Position: Career Coach, Disabilities

JVS is a non-profit, non-sectarian agency. Our mission is to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers and to partner with employers to hire, develop, and retain productive workforces. JVS provides a broad range of services, including adult education, skills training, job readiness training, job placement and support, and access to post-secondary education. JVS assists employers in their search for well-qualified job applicants and their initiatives to upgrade the skills of their incumbent workforce.

Position Summary: As part of JVS's mission to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers, the Disabilities Career Coach provides job readiness training to individuals with disabilities. The Career Coach's responsibilities include offering on-the-job training, pre-employment job readiness skills, and training employer partners on working effectively with individuals with disabilities. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated skills as a Career Coach to initiate and sustain collaborative working relationships with a variety of businesses in the Greater Boston area. This individual must have a strong knowledge or an insatiable drive to learn about issues related to individuals with significant barriers to employment. The Career Coach is part of a larger JVS team that supports clients' and employers' employment, training, and education needs in person and virtually.

On average, you can expect to spend approximately 75% of your time in person at various internship sites, the office, or job coaching, and the remaining 25% in other work-related activities.

Via Zoom.

The incumbent Career Coach is primarily involved in the ‘Transitions to Work’ Program, which offers Employer-Based Internships, Job Placement Services, Ongoing Post-Placement Support

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Accountability and Results Focused

• Assist participants in both one-on-one and group settings in job search-related activities
• As needed, escort participants to job interviews and facilitate interview and hiring process
• Provide post-placement services, including follow-up with jobseeker and employer

• Develop curricula and provide training and classroom instruction on essential skills needed to enhance employability
• Scheduling flexibility in order to meet clients’ career searching or in-person job coaching needs
• Use strategic, structured, and systematic intervention techniques (i.e., Task Analysis) to assist the participants in learning to perform job tasks to employer specifications

Build relationships, collaboration, and teamwork

• Actively develop new and maintain existing employer relationships

• Develop a solid understanding of the employer’s needs and the specific job tasks
• Communicate and collaborate with clients’ families and support staff
• Developing a strong understanding of other departments at JVS and becoming a key contributor to the organization’s mission

Administrative/Communication

• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness
• Monitor, assess, and document client progress
• Organize and maintain files and records
• Perform other duties as assigned or requested

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 1-3 years of experience in workforce development or related field desired
• 1-3 years of experience in working with individuals with barriers to employment desired
• An associate or bachelor’s degree in human services or another related field required
• A deep commitment to disability inclusion in the workforce is required
• An understanding of job development and job placement desired
• Flexibility with in-person services and local travel required
• Ability to work effectively with staff and clients from diverse cultural, socio-economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds is required
• Working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite required
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills are required
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team is required
• Knowledge of virtual meeting platforms preferred
• Fluency in Spanish is highly preferred
• Knowledge of community resources and web-based resources preferred
• Knowledge of the disability rights movement and/or self-advocacy movements desired

JVS CULTURE: JVS is strongly committed to diversity and a workplace environment that respects, appreciates and values employee differences and similarities. By providing and supporting a work culture that fosters and builds upon diversity and its strengths, JVS will better serve our local communities and continue to provide quality services.

JVS is an employment-at-will organization and an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, JVS prohibits retaliation against an applicant or employee because he or she has engaged in protected activity under the statutes prohibiting discrimination in the workplace.