Position Summary The Employment & Career Development Specialist provides individualized, person-centered employment and career development support to Vision of Hope Village (VOHV) participants with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. The Specialist works directly alongside participants as they pursue employment and career-development goals identified through their Individual Program Plan (IPP) and VOHV service plan. Services are delivered in community, training, internship, job-search, and workplace settings and are designed to increase participant independence, self-determination, employability, workplace success, and progress toward competitive integrated employment. The Specialist serves as a coach, facilitator, and support person rather than performing employment-related activities on behalf of the participant. Support should be progressively reduced whenever appropriate as the participant develops skills and independence. Essential Duties & Responsibilities Individualized Employment Support

• Provide individualized support consistent with each participant's IPP, identified employment outcomes, abilities, preferences, interests, support needs, and person-centered goals.
• Become familiar with assigned participants' employment objectives, accommodations, communication preferences, strengths, barriers, and individualized support strategies.
• Assist participants in identifying career interests, employment preferences, strengths, transferable skills, and realistic employment goals.
• Support participants in making informed choices regarding employment, training, internships, and career-development opportunities. Job Search and Career Development Accompany and support participants during employment-search and career-development activities, including:
• Career exploration and vocational research
• Job searches and identification of potential employers
• Resume and cover-letter development
• Online and paper employment applications
• Development of professional references
• Interview preparation and mock interviews
• Employer communication
• Job fairs and hiring events
• Workplace tours and informational interviews
• Employment-related training and workshops
• planning and development of community navigation skills
• Development of workplace communication and professional behavior
• Identification of reasonable workplace accommodations when appropriate
• Teach participants how to complete employment-related activities independently rather than routinely completing tasks for them.
• Support participants participating in paid internships, work experiences, job placements, or competitive integrated employment.
• When appropriate, accompany participants at internship and employment sites to provide individualized workplace coaching and support.
• Assist participants with: o Learning job duties and workplace routines o Following schedules and supervisor instructions o Time management and attendance o Workplace communication o Professional boundaries and conduct o Interaction with coworkers and supervisors o Problem solving o Task completion o Workplace safety o Self-advocacy o Understanding employer expectations o Requesting assistance appropriately o Adjusting to changes in workplace routines • Observe participant performance and identify areas in which additional instruction, practice, accommodations, or support may be beneficial.

• Use systematic instruction, modeling, prompting, reinforcement, task analysis, visual supports, or other approved strategies appropriate to the participant.
• Gradually fade direct support when appropriate to encourage independence and natural workplace supports.
• Represent VOHV professionally when interacting with employers, businesses, community partners, internship sites, training providers, and members of the public.
• Help facilitate communication between the participant and employer while maintaining the participant as the primary decision-maker and communicator whenever possible.
• Educate employers regarding participant strengths, effective support strategies, and reasonable accommodations when authorized and appropriate.
• Develop positive relationships with community employers and identify potential employment, internship, job-shadowing, and career-exploration opportunities.
• Immediately communicate significant workplace concerns, changes in placement, safety issues, or potential barriers to employment to the appropriate VOHV supervisor.
• Maintain timely, accurate, objective, and professional documentation of services provided.
• Document participant activities, progress toward employment goals, skills developed, barriers encountered, interventions provided, level of support required, and significant outcomes.
• Collect program and employment data as required by VOHV, the participant's IPP/service plan, Redwood Coast Regional Center requirements, funding requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Provide information to the VOHV interdisciplinary team regarding participant progress and recommendations for continued employment support.
• Participate in participant planning meetings, team meetings, IPP-related discussions, progress reviews, and other meetings as assigned.
• Immediately report incidents, suspected abuse or neglect, health or safety concerns, and other reportable events according to VOHV policy and applicable reporting requirements.
• Promote VOHV's philosophy of "My Voice, My Choice!" by ensuring participants are actively involved in decisions regarding their employment and career goals.
• Respect participant dignity, privacy, preferences, cultural background, communication style, and right to make informed choices.
• Encourage independence and avoid creating unnecessary dependence on staff support.
• Use the least intrusive level of assistance necessary for the participant to successfully engage in an activity.
• Maintain professional boundaries while establishing positive and supportive working relationships with participants.
• Maintain awareness of participant safety while providing services in community and workplace environments.
• Follow individualized safety, behavioral, emergency, and support plans as applicable.
• Respond appropriately to participant behavioral escalation, emotional distress, elopement, medical concerns, workplace incidents, or other emergencies according to VOHV policies and training.
• Maintain appropriate supervision while balancing participant independence, dignity of risk, and individual support needs.
• Maintain participant confidentiality in accordance with VOHV policies and applicable state and federal requirements.
• Protect participant records and employment-related information from unauthorized disclosure.
• Follow VOHV policies regarding ethics, professional conduct, confidentiality, mandated reporting, workplace safety, boundaries, incident reporting, and participant rights.

