Placement Specialist

Description Shift: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Location: 2239 E. 55th St. Cleveland, OH 44103 Travel Expectations: Regular travel throughout Cuyahoga and Lorain County, could be up to 75% Vocational Guidance Services (VGS) changes lives and strengthens our communities through services that educate, empower, and provide the opportunity to earn a paycheck! VGS is a highly acclaimed, successful, private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) vocational rehabilitation agency with over 135 years of dedicated experience serving persons with disabilities or other barriers to employment. We are currently seeking to hire a Placement Specialist to perform the following job duties: Work with Individuals - Develop Work Adjustment and Community Based Work Adjustment opportunities for program participants as prescribed by the referring counselor in accordance with program participant's vocational goal. - Complete vocational authorizations for various types of work a program participant may be interested in. - Work to ensure appropriate Job Coach coverage at work sites. Act as a backup for Job Coaches when necessary. - Coach participants on how to independently conduct employment activities. This includes helping each individual access job opportunities, construct their resume, apply for jobs, prepare for interviews, and follow-up after interviews. - Develop and implement an individual written "Placement Success Plan" for each program participant in concurrence with program participant and referring counselor. This plan is reviewed on a regular basis and revised accordingly in agreement with all parties. - Meet regularly with program participants to review progress and update the Placement Success Plan as needed. - Prepare and finalize participant's resume. - Develop, coordinate, and provide training on Pre-ETS services in Northeast Ohio at participating schools and expand services. - Provide Pre-ETS services based on the authorization provided by the referral source. - Selectively match and help place program participants with suitable, competitive employment commensurate with their vocational goals, interests, aptitudes, skills and limitations. - Arrange job interviews. When necessary, accompany individual to interview. - Utilize a team approach to planning, developing, implementing, and monitoring placement activities for program participant. - Analyze jobs on site and make specific recommendations for job accommodations and modifications/assistive technology if needed for specific program participants. - Provide post employment retention services following job placement for a 90 day period or as determined by the OODVR Manual. - Conduct follow-up activities as required to evaluate the effectiveness of job development and placement services. - Honors individual preferences and actively elicits input from program participants. Work with Community Employers - Obtain written job orders that explain the duties of the position, educational requirements, and other needs of the employer. - Actively market placement services to the business community through in-person, written and telephone communications. - Establish ongoing professional relationships with employers to respond appropriately to their hiring needs as well as develop job opportunities for program participants that are conducive to their vocational goals, experience, qualifications, and interests. - Support the achievement of successful outcomes in Work Adjustments and Community Based Assessment. - Advocate with local employers on behalf of program participants. Work with Referral Sources Recruit service participants from OOD, BWC/MCO, VA, etc. for Care