships with employers throughout the community. This position combines direct support with active employer engagement and job development. You will help individuals identify employment goals, develop workplace skills, address barriers, learn job responsibilities, and build greater independence. Depending on your program assignment, you may support T2E, Project SEARCH, DMHAS, BRS, Placement, Ticket to Work, or other Workforce programs.

What You Will Do

• Manage individualized employment services for an assigned caseload while coordinating appointments, employer contacts, job-coaching assignments, follow-up services, documentation, and program requirements. 
• Develop employment opportunities by learning about employer workforce needs, identifying available positions, matching opportunities with individual goals and abilities, and presenting qualified candidates for consideration. 
• Build and maintain employer relationships that create pathways to competitive employment, internships, work-based learning, job shadows, volunteer experiences, interviews, and other career-development opportunities. 
• Support career exploration and employment preparation through résumé development, applications, interview preparation, job-search strategies, workplace communication, benefits navigation, and individualized work-readiness instruction. 
• Provide individualized job coaching by teaching job duties, demonstrating tasks, reinforcing workplace habits, supporting appropriate accommodations, and helping individuals meet employer expectations. 
• Promote independence at work by gradually reducing direct support as individuals develop skills, confidence, and natural workplace supports. 
• Provide placement and retention support by assisting with onboarding, orientation, workplace adjustment, communication with employers, performance concerns, reasonable accommodations, and other needs that may affect continued employment. 
• Identify and reduce employment barriers by connecting individuals with transportation, benefits information, community resources, accommodations, technology, training, and other appropriate supports. 
• Coordinate employment services with individuals, employers, families, schools, treatment teams, referral sources, funders, government agencies, and other authorized partners. 
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of services, employer contacts, job-development activity, coaching, individual progress, attendance, placements, retention outcomes, billing support, and other information required by the assigned program. 
• Travel throughout the community to meet with individuals, conduct employer outreach, visit employment sites, provide coaching, and deliver services where they are needed. 
• Provide coverage across Workforce programs and perform other responsibilities reasonably related to the position based on participant, program, and organizational needs.

For a complete list of job duties and responsibilities, please click here to view the full job description 

Requirements

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma or GED. 
• Valid driver's license and a driving record that meets organizational requirements. 
• Ability to travel regularly to employer, community, school, and program locations. 
• Ability to work independently, organize daily responsibilities, communicate concerns, and complete required documentation.
• Basic computer skills, including email and electronic documentation. 
• Ability to satisfy applicable pre-employment and ongoing background-screening requirements. 
• Ability to complete and maintain training and certifications required by The Kennedy Collective or the assigned Workforce program. 
• Willingness and eligibility to complete federal suitability screening when assigned to SSA Ticket to Work Employment Network services. 

Preferred

• Experience in employment services, job development, job coaching, workforce development, vocational rehabilitation, education, human services, or a related setting. 
• Experience helping individuals prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. 
• Experience building relationships with employers or community partners. 
• CPR/First Aid or other relevant program-specific training, or the ability to obtain it within the timeframe established by The Kennedy Collective. 

Physical Requirements

• Regularly move between employer locations, community settings, schools, offices, program sites, and vehicles. 
• Regularly sit, stand, and walk throughout the workday. 
• Bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and use stairs as needed to observe, demonstrate, or support workplace activities. 
• Demonstrate or model job duties and work-related tasks based on the employment setting and individual support needs. 
• Frequently use a keyboard, mouse, telephone, computer screen, and mobile device for communication and documentation. 
• Drive for work and remain seated in a vehicle for periods associated with travel between assignments. 
• Occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull up to 20 pounds in connection with program materials, workplace activities, or assigned job-coaching duties. 
• Communicate effectively by speaking, hearing, reading, and writing while monitoring workplace activity and safety. 
• Perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. 

Working Conditions

• Works in employer locations, schools, community workplaces, organizational offices, program environments, public settings, and vehicles. 
• Regular travel between organizational, employer, community, school, and program locations is required. 
• Regularly interacts with individuals served, employers, coworkers, supervisors, families, school personnel, referral sources, funders, and community partners. 
• May work in changing weather, traffic, noise, production, retail, office, hospitality, or other work-site conditions based on the assignment. 
• Must follow the safety, confidentiality, conduct, dress, and access requirements of assigned employer and community sites. 
• Work hours vary by assigned Workforce program and may be adjusted to support employer schedules, interviews, onboarding, job coaching, workplace training, and retention services. 
• Early morning, evening, weekend, or holiday availability may occasionally be required based on program, employer, or individual needs. 

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation

• Compensation will be based on experience, qualifications, the approved Workforce compensation structure, and applicable organizational compensation practices. 
• The approved hourly range must be added before the position is posted. 
• This position is classified as Non-Exempt and is eligible for overtime pay in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and organizational policy. 

Benefits

Eligible employees may participate in The Kennedy Collective's comprehensive benefits program, subject to plan eligibility requirements, which may include: 

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options, where applicable 
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance 
• Retirement savings plan with employer contributions, if eligible 
• Paid time off (Vacation and Sick Time including floating holidays) 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Professional development and training opportunities 
• Employee discount and wellness programs 
• Additional voluntary benefits offered by The Kennedy Collective 

EEO Statement

The Kennedy Collective is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. As a federal contractor, The Kennedy Collective complies with applicable requirements regarding individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.