Student HireAbility Navigator

SUMMARY: Works to improve access to employment and training services and increase employment opportunities for job seekers with disabilities. Focuses exclusively on services for students with disabilities who are in the early phases of preparing for transition to postsecondary education and employment. Serves as a resource in the workforce development area to support, expand, and enhance the provision of pre-employment transition services that are provided by Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) as well as by the other partners and programs in the workforce development area.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

• Identify the pre-employment transition services available to students with disabilities in the workforce development area.
• Convene partners, including school districts and Education Service Centers, to discuss successful strategies and services, gaps, and opportunities for collaboration to improve the quality and/or availability of pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities.
• In consultation with the Board and the VR offices in the workforce development area, school districts, and other community partners, create a three-year action plan to achieve specific deliverables. The plan must be written within 5 months from hire.
• Increase community and system awareness of the resources and activities available to students with disabilities in the following five pre-employment transition services:
• Develop and sustain relationships with the school districts and Education Service Centers in the workforce development area to promote awareness and availability of pre-employment transition services and Workforce Solutions resources to schools, parents, and students.
• Promote the use of career exploration, postsecondary education planning, and work readiness tools available.
• In consultation with Workforce Solutions Offices, local VR offices, local education agencies, parents and students with disabilities, employers, and community partners, develop effective and innovative strategies to:
• Convene and/or attend workgroups, committees, coalitions, and cross-agency teams to foster system and community coordination of pre-employment transition services and activities for students with disabilities.
• Provide information, training, and technical assistance to Workforce Solutions Offices, local VR offices, school districts, Education Service Centers, community partners, and employers, regarding resources and activities available to assist students with disabilities to transition successfully to postsecondary education, employment, or both.
• Develop and coordinate events, campaigns, and other activities to increase and foster student and family awareness of and access to pre-employment transition services provided by local VR offices, school districts, Education Service Centers, other Workforce Solutions programs, and community partners and resources.
• Organize events and activities to increase employers' understanding of the abilities of students with disabilities.
• Provide training and/or resources to increase employers' awareness of disability etiquette and accommodations for students with disabilities.
• Collaborate with partner agencies to develop work- based learning opportunities for students with disabilities, including internships, summer employment, other employment opportunities available throughout the school year, and apprenticeships.
• Ensure that state and/or local VR staff receive the data and information necessary to fulfill federal reporting requirements regarding the provision of pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities that occur as a direct result of deliverables.
• Comply with federal and state requirements regarding confidentiality of student data.
• Ensure that resources and materials developed for deliverables are available in accessible formats for students who use screen reader software, screen magnification software, large print, and Braille.
• Ensure that reasonable accommodations are available and provided as requested for activities associated with deliverables.
• Participate in meetings called by TWC for training, information sharing, and Student HireAbility Navigator Program development and improvement.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Job (career) exploration counseling
• Work-based learning experiences, which may include in school or after school opportunities, or experience outside the traditional school setting (including internships), provided in an integrated environment to the maximum extent possible.
• Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs at institutions of higher education.
• workplace readiness training to develop social skills and independent living; and
• Instruction in self-advocacy, which may include peer mentoring.

 

 

• Improve the transition to postsecondary activities of students who are members of traditionally unserved and underserved populations.
• Expand or enhance the provision of the five required pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities in the workforce development area

 

        

STUDENT HIREABILITY NAVIGATOR QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.

One additional year of full-time qualifying experience may be substituted for each year (30 semester hours) of the required education.

EXPERIENCE

Four years of full-time work experience.

Work experience in the fields of education, vocational rehabilitation, workforce development programs, human services programs, or non-profit organizations serving students or persons with disabilities is preferred.

A master's degree from an accredited college or university may be substituted for two years of the required qualifying experience.

 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

 

• Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License and provide automobile liability insurance as required by the State of Texas.
• Must have access to reliable transportation in order to make required home visits and travel within service area.
• Must obtain National Association of Workforce Development Professionals certificate.

 

Physical demands and work environment:

 

The physical demands and work environment characteristics describe here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

 

1. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing duties of the job, employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; for long periods of time. Employee must be able to drive for extended periods of time. Employees must occasionally lift and /or move up to 25 pounds, must be able to set up display area.

 

1. WORK ENVIRONMENT:  Fast paced, demanding physically and mentally, will be in constant communications.

 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.