Job Summary: 

Under the guidance of the Director of Employment Services, the Employment Specialist I (ESI) provides vocational rehabilitation services through the Supported Employment - Individual Placement Model. Responsibilities include vocational assessments, teaching job readiness skills, job development/placement assistance, job coaching and extended follow-along services for adults. In addition, the ESI plays an integral role in providing Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to high school juniors and seniors, as well as other educational programming.

An effective ESI will develop relationships with local businesses, advocate with potential employers to encourage interview consideration, professionally market Lighthouse services, communicate persuasively in oral and written form, give compelling presentations, and manage time effectively. ESI contributions yield employment stability and successful outcomes for the populations served.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Successfully develop strategic partnerships that advance employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. 
2. Assist consumers in development of pre-employment skills, including resume writing, application completion, appropriate dress and hygiene, interview skills, and workplace etiquette, etc.  
3. Effectively manage a caseload of 20-30 individual consumers who are current job seekers with disabilities. After 3 months of employment, aim to place at least 2 clients per month in employment outcomes that align with their identified career goals. 
4. Travel extensively throughout New Orleans and surrounding parishes providing advocacy to employers seeking to fill positions that meet Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) guidelines and consumer goals.  
5. Collaborate with employers to create unique job opportunities specific to client goals, interests, and abilities. 
6. Call and/or visit potential employers to solicit interest in strong job candidates. Participate in outreach and recruitment activities by coordinating and attending job fairs.
7. Document all job development and employment training activities. Track caseload movement weekly by procedure, documenting all activities in the electronic database and on state forms. Documentation must be clear, concise, and factual, while maintaining a tone that is professional and unbiased. 
8. Develop and execute Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to teens under the guidelines of LRS. 
9. Collaborate with the Director of Employment Services to develop education and training programs that advance the field for vocational rehabilitation professionals. 
10. Collaborate inter-departmentally, as needed, to ensure consumers receive well-rounded support and services leading to the achievement of employment stability.
11. Conduct all activities in a positive, professional manner and maintain a strong team-building environment among staff members and participants.
12. Keep the Director of Employment Services informed of all matters relating to departmental activities and objectives and any issues in the vocational rehabilitation and workforce development industries that relate to or affect company operations.
13. Represent Lighthouse Louisiana with professionalism, embodying its values in all communications. 
14. Responsible for completing other duties assigned by the Director of Employment Services.
15. Adhere to all Lighthouse policies and standard operating procedures.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in education, social services, vocational rehabilitation, or related field required. Certified Employment Support Professional (CESP) credential required. If CESP is not obtained prior to onboarding, training will be required to achieve the credential within 1 year of hire, at company expense.  
2. Special Knowledge/Skills: Knowledge of disability and factors that affect successful employment; Ability to manage a caseload and flex time to achieve all weekly job tasks; Ability to effectively assess consumer strengths and weaknesses to determine a plan for overcoming challenges to employment stability; Effective teaching skills with ability to assess and adjust coaching to optimize progress; Strong troubleshooting skills; Excellent oral and written communication skills; Ability to develop and perform professional presentations. Proficient in the use of MS Office tools and Salesforce.   
3. Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of work experience supporting individuals with disabilities. At least 1 years’ experience with case management. Experience working with teens preferred. Stable employment history. Experience completing assessments and drafting professional reports. 
4.  Supervisory Responsibility: N/A
5.  Physical: Ability to perform the duties as required. Ability to travel extensively throughout the New Orleans community and surrounding parishes. Have the physical ability to perform tasks requiring bending, lifting, stooping, reaching overhead, and other physically intensive tasks. Ability to stand/sit for prolonged periods while demonstrating or modeling training techniques with adaptation as needed. 
6. Personality: Self-motivated, enthusiastic, confident, dependable, well-organized, flexible, ability to motivate others, personable, well spoken, patient, punctual, adaptive, creative, confident, and a positive thinker. Able to work both independently and as a team player. Capable of preserving confidential and sensitive information.
7. Work Conditions: Frequent daily travel. On and off site, meeting with participants and prospective employers. Must be adaptable to a variety of work environments. Must have a good driving record, a current driver’s license, reliable transportation, and current certificate of insurance for personal vehicle.
8. Work Schedule: 40-hours per week. May require occasional evening, weekend, or holiday work to support unique consumer needs. Weekly work schedule may fluctuate.
9. Background Check and Drug Test Required: Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results.

This job description does not imply that these are the only duties to be performed. The incumbent in this position will perform such other tasks as may be required for the effective operation of the Division/Department upon request by the employee’s supervisor.

At Lighthouse Louisiana, we are committed to the principles of equal employment. We comply with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. We are dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy regarding all aspects of employment including, but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay (and other compensation), termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. In addition, we take affirmative actions to recruit, hire, promote and retain veterans.