Business and Community Relations Specialist

Department: CareerAbility

Position: Business and Community Relations Specialist

Supervisor: Placement Services Supervisor

Days/Hours: Full time, Exempt. 40 hours per week, typically Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Flexible hours available. Occasional evening and weekends as needed for special events or direct support.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

CareerAbility at Chapel Haven Schleifer Center, Inc. was founded to meet a vital element of Chapel Haven’s mission: meaningful employment for the individuals we serve. Meaningful employment is predicated upon an individual’s choice, contributes to their quality of life, and allows them to earn a competitive wage for their work. CareerAbility’s placement services are the core of what we do, ensuring individuals are matching with opportunities that fit their interests, skills, and needs, and set them up for long-term success.

As a key member of the placement services team, the Business and Community Relations Specialist (BCRS) performs job development for individuals involved in CareerAbility. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: establishing new employer relationships and maintaining pre-existing relationships with employers and community stakeholders for career exploration (Discovery), internships, and employment placements. The BCRS works closely with the Placement Services Supervisor, Career Development Advisors, Career Transition Specialists, individuals, families, and CHSC staff regarding employment, ongoing vocational opportunities, business and community partnerships.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF POSITION

• As a Business and Community Relations Specialist, you are a leader in the CareerAbility department. You are a natural relationship-builder who easily connects with others in order to develop high caliber partnerships and maintain long lasting relationships with current community and employer partners.
• As a liaison between local employers and Chapel Haven students/individuals, you will identify job related responsibilities and communicate those to the CareerAbility team. You will pursue a range of new possibilities to be used during career exploration (Discovery), internships, employment, volunteering, and training.
• Participates in weekly meetings with the Placement Services Supervisor to discuss caseload needs, strategies and job development efforts. Works to uphold recommendations of the Career Development Advisor/Supervisor to match job seekers with opportunities related to their skills, work experience, and interests.
• Provide excellent customer service to employers and jobseekers. Understand, and be able to communicate to families, individuals/students, and leaders in business and community the value of offering career opportunities to the people we serve.
• Must be tenacious in finding, molding, and creating new opportunities. Be an employer to employee liaison by troubleshooting potential obstacles and developing solutions. Assist individuals one-on-one and in small groups to identify and achieve their personal and career development goals. This may include facilitating career classes, job coaching, on-boarding, performing work assessments, or interfacing with employers.
• Must have familiarity or comfort developing Customized Employment (CE) opportunities. This is a universal employment strategy that is especially useful for employment seekers with significant life complexities and barriers to employment, such as a severe disability. CE strategies result in competitive, integrated employment that is based on a determination of the strengths, needs, and interests of the employment seeker. The specific abilities of the individual are matched to the business needs of an employer. CE is a relationship between an employer and an employee that is negotiated to meet the needs of both parties.
• Supports the placement of: Discovery, Volunteering, Group Supported Employment, Individual Supported Employment, Internships, Work-Based Learning and Training, Customized Employment, and Job Placement by conducting reviews of labor market, developing existing and future employer relationships, upholding safety, and weighing employer demand against current and future CareerAbility services and job seeker interests. In a moderate to fast pace, must achieve weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual placement goals as prescribed and in accordance with CareerAbility benchmarks.
• Serves as the primary contact and liaison person between Chapel Haven and the Ken’s Krew partnership. This includes holding biweekly meetings with the Ken’s Krew program coordinator to discuss updates, concerns, progress, and challenges relating to Chapel Haven individuals at Ken’s Krew. Also collaborating with Chapel Haven team members to navigate and address needs with individuals employed by Ken’s Krew.
• Works with Chapel Haven program staff and with students/individuals to help facilitate long-term success their career plan. Attends client team meetings, as needed. Follows up with employers to determine long term success. Monitors and evaluates performance of placements through data collection systems. Responsible for the accurate data collection of short- and long-term placement outcomes.
• Must be able to create reports and presentations with up-to-date data upon request. This position often acts as the department’s public relations designee. Also completes progress notes, reports, and documentation as required. Documents consistently and accurately all individual and placement contacts, activities and outcomes. Utilizes Chapel Haven and CareerAbility’s database and tracking systems.
• Assists with creating and contributing to CareerAbility curriculum and job training classes/programs. Collaborates on the development and enhancement of CareerAbility and actively engages with employers in a strategic fashion.
• Hosts or attends business functions and networking opportunities on campus and in the community to develop new contacts and increase community awareness. These events may or may not take place during regular business hours.
• Supports individuals on-site, for job interviews, meet and greets, and/or providing job coaching. May provide transportation to individuals or support with applying for transportation assistance.
• Performs other job-related duties and responsibilities assigned by supervisor.

• Bachelor’s Degree in in Business, Marketing, Communications, Rehabilitation Counseling, or a related field with a minimum of five years’ workforce development, job development, or relevant human services/special education experience. Strong human resources or business experience preferred; experience may be substituted for degree.
• Ideal candidates are certified in Customized Employment and have an active credential in this capacity. Must be familiar with customized employment as defined by U.S. Department of Labor/Office of Disability Employment Policy and familiar with APSE & Employment First principles. Knowledge of state employer incentives and other incentive programs is important.
• This is an outcomes-based position. In many instances we are a fee-for-service program and the success of our program and its participants hinges upon the placement outcomes of the Business and Community Relations Specialist. You will be in a position to grow the program with successful long-term outcomes.
• Must have excellent communication skills, with a comfort level teaching, job coaching, and speaking in public settings. Need to display empathy toward client needs and balance numerous employer and key stakeholder relationships.
• Knowledgeand understanding of adults with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorder, as well as the employment challenges and opportunities facing this population.
• Well-organized, detail-oriented and able to multi-task with effective problem solving/decision making abilities. Innovation welcome!
• High level of integrity and commitment to Chapel Haven’s values
• Valid CT driver’s license & daily use of reliable personal vehicle and proof of insurance required.

• Computer skills – Word, PowerPoint, Excel, web-based, and database experience preferred.