Pre-Employment Specialist

The Pre-Employment Specialist develops and maintains Vista School pre-employment activities, provides training to Vista School classroom teams, and enhances success within Vista’s Pre-Employment Services by providing support to business partners, Vista staff members, and students. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Coordinates Pre-Employment Services business relationships
• Schedules Pre-Employment Services opportunities and transportation for students in target age group
• Designs and maintains schedule to ensure productivity expectation is met and delivery of student services is maximized
• Ensures Office of Vocational Rehabilitation agreements are signed and adhered to by all stakeholders, including monitoring of student authorized hours
• Collaborates with families of students in Pre-Employment Services to arrange experiences and serves as Pre-Employment Services contact for families 
• Regularly accompanies staff and students to Pre-Employment experiences in order to provide initial and ongoing training, conduct observations, check in with businesses, assist with identifying and setting up accommodations, and the possible need to assist clients with Activities of Daily Living (e.g. self-care routines) at Pre-Employment sites. 
• Provides training on Pre-Employment documentation and oversees completion of documentation
• Collaborates with employment team members to develop, present, maintain, and update school-wide employment-related professional development
• Uses principles of ABA to reduce occurrences of undesirable behavior and report/document incidences if they occur 
• Documents billing at time of delivery of service or completes other required paperwork as assigned
• Collaborates with Transition Coordinator and business office as appropriate to assist with maintenance of OVR relationship, including stipends 
• Initiates professional development by reading/watching all assigned literature/webinars and actively participating in training exercises
• Other duties as assigned

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The following positions or frequent movements are typical of the job: sitting, walking, standing, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, stooping, and crawling, often for extended periods of the workday.   Assignment may require the ability to physically move students during possible physical interventions in order to maintain a safe learning environment. 

The position requires that an individual be able to learn new tasks quickly and effectively. Job requirements may change frequently. The ability to understand and carry out detailed, involved, instructions is mandatory. The incumbent must be able to travel to multiple locations as needed, when needed to conduct organizational business. Subject to the environmental conditions of Pre-Employment  sites. This position may require driving students in school vehicles.

EXPECTED SCHEDULE

This is a full-time position with a 40 hour work week expectation. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 3:30pm. The Pre-Employment Specialist is expected to follow an EIBS calendar, including an obligation to work 20 hours over school break weeks with the possibility for additional hours over the new staff training week each August.  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Associate’s degree required
• Bachelor’s degree in related service field highly desired
• Clean driving record, valid PA driver’s license, current vehicle inspection and proof of adequate insurance coverage required
• Swift ability to work autonomously
• Association of Community Rehabilitation (ACRE) certification highly desired
• Experience working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder highly desired

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Implements principles of Applied Behavior Analysis when supporting individuals with Autism
• Demonstrates leadership and organizational skills
• Effectively manage multiple priorities, projects and deadlines
• Objective decision making
• Demonstrates flexibility, receptiveness to change, tactfulness, patience, and courtesy
• Excellent communication skills
• Approaches problem solving in positive manner
• Experience training and collaborating with a variety of stakeholders desire