o Design and deliver workforce-focused culinary lessons covering meal planning, knife skills, sanitation, nutrition, and basic baking and cooking techniques. o Adapt recipes, tools, and instructional strategies to accommodate diverse sensory, fine-motor, and learning needs. o Model and enforce food-safety and sanitation practices consistent with ServSafe , the California Retail Food Code, and VOHV policies. o Supervise participants during culinary training activities in accordance with authorized staffing ratios and program requirements , with support from Job Training Coaches or program staff as applicable. o Assess and document participant skill acquisition and progress toward IPP employment goals . o Coordinate procurement of ingredients and supplies within program budgets; maintain inventory and kitchen equipment. o Collaborate with the Program Services Coordinator and Job Training Coaches to align culinary instruction with workforce training pathways, including internships, catering activities, pop-up events, or community-based work experiences. Minimum Qualifications Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate's or bachelor's degree in human services, social services, psychology, rehabilitation, education, workforce development, business, or a related field preferred.
• Experience working with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, workforce-development programs, vocational rehabilitation, employment services, behavioral health, social services, education, or related programs preferred.
• Equivalent combinations of education, training, and relevant experience may be considered.

Successful candidates must demonstrate the ability to: o Work effectively with adults with varying intellectual, developmental, communication, behavioral, and support needs. o Teach skills using individualized and person-centered approaches. o Maintain patience and professionalism in community and workplace settings. o Communicate effectively with participants, families, employers, service coordinators, supervisors, and community partners. o Maintain accurate service documentation. o Recognize and appropriately respond to health, behavioral, and safety concerns. o Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries. o Work independently in community settings while following VOHV policies and supervisory direction. o Use computers, smartphones, email, online employment platforms, Microsoft Office or similar applications, and electronic documentation systems. o Organize schedules and manage multiple participant assignments.

• Because services are primarily community-based, the employee must be able to travel to participant activities, employment sites, internship locations, training programs, employer meetings, and other community locations throughout VOHV's service area.
• A valid driver's license, reliable transportation, acceptable driving record, and automobile insurance meeting VOHV requirements may be required when driving is an essential function of the assigned position.
• Employees transporting participants must meet all VOHV transportation, insurance, training, and authorization requirements before transporting a participant.
• The position involves work in a variety of environments, including VOHV facilities, community locations, businesses, training sites, internship sites, and participant workplaces.
• The employee may be required to sit, stand, walk, travel between locations, use a computer or mobile device, and remain in community or workplace environments for extended periods.
• Specific physical requirements may vary depending on participant assignments and employment settings.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided consistent with applicable law. Employees must successfully complete VOHV-required orientation and training, which may include: o Participant rights o Person-centered practices o Confidentiality o Mandated reporting o Incident reporting o Emergency procedures o Workplace violence prevention o Behavioral support and de-escalation o Community safety o Abuse and neglect prevention o Professional boundaries and ethics o Employment-support and job-coaching techniques o Documentation requirements o Other training required by VOHV, RCRC, or applicable regulations Performance will be evaluated based on the employee's ability to provide safe, respectful, person-centered employment services; facilitate measurable participant progress toward IPP employment outcomes; maintain accurate and timely documentation; develop participant independence; maintain professional relationships with employers and community partners; and comply with VOHV policies and program requirements. Equal Opportunity Statement Vision of Hope Village is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Reasonable accommodation will be provided in accordance with applicable law.

Pay:

$20.00 - $22.00 per hour Expected hours: 15.0 - 20.0 per week

Work Location:

In person