EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT SPECIALIST (OPS) - 48006086

Requisition No: 791890 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT SPECIALIST (OPS) - 48006086

Position Number: 48006086 

Salary:  $16.57 per hour 

Posting Closing Date: 06/30/2023 

DIVISION OF BLIND SERVICES

LOCATION: PALMETTO

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A LEVEL 2 BACKGROUND SCREENING IS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.

CANDIDATES ARE TYPICALLY HIRED AT THE MINIMUM SALARY.
ALL EMPLOYMENT GAPS MUST BE EXPLAINED AND INCLUDED WITH WORK HISTORY WHEN APPLYING.

Job Description

The incumbent in the Employment Placement Specialist position will be responsible for providing direct job development and placement services for blind and visually impaired consumers of the Division of Blind Services.  The incumbent in this position will serve the Palmetto office location for the DBS/District 9 office.  The incumbent will develop and provide job opportunities for eligible individuals through the use of marketing and job development techniques.  They will secure contacts and meet with employers for the purpose of identifying prospective job opportunities.  The incumbent will provide job coaching and other support services to obtain competitive employment.

Examples of Work

• Conducts client intake.
• Assesses client’s resources.
• Performs job placement and job development activities for clients.
• Performs follow-up and maintains client contact through telephone calls and home visits.
• Interviews, counsels, and evaluates clients to determine individual therapeutic activity needs.
• Consults with other professionals and team members concerning recommended programs.
• Prepares reports on clients progress and their reactions to various activities.
• Evaluates rehabilitation therapy programs and makes recommendations for adjustment and revisions.
• Conducts in-depth interviews with a diverse group of blind and visually impaired clients to determine their eligibility for rehabilitation services and the feasibility for achieving a vocational independent living or educational goal.
• Determines existing problems and evaluates individual needs for achieving independence in daily living, in acquiring communication skills, and/or obtaining suitable employment.
• Develops community contacts for employment opportunities, similar benefits, and socialization.
• Assists in the establishment of policies, standards, rules, regulations, and guidelines for program planning.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of professional experience in health, social, economic or rehabilitative programs, health care or hospital administration or planning.
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university can substitute for one year of the required experience.
• Professional or nonprofessional experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of social, economic, rehabilitative or health care services, administration or planning techniques.
• Knowledge of methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data.
• Ability to develop program manuals, policies, procedures, standards and rules.
• Ability to analyze the effectiveness of service programs and identify resources or adjustments needed to meet needs.
• Ability to conduct research studies.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

To be considered for a position with the Division of Blind Services:

• All fields in the candidate profile must be completed.
• Work history, hours worked, and formal education fields must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position. Putting "see resume" does not substitute for completing all sections of the candidate profile.
• Responses to qualifying questions must be verifiable in the candidate profile. Not all applicants will be interviewed. Preference will be given for qualifying veterans, employees in layoff status and qualified candidates based on a review of their overall scores, KSAs, primary and supplemental applications, as well as completion of any required work samples, willingness questionnaires, and behavioral/personality/skills tests, and interview responses, as applicable. References and file reviews from previous employment will be verified to determine suitability.
• Resumes and other documentation can be attached to provide additional information.
• Individuals lacking the ability to competently do the job and those who are unable to positively contribute to a productive team environment, need not apply.
• The successful candidate must be able to pass a Level II Background screening.
• All previous periods of employment must be listed and accounted for.

The Florida Division of Blind Services is committed

to increasing recruitment and hiring of Veterans and individuals with disabilities and

improving employment outcomes.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.