Employment and Business Engagement Manager

Summary:

The Employment and Business Engagement Manager is responsible for the overall leadership and coordination of the Hire Division, driving efforts to help individuals with disabilities secure and maintain competitive, integrated employment. This position is responsible for developing strong partnerships with local employers, promoting inclusive hiring practices, and coordinating job development and placement services for individuals referred by Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS), students enrolled in the ACCE program, and participants in the ESA Waiver program.

The Manager builds and sustains strong relationships with local employers and community stakeholders, advocates for inclusive hiring practices, and oversees employment services for individuals referred through Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS), the ACCE program, and the ESA Waiver program. In addition to supervising program staff, this position ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, tracks outcomes, and may provide direct job coaching support as needed. Flexible availability, including some evenings, weekends, and holidays—is required to support individuals and employer partners effectively.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Business Engagement & Community Partnerships:

• Lead business development efforts to expand inclusive employment opportunities for people with disabilities served by the HIRE Program.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local businesses, workforce agencies, chambers of commerce, and other community stakeholders.
• Educate employers on the value of inclusive hiring, including available tax incentives, retention benefits, and reasonable accommodations. Represent the HIRE Program at job fairs, hiring events, workshops, and other community events that promote inclusive hiring practices.
• Monitor local labor market trends and align job development efforts with employer needs and individual career goals.

Job Development, Placement & Coaching:

• Oversee individualized job development and placement services, including résumé preparation, interview support, and vocational matching.
• Guide the use of person-centered planning and vocational assessments to match individuals with appropriate job opportunities.
• Ensure high-quality on-site job coaching that follows a structured, fading model to promote independence.
• Provide support in varied work environments, which may include non-traditional hours (nights, weekends, holidays) based on the needs of persons served.

Program Operations, Outcomes & Reporting:

• Manage and grow the referral pipelines from ARS, ACCE, ESA Waiver, and other community sources to meet program goals and maintain service capacity.
• Ensure timely job placements and progress toward successful stabilization (Status 22) and closure (Status 26) outcomes, in accordance with program goals and budgets.
• Monitor key performance indicators and provide weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports to the Director for internal and regulatory reporting purposes.
• Complete and submit accurate internal and external reports on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervises, trains, and mentors Employment and Services Specialist and/or part-time job coaches.   

• Supervise Employment Specialists, Job Coaches, and support staff assigned to the HIRE Program.
• Ensure adherence to Easterseals Arkansas policies, ARS regulations, and other funder requirements.
• Promote continuous quality improvement by staying current with best practices in supported employment and disability inclusion. Conduct regular case file reviews to monitor quality, compliance, and service effectiveness.
• Respond professionally and timely to all internal and external communication, inquiries, and needs.

Compliance/HIPAA:

While performing the duties of this job, employee will comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to Easterseals Arkansas.

Employee has access to the protected health information of the individuals directly served by this person, except psychotherapy notes. Employee will not attempt to access any other protected health information unless otherwise approved by Supervisor or Privacy Officer.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience:  

• Bachelor’s degree in business, human services, vocational rehabilitation, special education, or a related field (equivalent experience may be considered).
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience working with individuals with disabilities, including job development, coaching, assessment, and behavioral support.
• Previous experience supervising staff and managing service outcomes is preferred.
• Must obtain and maintain ARS Job Coach Certification upon hire.

Skills and Competencies:

• In-depth knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), supported employment, and y inclusive workforce strategies.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to manage a program, lead a team and prioritize tasks in a dynamic work environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Zoom, Google Classroom, Microsoft Office Suite), and case management systems

Additional Requirements:

• Frequent travel within the community; occasional statewide travel required.
• Flexible schedule to accommodate individual and employer needs, including non-traditional hours.
• Physical ability to assist individuals in various work environments.
• Valid Arkansas driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.

Travel: Services will be provided in schools, employer work sites, and may include some out-of-town travel. 

Competencies and Knowledge:

• Knowledge of a wide array of disabilities and supports 
• Knowledge of how an individual’s disability may impact performance in a work environment and how to identify and/or suggest accommodations in the work environment for everyone to ensure success.
• Ability to problem solve and implement or suggestion solutions
• Ability to work as a single stream resource
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to take initiative
• Independent work ethic for self-management of schedule
• Utilize sound judgment and decision-making skills.
• Work as a team with the referrals and their families.
• In-depth knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), supported employment, and y inclusive workforce strategies.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to manage a program, lead a team and prioritize tasks in a dynamic work environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

ARS Job Coach Certification 

Valid Arkansas Driver's License

Ability to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License if required

Ability to obtain additional credentials based on future organizational and/or regulatory requirements.  

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. During the performance of the job, the employee will be required to drive self and others to and from meetings, interviews, and to job sites as needed. 

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Easterseals Arkansas has designated this position as a “non-safety sensitive” position under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment.

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