Job Developer / Employment Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Overview :

The Job Developer serves as the primary point of contact and advocate for clients at DKA, supporting their employment goals and connecting them to the full range of DKA programs and services. This role involves managing a caseload of clients and assisting them by facilitating access to DKA opportunities such as personal development and employment skills classes (PDE / ESC), computer courses, vocational counseling, and Work Adjustment Training (WAT) programs.

The Job Developer guides clients through all aspects of the employment process, including understanding workers' rights, disability benefits, and ADA accommodations, developing resumes and cover letters, conducting mock interviews, addressing workplace challenges, and assisting with rapid job searches. The ultimate goal is to help clients secure competitive employment in the community.

The Job Developer fosters a positive and trauma-informed learning environment, building trust and rapport with clients while modeling professional conduct and workplace standards. This role requires strong communication, organization, adaptability, and teamwork skills, along with advocacy, coaching, and relationship-building abilities, to provide culturally sensitive, client-centered support and advance client employment goals.

While primarily an in-person, client-facing position, the Job Developer has greater flexibility than other roles to meet clients in the community or conduct virtual sessions based on client preference and needs. Any work conducted outside of the office still requires approval from the JD Supervisor, and the Job Developer must notify the JD Manager of their location to ensure proper communication and oversight. Any extended work-from-home accommodations must be directly approved by the CEO for a specific and limited duration, with full expectation of return to onsite work at the end of the approved period.

Responsibilities Common to all Agency Employees :

• Maintains confidentiality and trust with all employees, customers, participants, and trainees in compliance with HIPAA and organizational policies.
• Maintains culturally sensitive and trauma-informed interactions with employees, participants, and visitors, and pursues ongoing learning to strengthen cultural competence.
• Strives for mutually beneficial solutions, values interdependence, and upholds a shared responsibility for the success of the organization as a whole.
• Represents the agency in a positive and professional manner, demonstrating respect and professionalism in personal appearance and contributing to a clean, orderly, and welcoming facility environment.
• Demonstrates respect, courtesy and dignity for all.
• Demonstrates ethical conduct consistent with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.
• Responds in a timely manner in all aspects of communication.
• Maintains a safe and clean working environment for self, employees, and visitors in compliance with OSHA regulations and other applicable safety standards relevant to the position's duties.
• Advocates for client needs and demonstrates adaptability and flexibility to support the health and success of the team, participants, and the agency by initiating improvements, solving problems creatively, and showing motivation for positive change and organizational growth.
• Completes all required agency training to maintain credentials and continuously enhance professional skills and knowledge.
• Ensures consistent compliance with all DKA policies and procedures, seeking guidance from the appropriate supervisor when questions or concerns arise.
• Adheres to assigned schedules and demonstrates punctuality, promptly communicating any scheduling conflicts, changes, or unforeseen absences to the appropriate supervisor.
• Assists in other areas as needed, supporting colleagues and agency operations by stepping in during absences, contributing to new projects, or performing tasks outside of regular responsibilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

Required Skills and Abilities :

Required Education and Experience :

Regulatory and Credentialing Requirements :

Physical Requirements :

Exertion Level :

This job is deemed MEDIUM duty work, as defined by the Social Security Administration, Code of Federal Regulations, § 404.1567, Physical exertion requirements : (c) Medium work . Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If one can do medium work, we determine that he or she can also do sedentary and light work.

Equal Opportunity Statement :

DKA is an equal opportunity employer, and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.