Employment First Training and Technical Assistance Specialist

University of Kansas, United States

Updated: 3 months ago
Location: Lawrence, KANSAS

26772BR

Bureau of Child Research


Position Overview

KU Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD) is seeking an Education Program Coordinator who will serve as an Employment First Training and Technical Assistance Specialist to support funded projects focused on increasing capacity for providing supported employment services leading to long term systems change in Kansas.

This position will deliver training and technical assistance focused on best practices for enhancing competitive, integrated employment outcomes for people with disabilities in Kansas.  The Kansas Employment First Training and Technical Assistance Specialist will be trained to deliver training and technical assistance, which will include but not be limited to:

  • Supporting providers to develop a business plan for providing Supported Employment Services
  • Training staff in effective practices to engage job seekers to explore career interests and strengths
  • Training staff to work with employers to create employment pathways and opportunities
  • Providing information to job seekers who use communication devices
  • Working with Benefits Specialists to ensure providers and staff have information needed to dispel myths about benefits and working.

The ideal candidate will have a background in supporting people with disabilities, experience in providing supports and services that lead to competitive, integrated employment outcomes, be highly reliable in a fast-paced office environment with a close attention to detail, be adept at problem solving, have training experience, and have a degree in education (including special education), psychology (including clinical psychology), health and social sciences, disability studies, or a related area.

About KUCDD
The University of Kansas, Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD) is recognized as a leading research center in the field of disability. KUCDD implements and conducts grant-funded projects focusing on multiple areas across the life course. KUCDD research staff are expected to actively engage in research projects and disseminate research results through print, online resources, and direct, in-person presentation of information.

KUCDD is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive research and educational environment for faculty, staff and students. In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, KUCDD actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education, including people with disabilities.


Job Description

The Employment First Training and Technical Assistance Specialist will work directly with Associate Director Evan Dean and Project Manager Craig Knutson as well as collaborate with others at KUCDD, including colleagues with disabilities, undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and staff. This person will liaise with technical experts within and outside of KU, state agency staff, employers, service providers, self-advocates and their support networks.  The person in this role will be tasked with the following responsibilities:

60%- Support effective program management on Employment First policy and practice projects leading to increased competitive, integrated employment outcomes in Kansas by providing training and technical assistance to state agency staff, service providers, schools, employers, self-advocates and their support networks.  The Employment First Training and Technical Assistance Specialist will provide training and technical assistance to organizations seeking to enhance their capacity for supporting competitive integrated employment outcomes for people with disabilities. This will involve coordinating efforts between schools, service providers, self-advocates, family members, and employers. This position will report training opportunities and outcome measures to the grant project team, and coordinate with project partners to organize presentations and knowledge-sharing.

20%- Participate in initial and ongoing training to increase and expand knowledge base of best practices in supporting individuals with disabilities seeking competitive, integrated employment opportunities.

10%- Liaise with project partners to collaborate on issues that align with the mission of KUCDD. Create monthly reports for KUCDD leadership based on information gained during these collaborations. Project partners could include state and national agencies (e.g. Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, Kansas Department of Education), state-wide organizations (e.g. Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas, Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities), and schools or community organizations.

10%- Coordinate dissemination activities including informational videos, plain language infographics, state (and national) presentations to increase awareness about opportunities for increasing Employment First Policy and Practice in Kansas through targeted technical assistance. All KUCDD staff are expected to participate in service activities like KUCDD committees, etc.


Position Requirements

  • This position is grant funded and contingent on available funding.
  • Ability to travel to sites in Kansas as needed to conduct support and training for providers, self-advocates, family members, and employers on an as needed basis.

    • Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in education (including special education), psychology (including clinical psychology), health and social sciences, disability studies, or related area with minimum of four (4) years of related professional experience, OR Master’s degree in education (including special education), psychology (including clinical psychology), health and social sciences, disability studies, or related area with minimum of one (1) year of related professional experience.
  • Three (3) years of experience using multiple types of computer software and websites (e.g., Microsoft Office suite, SharePoint and Teams, Adobe Acrobat, Qualtrics, REDCap) as demonstrated by application materials, interview, and work experience.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills as evidenced in application materials and interview.
  • Strong attention to detail as evidenced by application materials.
  • Strong interpersonal, organizational and administrative skills as evidenced by application materials and interview.

    • Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working with people with disabilities (including autism spectrum disorder) or their families.
  • Experience working with organizations and agencies in Kansas focused on enhancing competitive integrated employment outcomes (e.g. Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, Kansas Department of Education, disability provider networks, centers for independent living, schools, etc.).
  • Experience supporting individuals with disabilities in competitive, integrated employment settings.
  • Ability to problem solve challenges and resolve conflicting priorities.
  • Training and communications experience, including development of materials to support individual needs and preferences of both individuals seeking competitive, integrated employment and the networks that support them.
  • Strong interest in research on self-determination and competitive, integrated employment or related areas.

    • Contact Information to Applicants

    Evan Dean, Ph.D.
    Associate Director, KU Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD)
    [email protected]


    Additional Candidate Instruction

    Please submit an online application, cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references. In the cover letter, please indicate how your skills and experience meet the required and preferred qualifications for this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

    • Application deadline is Monday, January 8, 2024. To be considered, please apply the deadline date.

    #LI-HR1

    Advertised Salary Range

    $60,000-$70,000


    Application Review Begins

    09-Jan-2024


    Anticipated Start Date

    05-Feb-2024


    Primary Campus

    University of Kansas Lawrence Campus


    Employee Class

    U-Unclassified Professional Staff


    Work Schedule

    Monday - Friday, 40 hours/week


    Job Family

    EducationalSuport&Delivery-KUL


    Conditions of Employment

    Contingent on Funding


    Work Location Assignment

    Hybrid


    Disclaimer

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX, [email protected], Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.


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