Vocational Specialist

Vocational Specialist

Reports to: ACT Team Lead 
FLSA Status: Full-Time Exempt

Position Summary:

The ACT Vocational Specialist helps ACT participants pursue employment and education goals through individualized, community-based services. The position implements Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Supported Employment and Education as part of The Well’s multidisciplinary ACT team. The Specialist works from participant choice and strengths to support a prompt search for competitive employment or a preferred education path, build relationships with employers and training programs, coordinate benefits planning, and provide ongoing support after a participant starts work or school.

The Vocational Specialist participates in the ACT team’s shared-caseload and daily meeting practices and coordinates vocational goals with each participant’s recovery plan. The role integrates employment and education support with behavioral health services, peer support, housing, benefits, and other participant-selected goals. Services follow IPS and ACT practices, Nebraska requirements, The Well’s policies, and the approved grant work plan. The Specialist tracks grant-related effort and service information so costs and outcomes are recorded accurately.

Core Values:

• Show Up with Generosity: You build authentic relationships through gratitude, partnership, and consistent communication.
• Check the Ego: You collaborate closely with program and finance staff, valuing teamwork and accuracy over individual credit.
• Embrace Diversity: You celebrate and honor the cultures, identities, and lived experiences of those we serve and ensure donor messaging reflects this shared value.
• Grounded in Hope: You believe in the transformative power of community investment and bring optimism, professionalism, and persistence to your work.

Qualifications:

1. Education & Experience

• Degree in vocational rehabilitation, human services, counseling, psychology, education, business, workforce development, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Experience in supported employment, vocational services, workforce development, education support, or behavioral health preferred.
• Complete IPS and ACT role-specific training after hire and maintain required training and certifications.

1. Skills & Professional Attributes

• Can build trust with participants and support employment or education goals chosen by the participant.
• Can develop relationships with employers, educational programs, vocational rehabilitation, workforce agencies, and community partners.
• Communicates clearly, maintains appropriate boundaries, and handles confidential information responsibly.
• Is organized, resourceful, persistent, and able to manage field-based work, documentation, follow-up, and changing priorities.
• Works collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team while also managing independent community contacts.
• Uses a person-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented approach.

1. Administrative & Technical Skills

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and communications simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and willingness to learn donor management or CRM systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to assist with fundraising materials, donor communications, and event coordination.

1. Professional Attributes

• Self-motivated, dependable, and goal-oriented.
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively.
• Adaptable and able to work in a fast-paced nonprofit environment.
• Creative thinker with strong problem-solving skills.
• Passionate about behavioral health, community impact, and nonprofit work.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. IPS Employment & Education Services

• Provide IPS Supported Employment and Education services to ACT participants who express interest in working or pursuing education, consistent with participant choice and the approved ACT model.
• Learn each participant’s employment and education preferences, strengths, skills, work history, interests, support needs, and goals; help translate these into practical next steps.
• Begin a rapid, preference-based search for competitive employment or a participant-selected education opportunity. Integrate services with the ACT team rather than requiring participants to complete separate readiness or pre-vocational steps first.
• Support job development, applications, resumes, interviews, employer conversations, enrollment, and other steps needed to pursue the participant’s chosen goal.
• Provide flexible, individualized support in community settings and adapt assistance as preferences, work or school demands, and support needs change.

2. Employer, Education & Workforce Partnerships

• Build and maintain relationships with local employers, colleges, training providers, vocational rehabilitation, workforce agencies, and other community partners.
• Learn about job openings, hiring practices, workplace expectations, education options, accommodations, and resources that may benefit ACT participants.
• Engage employers and education partners in a professional, responsive manner while protecting participant privacy. Share participant information only with appropriate consent and releases.
• Help participants connect with employer supports, vocational rehabilitation, college and training resources, transportation, and other services that can support their goals.

3. Benefits Planning & Financial Coordination

• Help participants understand how work or education may interact with public benefits and other income supports; coordinate individualized benefits counseling or technical assistance when needed.
• Connect participants with qualified benefits specialists and agencies for questions involving SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, housing assistance, or other benefits; do not provide specialized benefits advice beyond training and role scope.
• Coordinate benefits planning with the participant’s recovery plan, employment or education goal, and other ACT services.
• Help participants identify and address practical barriers related to income, benefits, transportation, childcare, equipment, clothing, or schedule as allowed by program and grant requirements.

4. Ongoing Work and Education Support

• Continue support after a participant begins work or school. Provide follow-up, problem-solving, coaching, and coordination based on the participant’s preference and needs.
• Help participants address workplace or education concerns, communicate with employers or school staff when authorized, explore accommodations, and plan for job retention or continued enrollment.
• Coordinate with the ACT team when symptoms, health, housing, substance use, medication needs, or other factors affect work or school goals.

• Support career development and advancement when desired by the participant, including job changes, additional training, or a return to education.

5. ACT Team Integration & Participant Recovery Planning

• Participate in daily ACT meetings and shared-caseload coordination. Communicate employment and education goals, progress, barriers, and follow-up assignments to the team.
• Coordinate vocational services with the participant’s individualized treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery plan and with mental health, substance use, medical, nursing, peer, housing, benefits, and case management services.
• Collaborate with the ACT Team Lead, clinicians, case manager, peer specialist, SUD specialist, psychiatric and nursing staff, and other team members to keep services coordinated.
• Help the team incorporate employment and education goals into recovery planning and service intensity without treating work as separate from the participant’s overall recovery.

6. ACT Coverage, Safety & Community Practice

• Deliver services in the community, including at workplaces, schools, training programs, homes, and other locations chosen with participants.
• Participate in ACT crisis or after-hours coverage when assigned and trained. Follow participant-specific crisis plans, use agency procedures, and contact the ACT Team Lead or licensed staff when a clinical or safety concern exceeds the Specialist’s role.
• Follow field-safety procedures, maintain regular communication with the team during community work, and report safety concerns, incidents, and changes in participant status promptly.
• Support flexible scheduling and team coordination to help ACT provide timely, persistent, and person-centered services.

7. Documentation, Data & Grant Responsibilities

• Complete timely and accurate documentation in the EHR for participant contacts, employment and education services, employer or school coordination, benefits planning, follow-up, and progress toward goals.
• Maintain required releases of information and protect participant confidentiality in all employer, school, benefits, and community contacts.
• Track employment and education activity, service delivery, participant outcomes, and other data required by The Well, the ACT program, and the grant. Coordinate with the Program Assistant and evaluator to address missing or incomplete information.
• Accurately document grant-related time and effort in accordance with the approved staffing allocation and agency process. Do not charge the same time or service to more than one funding source.
• Participate in supervision, fidelity preparation, staff training, case review, and continuous quality improvement activities related to IPS and ACT. Support the team’s adherence to TMACT expectations and approved program procedures.

8. The Well Responsibilities

• Follow The Well’s policies and procedures, including attendance, timekeeping, vehicle safety, field safety, confidentiality, and professional conduct.
• Complete all required orientations, trainings, meetings, supervision, and performance reviews; remain current in required credentials and certifications.

• Represent The Well professionally with participants, employers, schools, families, and community partners; support outreach and referral education as assigned.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the position, training, and professional scope.

Work Environment & Requirements:

• Regular sitting, standing, walking, and computer use.
• Frequent travel for donor meetings, events, and community engagement.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally (event materials).
• Valid driver’s license, current auto insurance, and reliable transportation required. Mileage reimbursed at the federal rate.