Project SEARCH Instructor

Job Description

Type: Project SEARCH Instructor

Classification: Hourly, academic year contract with additional summer requirements

Reports to: Executive Director

About the Position
In collaboration with onsite staff and community partners, the Project SEARCH Instructor will help develop and coordinate the Project SEARCH program and provide instruction for interns enrolled. The Project SEARCH instructor delivers the employability skills curriculum and works with each intern’s team to reach the goal of competitive employment.

Essential Functions, Roles and Responsibilities

Operational

• Planning and teaching the Project SEARCH Employability Skills curriculum
• Assisting student interns with interviewing skills and resume and portfolio development
• Coordinating and implementing the Employment Planning meetings to be held at least twice during each internship
• Completing the Vocational Fit Assessment for the student interns and internships with the skills trainer(s), sharing the information with the team, and applying the results for meaningful internship selection and final job development
• Developing internship sites with the business liaison and skills trainer
• Ensuring that the student interns learn competitive, marketable, transferable skills and achieve maximum productivity and quality while on their internships
• Developing work accommodations and work aids with the skills trainer
• Evaluating each student intern’s progress and filling out required documentation for partners, funders, and the Project SEARCH database

Management

• Providing employer education about disability awareness and supervising people with disabilities
• Recruiting student interns for the next Project SEARCH class and creating a pipeline of potential candidates
• Ensuring that student interns are eligible for VR, long-term support, SSI, and other appropriate community, state, and federal supports
• Advocating for and facilitating internal job development at the host business
• Developing relationships with potential community employers
• Marketing the program within the host business and to the wider community
• Coordinating and collaborating with the steering committee

Skills and Abilities

• Experienced in differentiating lessons and settings to meet the needs of interns and their varied learning styles
• Effective interpersonal communication skills that promote relationship-building with interns, families, host business staff, Project SEARCH team members, and other community agencies
• Organizational ability, self-directedness, and initiative when given a variety of responsibilities and assigned tasks
• Ability to make decisions and problem-solve within a team of service providers

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution in education, vocational rehabilitation, human services or related field
• Experience working with adults with disabilities, particularly in the employment field

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience specifically in special education or vocational rehabilitation setting

Other Requirements

• Working in the hospital setting requires evidence of immunizations, health screening and maintaining seasonal immunizations
• Successful background and driver’s screening

Physical Demands

This position involves being very active and completing a wide variety of tasks to assist interns with learning jobs. Candidates must be mobile and actively engaged for a full day.

Work Environment

This position is located in a hospital and requires maintenance of a safe learning environment for interns and staff.