Job Description:

Job Title: Employment Specialist
Location: Saint Louis, MO
Department: Employment Services
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary:

The Employment Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing all phases of clients’ vocational services. This role includes providing individualized career planning, job placement, and retention support. The Employment Specialist is tasked with marketing clients and services, developing career opportunities, creating employer relationships, supporting clients at their job sites, and facilitating long-term vocational success. The incumbent will serve as an expert regarding the local labor market, analyzing trends and partnering with employers to meet recruitment needs while promoting competitive, integrated employment opportunities for clients.

Position Perks & Benefits:

Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, and more.

Generous Paid Time Off: [Insert number] days annually, including vacation and holiday pay.

Training & Development: Ongoing training opportunities to enhance professional growth.

Supportive Work Environment: A warm, welcoming culture that values your well-being.

Employee Recognition: Recognition of your contributions to the team and the clients we serve.

Key Responsibilities:

Client Relations: Treat all clients, referral sources, stakeholders, and team members with dignity and respect.

Confidentiality & Standards: Adhere to all confidentiality, CARF, and contractual standards while providing services.

Work Availability: Maintain flexibility in work hours, including evenings, overnights, and weekends, as necessary.

Vocational Planning: Compile and review vocational, medical, psychological, and educational information to assist clients with individualized career planning, job development, and retention services.

Team Meetings: Schedule and participate in team/planning meetings to discuss individual clients and their employment goals with shared decision-making.

Client Orientation: Conduct client orientations to explain services and discuss rights, responsibilities, and disclosures.

Career Planning Support: Assist clients with individualized career planning through interviews, community-based activities, and vocational counseling to identify strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences in relation to employment goals.

Benefits Planning: Assist clients with benefits planning at the onset of services, before starting a new job, and when making decisions about changes in work hours and pay.

Job Seeking & Retention: Teach and reinforce job seeking and job retention skills with clients.

Employer Relationships: Build and maintain relationships with employers, providing services that develop competitive, integrated employment opportunities.

Advocacy: Serve as an advocate for clients with employers, referral sources, and other stakeholders (e.g., family, schools, social service agencies).

Employer Education: Educate employers about the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities and facilitate job accommodations, including assistive technology, job carving, etc.

Promotion & Community Involvement: Promote the system, services, and clients in a professional manner through participation in community events, awareness activities, and public speaking engagements.

Referral Management: Maintain frequent contact with referral sources to discuss shared clients and identify potential referrals.

Reporting & Outcomes: Report job development outcomes and other relevant information (e.g., referrals, placements, retention, areas of concern) to supervisor regularly.

Crisis Management: Respond to crises that may occur with clients at their worksite.

Travel: Travel extensively to conduct job development and support services, including transporting clients as needed.

On-Site Support: Provide on-site or off-site job support for clients as required.

Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned by Leadership.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Support for Individuals with Disabilities: A good understanding of how to support individuals with disabilities and/or barriers to employment, education, and independent living.

Case Management Knowledge: Knowledge of case management and rehabilitation principles as they relate to mental health and/or substance use disorders.

Challenges of Mental Illness & Substance Abuse: Knowledge of the challenges faced by individuals with mental illness and substance abuse disorders and how to access community resources.

Legal & Court Procedures: Knowledge of legal requirements and court procedures related to treating mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

Supervisory Techniques: Some knowledge of supervisory and training techniques in a substance use disorders/mental health setting.

Program Evaluation: Ability to evaluate services within the assigned program and offer constructive feedback.

Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills for producing clear and concise reports.

Customer Service: Strong customer service skills to maintain positive relationships with clients, employers, and referral sources.

Technology Proficiency: Proficiency in computer software (Word, Excel, internet platforms, and other electronic media).

Experience and Education Qualifications:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required. An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited institution is preferred.

Experience: At least one year of experience providing employment services is required.

Supervisory Requirements:

None

Employment Requirements:

Background Check: Successful completion of a background check, including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect, and fingerprint check.

Orientation & Training: Completion of New Hire Orientation at the beginning of employment and ongoing training, including Relias courses, at the start and annually thereafter.

Driver’s License: Current valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and current auto insurance.

Health Clearance: Must provide evidence of being free from infectious and contagious diseases (such as tuberculosis) prior to employment and annually thereafter.

Physical Requirements:

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amounts of force frequently (up to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, or pull objects.

Repetitive Movements: Requires repetitive hand movements (typing, writing) during work shifts.

Physical Activity: Mostly sedentary work with occasional walking, standing, or traveling between work sites.

Client Transportation: Must be able to transport clients when required.

Brightli’s Mission:

Brightli is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We are passionate about supporting individuals on their recovery journey and providing an environment where staff feel valued and empowered. Join us and make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability or veteran status, or to other non-work related factors.

Firefly is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.