Employment Specialist - Career Coordinator

General Responsibilities 

  • The Employment Specialist is responsible for assisting clients in obtaining employment and/or education as part of their treatment plan.  

Essential Duties

  • Read, understand, and become familiar with awarded grant narratives, outcomes, and goals that provide funding and/or programming in relation to career development.  

  • Develop and maintain relationships in the public and private sectors that will provide career opportunities, such as employers, unions, for-profit businesses, small businesses, corporations, nonprofit organizations, school districts, colleges, and workforce development agencies. 

  • Collects information about positions and determines the potential for job carving operations, such as whether the duties of one part-time position could be broken into two part-time positions.  

  •  Cultivate and develop relationships with higher education representatives and other educational institutions (such as apprenticeship and certification programs) for the purpose of building career development programs and resource pools, and assisting clients in navigating post-secondary education.  These could include staff at the registration office, financial aid office, academic advising offices, testing center, housing, and the bookstore.  

  • Provide services from a recovery orientation basis and focuses on assisting clients to achieve recovery goals related to education and employment, using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model. 

  • Uses MI, or other skills, to increase clients’ interest in the prospect of work and/or education.

  • Consistently articulates the economic, medical, and social benefits of working and/or attending school.

  • May be required to deliver services in the context of delivering another service, such as talking about work while taking the client shopping or transporting them to a doctor’s appointment.

  • Provide benefits counseling to clients regarding how their benefits may or may not be impacted by their returning to work.

  • Provides clients with information as to how working and/or going to school can improve their mental health and reduce their chances of returning to the hospital.

  • Conducts assessment to gather information regarding work history and education history, strengths, and interests, as well as the extent to which symptoms may have interfered with previous jobs or education. 

  • When serving in the role of “primary,” takes the lead on pulling together the Integrated Assessment, team case conceptualization, and treatment planning.

  • Assess the clients’ preference for type of work, educational track, and level of involvement they would like from the specialist.  This includes the level of disclosure the client feels comfortable with if the specialist is to actively be involved in finding them work or getting connected with school resources. 

  • At lease one day a week (per 50 clients) works on job development activities. 

  • Plans and provides work-related supportive services, such as assistance with grooming and personal hygiene, securing appropriate clothing, setting up wake-up calls, resume creation, and transportation. 

  • Assists clients in locating and securing jobs that meet their preferences and does so within 30 days of the client expressing interest.

  • Per the clients’ preferences and consent, provides support onsite and offsite to assist clients in training and learning skills needed for job.  The position serves as a liaison between clients and employers and problem-solves issues as they arise. Also provides support in academic settings.  

  • Provides individual and group services.

  • Participate in individual treatment team for clients involved in education or vocational services.

  • Attends daily team meetings.

  • Cross-trains other staff on the team to help them develop supported employment and educational approaches. 

  • May provide municipal and rural travel for community visits and outreach.

  • May be required to work non-conforming hours to meet with the clients and provides services. 

  • May provide data and information for client and funder required reports while maintaining required confidentiality. 

  • Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Education/Certification/Experience Requirements

  • Bachelor’s or master’s level clinician

  • Minimum one-year experience as a supported education or supported employment specialist or as a vocational specialist. 

  • Proficient in the use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) preferred.

  • Experience working with people with serious mental illness (SMI) preferred.

  • Experience with Native American and/or Navajo culture, economic development, educational development a plus.  

  • Experience in public relations, networking, public speaking, and/or marketing a plus.

  • Bilingual in English and Spanish or Navajo language a plus. 

  • Possess valid authorization to work in the United States.

  • Possession of a current Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record.

  • Able to pass a background check. 

  • Experience and skilled in the use of general office equipment, including calculator, copy machine, printer, and computers.  

  • Experience and skilled in using Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

  • Amenable and able to municipal and rural travel for community visits and outreach, plus be able to work non-conforming hours to meet clients and provide services.  

  • Skills and competence to establish supportive, trusting relationships with persons with SMI.

  • Ability to respect client rights and personal preferences in treatment. 

  • Ability to work as a team member, as well as individually.  

  • Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills 

  • Knowledge of and/or ability to learn about community resources 

  • Demonstrate provision of services in a compassionate and responsible manner. 

  • Good organization skills with attention to timeliness, accuracy, and details.

  • Ability to work without direct supervision

  • Strong time management skills

  • Ability to effectively build and maintain relationships

  • Ability to communicate effectively, both written and oral communication

  • Excellent writing skills 

  • Ability to prioritize

  • Strong problem-solving skills

  • Ability to focus and work in a fast-paced environment with numerous interruptions

  • Trustworthy

  • Ability to maintain confidentiality

Physical Requirements

  • Sitting for long periods of time. 

  • Use of computer, keyboard and monitor is necessary. 

  • Must be able to lift and carry approximately 15 pounds.

  • Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.  In addition, vision abilities include close visual acuity to perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures, viewing a computer terminal, and extensive reading.

  • Must be able to speak English and listen, hearing sounds and spoken words.

  • Specific vision abilities required by the job include close visual

Classification:  Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Safety Sensitive Position:  No

Supervisor:  Team Leader 

Supervises:  N/A

If you are interested in this position please download the CBI Job Application Form, complete it and then click the ‘Apply’ button below to get started.

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