Disability Employment Specialist - Center for Excellence in Disabilities
West Virginia University Research Corporation

Morgantown, West Virginia

This job has expired.


Description

West Virginia University Research Corporation is seeking applications for a Disability Employment Specialist with the Center for Excellence in Disabilities

About the Opportunity

West Virginia has one of the highest proportions of individuals with disabilities in the nation. Unfortunately, our state also has one of the highest unemployment rates among individuals with disabilities in the nation. The purpose of this position is to identify, coordinate, and evaluate employment-related initiatives within the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities (WVU CED). Employment is one of four areas of emphasis for the WVU CED and involves many state, regional, and national partners who share the mission of increasing employment among individuals with disabilities. This position will provide center-wide program development and advise all center employment related programs and client service. Additionally, this position will contribute to center success participating in strategic employment planning with partners and provide needed oversight for employment groups to share information from national models, state demonstration projects, and materials and trainings, that facilitate employment policies and practices supportive of individuals with disabilities. 

This is a new role within the WVU CED. The number of partner and center initiatives with an employment focus have risen drastically over the last five years with no one available to coordinate efforts, identify lessons learned, produce information that could invoke policy changes statewide, and stimulate collaborative research in this area. The person in this role will work independently with partners but collaboratively with the center director to ensure key elements are included in the strategic planning across programs. 

This position serves as a resource contact and independently uses professional concepts and techniques, as well as organizational policies, to solve a wide range of moderate to complex problems in imaginative and practical ways. Depth skills, knowledge, and interpretive abilities, as well as some creativity, are required to successfully perform duties. Work effort often addresses non-routine matters within established protocol, guidelines, and/or policies. Work effort has significant impact on client services and operations, producing moderate to major organizational, legal and financial results and/or liabilities. Position duties may require oversight of projects or programs, including coordination of work by others providing support of basic objectives. This position supervises at least one position that focuses on client employment needs upon intake. Finally, position duties must be on-site rather than remote as these activities require relationship building and direct client employment capacity assessment.

The primary function of the position is to provide support to center team members and state partners in areas related to identifying employing individuals with disabilities and how to apply those opportunities in innovative ways. 

At WVU Research Corporation, we strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU Research Corporation offers a comprehensive benefits package with a variety of options to suit your needs:
•    13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
•    PTO
•    403(b) retirement savings with a fully vested 3% employee contribution match, (Employees have the option of contributing an additional 1-3% of their earnings to the plan, which is also matched by the WVURC)
•    A range of health insurance and various other benefits
•    Dependent Education Scholarship
•    WVU Perks
•    And More!!

What you’ll do:

  • Gather, coordinate, and interpret international, national, statewide, and local resources related to employment of individuals with disabilities from a variety of perspectives.
  • Organize employment information to be presented in a clear manner to staff and public. 
  • Link to, and provide additional navigation or interpretation for, existing employment information for individuals with disabilities, potential employers, current employers, and partners across the state. 
  • Identify skills-based resources that would increase capacity for individuals with disabilities to obtain and retain employment, to be highlighted on website, provided as resources, and to train agencies and providers statewide.
  • Collaborate with employment partners within the state to establish statewide database of workforce efforts and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
  • Identify, interpret, and visually present labor market information as it relates to training and employment trends of individuals with disabilities in West Virginia.
  • Initiate center strategic alliances and partnerships throughout the center, state agencies, and other stakeholder groups as they relate to employment efforts for individuals with disabilities.
  • Work with the Data and Training Specialist to assist in determining the need for staff development in areas related to employment of individuals with disabilities. 
  • Assist with the implementation of employment-based initiatives within the area of emphasis of the WVU CED’s 5-year training plan.
  • Consult with Mid-Level Leadership within the WVU CED to identify and implement resources they need to provide effective employment services, training, and research.
  • Develop, disseminate, and evaluate evidence-based training programs and materials for use throughout the WVU CED and partners as they relate to employment.
  • Develop, test, and disseminate employment focused materials when there are no materials available.
  • Evaluate differences in workforce outcomes of individuals with disabilities based on select factors including diversity and equity of opportunities and select groups.
  • Assist in the identification and implementation of innovative approaches to close gaps observed in above workforce evaluation.
  • Contribute to statewide discussions for state disability employment planning for individuals with disabilities.
  • Participate in statewide collaborative groups that have been established to increase workforce diversity and retention focused on a variety of industries and coordinated by a diverse representation of workforce, employer, and disability forums.
  • Write grants,and collaborate on grant applications with various WVU CED programs, WVU units, and community organizations on topics related to emloyment and occupational support of individuals with disabilities. 
  • Initiate the completion of select center reports internally and for partners, as related to employment.
  • 1Actively participate in writing and submission of reports, grants, journal articles and other documentation of program activities across the center that relate to employment of individuals with disabilities.
  • Identify and match programs and staff with funding opportunities related to employment of individuals with disabilities through cross training and collaborative team meetings.
  • Attend and assist with grant development meetings to align and coordinate WVU CED grant responses to proposals of interest to employment.
  • Review data, reports, and studies related to employing individuals with disabilities with Program Managers to ensure they are incorporating current language, approaches, and data when documenting and presenting information about employing individuals with disabilities.
  • Identify, obtain, and work closely with the Data Specialist to establish comparison data sources focused on employment of individuals with disabilities. These data sources may include federal, state, and local data captured on employment-related initiatives for individuals with disabilities.
  • Contribute to the Core Function Committee to identify ways for cross-training and collaboration on the topic of employment.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Workforce Education and Development, Public Administration, or related field.
  • One (1) year of experience working with clients and partners on employment-based initiatives and needs;
  • OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Demonstrate employment development and project coordination skills.
  • Demonstrate excellence in communication skills, oral, and written.
  • Organizational skills and ability to work successfully with a team to manage and meet project deadlines.
  • Ability to adapt and innovate.
  • Ability to write and speak effectively.
  • Ability to implement approaches for assessing customer satisfaction and for ensuring excellent customer service.
  • Experience in the conduct of state or organizational long-term plan activities.
  • Proficiency with computers, electronic communications systems, and specialized software programs and databases.
  • Demonstrate ability to work effectively and maintain positive working relationship with constituents, funders, regulatory agencies, professionals in a variety of disciplines and agencies, consumers and their support systems and the general public.


About WVU

  • The ability to travel to WVUs regional campuses and/or within the multi-state area is required.


This job has expired.

Get Hired Faster

Subscribe to job alerts and upload your resume!

*By registering with our site, you agree to our
Terms and Privacy Policy.

More Education and Training jobs


Pima Community College
Tucson, Arizona
$18.08 - $20.34 per hour
Posted about 3 hours ago
Pima Community College
Tucson, Arizona
$57,900.00 - $72,338.00 per year
Posted about 3 hours ago
Southern Methodist University Inc
Dallas, Texas
Posted 3 minutes ago
View Education and Training jobs »