Lead Instructor Work Readiness Program (Disability Services) - Manhattan & Brooklyn

AHRC New York City is a large, complex nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting neurodivergent children and adults (those with autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and other disabilities) through a broad spectrum of services , and a family governed organization that envisions a socially just world where the power of difference is embraced and reflected in all that we do. Generosity guides us as we honor our legacy and continuously grow through a culture of curiosity, creativity, and optimism and as we advocate for people with disabilities to lead full and equitable lives.

AHRC NY City is seeking Lead Instructors for both their Manhattan and Brooklyn Employment Business Services (EBS) Project Search programs.  AHRC NYC’s EBS team seeks to prepare people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for employment. The Project SEARCH program is a collaborative program between AHRC NYC, a host business, and OPWDD.  It is a business-led, one-year work-readiness program for young adults. The model immerses participants at the host business through classroom instruction, career exploration, and 3 hands-on internship rotations to help obtain competitive, integrated employment after program completion.  

Compensation Package: $55,000 per year plus a very generous and comprehensive Benefit package. See additional Benefit information below.

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Under the direction of the Regional Director and Project SEARCH Coordinator, the Project SEARCH Lead Instructor will help develop and coordinate the Project SEARCH program and provide instruction for the interns enrolled. The Project SEARCH lead instructor delivers the employability skills curriculum and works with each intern’s team to reach the goal of competitive employment.

Essential Responsibilities

Project SEARCH Lead Teacher will have the following responsibilities-

1. Create relationships with referral sources to recruit appropriate interns for Project SEARCH program.
2. Create and organize assessment activities/days to identify interns for the program.
3. Help with all enrollments for the program related to OPWDD funding and maintaining the Project SEARCH database.
4. Help with all onboarding requirements needed to be fulfilled by the host business.
5. Develop relationships with the different department managers to Identify internship sites within the host business that build a repertoire of marketable skills that lead to competitive, integrated employment.
6. Ensure that internships include measurable skills gain that is assessed according to productivity, quality, and safety benchmarks. 
7. Develop classroom work readiness activities and a monthly schedule based on the Project SEARCH employability skills curriculum that is reinforced in the internships developing skills, knowledge and work habits leading to successful employment. 
8. Organize field trips for financial literacy, mock interviews, resume building, etc. workshops.
9. Facilitate regular Employment Planning Meetings with interns, families, and agency personnel to determine career interests, specific job preferences, skills, and abilities to design an individualized approach to job development.
10. Identify and problem solve solutions for challenges that interfere with completion of Project SEARCH and gaining and maintaining employment.
11. Assist with completing the Vocational Fit Assessment or other job matching tools to determine the abilities of the intern, the demands of the internship tasks and assist the team to make meaningful job/internship matches.
12. Using Vocfit and other assessment tools to evaluate the intern’s progress and to identify additional skill/task development.
13. Use universal design concepts to design and implement accommodations and adaptations needed at the internship sites.
14. Supervise and support the Project SEARCH skills instructor in providing individualized support for the intern during each internship rotation
15. Coordinate and attend all scheduled life plans and staff action plan meetings as well as working closely with the Care Manager and OPWDD
16. Make sure all interns are receiving pre-voc funding to support the services being provided
17. Communicate effectively with the skills instructor, internship department managers/mentors, co-workers, family members, job developers and other agencies as it relates to the intern’s training and support needs.
18. Continuously update the Project SEARCH member portal to maintain records of staff changes, Work internship experiences and employment outcomes including jobs gained, wages, hours worked per weeks, benefits, etc.
19. Work closely with the host business liaison, onsite team, and job developments to secure competitive, integrated employment at the host business or in the community within 9 months of program completion.

• A Masters degree and at least 2 years of relevant experience; or a Bachelors degree with 5 years of relevant experience is Required.
• A minimum of 2 years working with people with disabilities.
• Experience with program design or curriculum development required
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Strong organizational skills, self-directedness, and initiative when given a variety of responsibilities and assigned tasks.
• Ability to make decisions and problem-solve with a team of service providers and business mentors.
• Demonstrated ability to employ a variety of instructional strategies that connect the curriculum to the learner and their varied learning styles.
• Comfortable with public speaking and presenting.
• Two years of customer service & project coordination experience.
• Experience interacting with high-level management.
• Some HR and/or training experience is a plus.

AHRC New York City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, marital status, partnership status, military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, genetic information, or unemployment or any other protected characteristic under federal, state or local law. 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.