Community Employment Specialist

Title: Community Employment Specialist

State Role Title: 19212

Hiring Range: Up to $69,166

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Central Office

Agency Website: www.dbhds.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Are you passionate about creating meaningful and inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities to thrive in the workforce? Are you mission-driven and focused on collaboration, knowledge sharing and systems integration to help empower the lives of individuals with Developmental Disabilities (DD) and/or Behavioral Health (BH) challenges through employment?

If this sounds like you, DBHDS is seeking a Community Employment Specialist to work with state and local partners to support and coordinate statewide efforts to improve employment outcomes and increase employment opportunities for people with DD and BH support needs. This position is based in Central Office at DBHDS; however the candidate must have the ability to travel statewide to perform work duties.

Additional responsibilities include:
• Provide leadership and direct support to all stakeholders of Developmental Disability (DD) and Behavioral Health (BH) employment-related services, to develop partnerships and ensure coordination and implementation of statewide strategies in support of Virginia’s Employment First Strategic Plan.
• Serve as a DD and BH employment subject matter specialist supporting state agencies (DARS, VDOE, DMAS, VDH) and employment services organizations with consultation and information resources for supporting clients.
• Develop training resources and provide training and technical assistance to community stakeholders in evidence-based and best practices for DD/BH employment supports and services in small and large settings.
• Support and facilitate state employment stakeholder meetings and workgroups to ensure that meetings are productive, and plan goals are being achieved.
• Provide outreach to community providers to enhance interest in expanding service options to include integrated competitive employment opportunities.
• Connect individuals and their families/support systems, to mainstream employment opportunities and related resources.

Minimum Qualifications

• Considerable experience working directly or indirectly with individuals with DD and/or BH providing Supported Employment services.
• Significant knowledge of state DD Waiver regulations and federal regulations related to special education, transition and employment-related services.
• Knowledge, training, or familiarity with best practices supporting and delivering DD services, such as person-centered planning.
• Knowledge, training, or familiarity with BH quality improvement models.
• Experience providing training on complex issues related to the provision of employment services and employment-related DD and BH policy.
• Interpersonal and customer relations skills necessary to interact with a wide audience of families, advocates, agency leadership, and elected officials when and where needed.
• Ability to stay abreast of emerging developments in the field of DD, BH, and employment, to aid in the development of supportive policy.
• Demonstrated ability to perform activities related to supporting a statewide stakeholder group in person and remotely.
• Analytical skills to identify problems and resolve them in a timely manner using available resources and knowledge.
• A proven leader with the ability to set priorities, work independently, achieve objectives, and manage multiple complex assignments/projects.
• Ability to develop and implement short and long-range planning goals that meet program needs.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize work assignments and work in a fast-paced office environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft computer applications and the use of database software systems.

Additional Considerations

• Possession of a Qualified Developmental Disability Professional (QDDP) Certification.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

This position is eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration of telework shall be approved as outlined in the Commonwealth telework policy.

For consideration, interested applicants must apply by completing the online application. A resume may also be included with your submission. However, emailed, faxed, and hand-delivered applications and/or resumes will not be accepted. This position is open until filled; however, applications/resumes will begin to be reviewed within seven (7) business days of the date of this posting. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act.

DBHDS welcomes all applicants authorized to work in the U.S. For more information on how to seek this authorization, please refer to Working in the United States or contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office directly.

For any technical assistance with the jobs.virginia.gov website, please contact applicantinquiry@dhrm.virginia.gov.

Contact Information

Name: ShaKiera Miles

Phone: N/A

Email: shakiera.miles@dbhds.virginia.gov - Inquiries Only/No Submissions, to include resumes.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.