Director of Employment First
Since 1961, the Association for Individual Development (AID) has served thousands of children and adults with developmental, intellectual, physical and/or mental health challenges in the greater Fox Valley area and seven other western suburban counties outside of Chicago, IL. Our team of over 600 employees provides services within and through 70 buildings (including affordable housing apartments, single family homes, and programmatic/administrative buildings). We served over 5400 individuals in 2023. Life-enriching services that promote the highest level of independence and community immersion include autism programs, permanent supportive housing, in-home support, developmental and vocational training, job placement and on-the-job coaching services, crisis intervention, victims services, mental health treatment, behavioral intervention, health and wellness, community education, and advocacy. To learn more, please visit:
AID Cares .
AID seeks a passionate and growth-minded Director of Employment First to assume a vital role in the continued strategic growth and advocacy of a community centered organization. This leader will have proven experience with navigating Division of Rehabilitative Services, I/DD and Behavioral Health billing systems. Experience working in Community Employment programs including but not limited to, IPS (Individual Placement and Supports), employer contacts, job development, job coaching, and mentoring employment staff. Partnering with the Executive Leader who supervises the program and Employment First Manager, the Director of Employment First will be responsible for meeting the overall operational goals, contractual deliverables, and fidelity compliance of the program including accreditation, corporate compliance and quality standards.
The Director of Employment First is highly engaged, innovative and committed to the mindset that when an Individual expresses the desire to work in the community, we believe they can do so in the job of their choice, the community of their choice and with the right supports in place when needed. This leader serves as the expert in community employment seeking to advocate, educate and leverage business networks and relationships.
The Director of Employment First will be a collaborative leader who can work closely with direct reports, internal peers and staff across all AID programs, Individuals receiving services and their supports, contract and grant administrators and external consultants. This position will manage 1 Manager, 12 Employment Specialists, and external contracts and grants.
Key Responsibilities
Organizational Leadership
Provide leadership in development and implementation of client centered services, processes and support for community employment that is evidence based.
Provide leadership in supporting persons with physical, developmental, intellectual and behavioral/mental health challenges and to promote community based, integrated employment as the first option.
Collaborate positively with employment staff, peers, external partners, employers and taking an innovative approach to being solution oriented and work through barriers to employment.
Continuously seek strategies to develop the employment teams skills that address the changing needs and supports of persons served to include navigating benefits and how they are impacted by employment.
Financial Oversight
Manage all contract and grant deliverables at minimum on a monthly basis.
Meet with local Division of Rehabilitative Services staff and Project Manager to submit on time and reconcile billing at minimum a monthly basis.
Lead, develop and coach team on meeting monthly productivity service hour delivery goals and ensure billing is completed on time per agency standards and program expectations.
Develop program budget annually being mindful of growth opportunities.
Collaborative and Trust Building Leader
Foster trust and collaboration among employment team, internal and external stakeholders and possess the ability to create buy-in managing through change with flexibility.
Provide guidance and direction to engage and support team members at all levels while ensuring a culture of accountability.
Desired Qualifications
The Director of Employment First will be innovative and passionate about developing and maintaining an employment program that has a highly engaged culture for seeking community integrated employment opportunities for persons receiving services. The Director will be collaborative, set goals and priorities for themselves, Manager and Employment Specialists, be transparent and assure accountability and treat everyone with a customer centric approach.
While its understood that no single candidate will bring every single competency, strong candidates will offer the following skills, characteristics, and experiences:
Minimum Bachelors Degree in Human Services/Business Administration or related field.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in the field of human services.
Minimum of 3 years of experience and providing employment services in a leadership role (Lead, Manager, or Director).
Understanding of the complexities of community integrated employment, assisting staff and persons served in navigating barriers to employment.
Ability to build relationships and understand the needs of businesses as well as talk through apprehensions of stigma and mindset barriers from their perspective.
Plan and execute business networking and outreach events.
Flexible and able to step in when needed to coach staff, Client and their supports and external partners.
Strong motivational and staff leadership abilities. Lead with an open mind of who staff are and what they need to be successful.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to travel using personal vehicle from work base in Aurora to program sites (Kendall, Kane, DeKalb and DuPage Counties), outreach events and as warranted by needs of the program.
If we seem like a good fit, consider joining our growing team of compassionate, hardworking, and caring individuals, and start your path toward a fulfilling career that you can be proud of.
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