Youth Employment Specialist Job Opening

** Cover letter explaining interest in job with resume required**

1 Full-time (40 hrs. @ $30,000-$32,000) & 1 Part-Time (20 hrs. @ $15,000-$18,000).

Please specify which position you are applying to in your cover letter.

The Youth Employment Specialist (YES) works to engage high school students with disabilities in experiences to help them transition from high school to adulthood.

Basic Function

Work with youth who receive special education services to expose them to training, career opportunities and/or to prepare for employment. Work includes a variety of liaison functions in local schools, with special educators and with employers to expose and place students in work.

Provide direct assistance to youth with disabilities

• Facilitate individual or group discussions for youth related to work habits, conduct and attitude
• Work-based learning opportunities, such as job shadows and internships;
• Paid employment experiences;
• Access to assistive technology
• On-the-job evaluation, job placement and follow-up;
• Assess vocational interests and eligibility for job openings;
• Assist with resumes, job seeking, interviewing skills and job applications;
• Provide information on employers’ hiring criteria and job demands, coordinate job referrals, placement and follow up.

Employer & Business Development:

• Identify opportunities and assist in developing job opportunities for youth;
• Focused employer outreach directed by students’ individual goals and personal learning plans.
• Develop and maintain contacts with community businesses, learn area hiring practices, job requirements, local business trends, employment problems and communicate these to youth and other staff;
• Follow-up job placements to assist employers in resolving problems they may encounter with job placements;
• Assist employers to retain employees;

Other:

• Serve as liaison with staff involved in direct assistance to youth with disabilities.
• Document work with youth and employers contacted on their behalf.
• May participate in a variety of VABIR and inter-agency staff and committee meetings to plan, evaluate and coordinate programs, services, and activities.
• Coordinate with community resources as appropriate.

Requirements, Knowledge/Skills:

• Experience working with youth, education or disability services, or a combination of experience or education from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.
• Ability to network with a wide variety of people
• Good writing, administrative and organizational skills
• Ability to deal effectively with youth, schools and the business community in carrying out job functions that require a high level of initiative, diplomacy and sensitivity;
• The ability to maintain a positive rapport with youth, school staff and employers.
• Requires a self-starter with attention to detail and creative problem-solving skills

Minimum qualifications include HS diploma, reliable transportation, good interpersonal and communication skills and computer knowledge.

**Please attach current resume and cover letter to the online application**

**Reliable transportation required**

** VABIR website @www.vabir.org **

Job Type: 1 Full- Time (40 hours) and 1 Part-Time (20 hours)

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Salary: $30,000.00 to $32,000.00 /year

Experience:

• relevant employment: 2 years (Required)

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

License:

• drivers license (Required)

Work Location:

• One location