Employment Program Supervisor

Definition/ Nature of Work

The Employment Program Supervisor for Employment Solutions, a division of The Arc of the Ozarks, is a professional, management level position responsible for providing services for our primary customer (an individual who has a disability) and our secondary customers (funding sources, families, employers, other service providers.) The Employment Program Supervisor’s functions as the Degreed Professional Manager (Missouri Comprehensive Waiver guidelines) with overall responsibility for the development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of individual support plans adapted to the needs of persons served. The Employment Program Supervisor is a manager, and as such, is responsible for staff training and supervision, quality enhancement monitoring, developing, and implementation of individualized support plans. The Employment Program Supervisor is also in charge of overseeing all Vocational Rehabilitation Summer Work Program sites and all Department of Mental Health individual and group Supported Employment and Prevocational Services sites. 

The Employment Program Supervisor is responsible for the development and monitoring of the Individual Support Plans (ISP) of persons served and supervising assigned staff in implementing active treatment and support as it pertains to employment. The position is charged with preparing employee work schedules, ensuring staff coverage, reporting, and recording observations, circulating, and implementing directives, and maintaining necessary records and reports. The employee consults with administrative officials, program staff, and other employees and outside agencies in coordinating and implementing The Arc of the Ozarks Quality Assurance policies and procedures.

The Employment Program Supervisor is at the center of all discussion with family, person served, staff, guardians, administration, Service Coordination, and Department of Mental Health (DMH) Regional Office, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and consults with administrative officials, program staff, and other employees and outside agencies in coordinating and implementing The Arc of the Ozarks Quality Assurance Program. 

The Employment Program Supervisor is still expected to maintain a small caseload, providing various employment services to prepare individuals for competitive employment opportunities. Some of these duties could include supporting the individual through work samples (called community-based assessments) in area businesses, assisting to connect the individual with community resources, assisting with transportation planning/ bus training, assisting the individual with the application and interview process, and supporting the person once they have accepted a job offer of their choosing. With oversite of the Employment Program Supervisor, once a job is secured, the Employment Specialist will be responsible for facilitating supports the individual needs at the worksite. This does not replace the training offered by the business, but some individuals need additional support with developing work relationships, setting a routine, meeting timelines, and ensuring quality. The Employment Program Supervisor either provides this one-on-one support or supervises an Employment Specialist and Job Coach who provides the support. Supports may be provided on or off site, depending on the needs of the individual receiving services. As the individual becomes confident in their position, the Employment Specialist and Employment Program Supervisor are responsible for planning a gradual fading process for one-on-one support, as well as developing a plan for long-term support. This plan includes input from the individual, their employer, and all persons on their support team.

Communication through the entire process is extremely important. The Employment Program Supervisor is responsible for communication with the individual receiving services, funding sources, employer, and other members of the individual’s support team. The Employment Program Supervisor is also responsible for ensuring quality and satisfaction of all customers. The Employment Program Supervisor will ask for feedback and suggestions from all parties involved through formal and informal methods. 

Additionally, the Employment Program Supervisor is responsible for hiring, training, supervising, and providing corrective feedback to Employment Specialist and Job Coach positions. This is an exempt, salaried position.

Essential Job Functions

The below are intended as examples of various types of work performed, they are not all inclusive. The omission of a specific job duty from the below does not exclude them as a required job function as specified by the appropriate supervisor:

1. Articulate the values driving employment services.

2. Use respectful language in all phases of support.

3. Facilitate meaningful and informed choices.

4. Use Person-Centered language and principles as the guiding influence in daily interactions.

5. Use discretion and independent judgement to utilize personal and professional networks, as appropriate, to facilitate successful employment for individuals served.

6. Measure consumer satisfaction and use results to continuously improve the quality of employment services.

7. Build relationships with the business community and offer recruitment assistance to meet their hiring needs.

8. Use discretion and independent judgment in securing appropriate job matches for individuals served.

9. Utilize a variety of techniques to assist people to be socially included at work.

10. Identify and facilitate the use of supports that are typical in the workplace.

11. Use teaching strategies to train and facilitate training.

12. Proactively problem-solve.

13. Assist the person in accessing additional resources as needed.

14. Communicate effectively both in written and verbal forms.

15. Conduct and attend planning meetings and assist the individual in advocating their needs and desires.

16. Maintain knowledge of occupations and expectations of the occupations in the area.

17. Independently meet time lines, organize workload, and manage time effectively.

18. Assist in department goal setting and planning.

19. Record and maintain all daily and monthly paperwork requirements.

20. Work independently with minimal supervision, exercising good judgement and managing stress.

21. Provide input to team members concerning the support needs and progress of the customer.

22. Work a flexible schedule to meet the support needs of the individual.

23. Assist to maintain financial stability of the Employment Solutions Program through monitoring financial statements and making changes as needed.

24. Abide by the Personnel Policies and Procedures of The Arc of the Ozarks as a condition of employment.

25. Assist Employment Solutions and The Arc of the Ozarks in Public Relations Activities to promote disability awareness, community inclusion, and programming support.

26. Provide supervision and oversight to individuals in Employment Specialist and Job Coach positions.