Job Placement Specialist Range 39 DEFINITION: Under the direction of the Director of Special Education and the Site Principal, provide a variety of career and vocational opportunities for individuals with exceptional needs; match students to appropriate training sites and work environments; network and recruit potential employers; assist students with pre-employment skills. ESSENTIAL DUTIES: • Provides a variety of career and vocational opportunities for students considered at risk; participates in identifying and developing prospective work sites for direct hire or subsidized wages; conducts job searches for individual students; communicates with potential employers and explains the work experience program and the needs of students. • Assists students in developing and refining occupational goals and in developing grooming, communication skills, problem-solving skills, attendance, public contacts and other appropriate work behaviors; provides mobility/travel training; meet individually with students and assess needs. • Matches students to appropriate training sites and work environments; assists students with obtaining needed documents such as social security cards and work permits; prepares contracts for employers and requisitions for personnel according to established procedures; completes subsidized wage employment packets as needed. • Monitors the performance of students at the work site and in the classroom; reports behaviors and performance to instructors and parents as appropriate; participates in evaluations with employers and employees. • Prepares and maintains student records, case notes, evaluations and files; prepare assigned reports; receive and process time sheets and verify hours with employer; records monthly miscellaneous earnings report for working students and submit to payroll; distributes checks. • Operates a computer and other office machines as assigned; operates audio-visual equipment; drives a vehicle to various sites to conduct work. • Serves as liaison with students, community members, schools, employers, parents and staff. • Attends a variety of planning meetings for students; prepares and conducts training workshops as assigned. • Trains and provides work direction to job coaches and others as assigned. • Performs related duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge of: • Work experience program goals and objectives. • Job development and placement techniques. • Characteristics of the special needs population. • Federal and State job placement requirements and labor laws, and work permit requirements. • Career and occupational resources. • Mobility and job skills training techniques. • Record-keeping techniques. • Oral and written communication skills. • Telephone etiquette. • Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy. • Operation of a computer and other office equipment. • Correct English usage, grammar, spelling and punctuation. • Health regulations and safe working methods and procedures. • Proper lifting techniques. • District policies, rules and regulations. Ability to: • Provide a variety of career and vocational opportunities for students considered at risk. • Provide assessment and placement services. • Assist students with pre-employment skills. • Make classroom presentations regarding job placement skills. • Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others. • Compile and verify data and prepare reports. • Maintain current knowledge of program rules, regulations, requirements and restrictions. • Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. • Drive a vehicle to conduct work. • Meet schedules and time lines. • Operate standard office and audio-visual equipment. • Work independently with little direction. • Observe health and safety regulations • Work cooperatively with others. • Understand and follow oral and written instructions. Education/Training/Required Certification: • High school graduate or equivalent. • Any combination equivalent to: two years college-level course work in transition, psychology, special education or related field. • Three years experience working with at risk students in work-training programs. • Valid California driver’s license. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and talk and/or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk or sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, bend, twist, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Work conditions may include exposure to fumes, dust, odors, cleaning agents and chemicals. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.