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Job Development Specialist

Helen Keller Services
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Since 1893, Helen Keller Services (HKS) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have combined hearing and vision loss. HKS serves the New York City/Long Island area from its new headquarters in dynamic downtown Brooklyn and the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults of Sands Point, New York, which has a network of regional offices that extends HKS’ reach across the United States.

We currently have an exciting full-time career opportunity available to join the HKS team as a Full-Time Job Development Specialist in our Placement department in Brooklyn, NY. The Brooklyn Children’s Learning Center preschool provides educational and therapeutic services for children between the ages of 3-5 with visual disorders, multiple disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and pervasive developmental disabilities. 

SUMMARY

The Job Development Specialist will establish and maintain working relationships with employers, industry organizations, and public agencies to source job openings and secure employment, and vocational training opportunities for our jobseekers. The Job Development Specialist will work closely with the Program Director to review cumulative background information on each jobseeker prior to the beginning of Placement Services. This will ensure a meaningful and person-centered job match.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Complete Job Placement Assessment for each participant receiving services
  • Develop relationships with employers in HKSB’s region in order to create a bank of potential employment opportunities for participants through:
    • Attending job fairs
    • Meeting with employers to educate them on HKSB’s services and potential benefits of employing HKSB’s participants
    • Staying informed of available employment opportunities through career fairs, career centers, chambers of commerce, county placement consortiums, etc.
  • Collaborate on a placement services plan for each participant
  • Prepare participants for job seeking through:
    • Mock interviews
    • Resume preparation
    • Work Experience Training (WET)
  • Partnering with the participant through the job development process to:
    • Identifying opportunities in their chosen employment sector
    • Establish a minimum of three interviews with employers in that sector
    • Secure employment in that sector
    • Conduct job site analyses and identify any environmental barriers and work with the employer to identify reasonable accommodations
    • Provide follow-along services to participants who have found employment for up to 90 days
  • Complete all documentation and reports as required by the NYS Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) and HKSB policy
  • Maintain active communication with participants’ NYSCB counselors and keep them apprised of significant milestones and/or changes in the participants’ services
  • Job Coaching
    • Develop and implement effective coaching strategies to help overcome employment-related challenges.
    • Identify Trainees’ (WETs’) or employees’ strengths and advise them on how to use those strengths to maintain employment or excel in their chosen career path.
    • Assist the employee on setting work-related goals such as sitting with employees in the break room, identifying natural support systems, knowing the chain of command etc.
    • Teach employees how to use job-related tools, instruments, and equipment on the job.

Responsible for other duties as may be assigned or requested by his/her immediate supervisor and/or the HKS Associate Executive Director, Chief of Programs or President & CEO.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Education, Business Administration, Communication. Master’s degree is vocational rehabilitation preferred.

Experience working with people with disabilities required. Minimum three years of experience, five years preferred. Experience with vocational training and placement services preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Must have a valid NYS Driver’s License

BENEFITS

At HKS we strive to provide a healthy work-life balance for our employees. We offer generous paid time off and a comprehensive benefit package including:

  • 403(B)
  • 403(B) matching
  • Continuing education credits
  • Dental Insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Paid time off