Skills Trainer - Project Search - Oshkosh

How this Role Supports our Mission of Elevating People by Eliminating Barriers to Employment

While receiving leadership support from the Mission Team Leader, the Skills Trainer advances our mission by providing training and support for Project SEARCH participants and host business mentors.  The Skills Trainer assists in the intake, creation, and oversight of the participant’s participation in the Project SEARCH program to ensure individualized services are consistently delivered with all partners following best practices and funding source requirements. The Skills Trainer will align all activities and service delivery in a manner consistent with the mission, vision, values, and brand of Goodwill NCW.

Key Responsibilities

• Assists in the intake, creation, and oversight of participant’s participation in the Project SEARCH program to ensure individualized services are consistently delivered with all partners following best practices and funding source requirements.
• Assists participants in identifying job goals and implementing goal plans to help them obtain, maintain, and elevate employment. 
• Cultivates and maintains a positive, collaborative relationship with educational partners, host business leadership and support staff to determine needs and adapt service delivery to meet the individual needs of the participants. Ensures partners involved in the internships are following or adapting to the Project SEARCH model. 
• In coordination with the partner instructor and host business, identifies and develops internship sites and offers a variety of opportunities to build marketable, competitive skills that lead to employment.
• In collaboration with the partner instructor, provides coaching services and assesses individuals’ progress towards independence to determine level of coaching needed.
• Communicates with all those involved to ensure skills instruction support meets the specific needs of each participant and discusses any urgent concerns, changes in job duties or employer/participant feedback that requires immediate attention.
• Assists with job preparation services and completion of timely reports.
• Identifies needs for workplace accommodations and referrals for additional services.
• Develops and implements job aides to help the individual become independent.
• Completes accurate and timely documentation, reports, and data entry, in collaboration with partner instructor for participant files according to funding sources, Goodwill NCW, CARF, and Project SEARCH requirements.
• Job coaches as needed.

Education, Skills & Experience Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent is preferred.
• One year of previous experience work with individuals with barriers in a workplace setting in the community is preferred.
• A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record is required to travel to multiple locations.
• At least an intermediate level of competency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Outlook.
• Knowledge and experience with Case Management Systems (CMS) is preferred.
• Knowledge of de-escalation techniques.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills and the ability to manage multiple projects under time constraints simultaneously.
• Strong skills in collaboration and connection to community.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to adjust to the changing needs of the department and organization and willingness to jump in and help where needed.
• Ability to observe, redirect and document effectively.
• Ability to engage effectively in speaking and active listening.
• Ability to give clear instruction or direction to others.
• Ability to utilize body language or gesture when communication barriers exist.
• Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of others.
• Strong creativity and problem solving skills.
• Willingness and ability to work various hours which may include evenings and weekends.
• Willingness and ability to meet pre-employment requirement, onboarding, and training expectations for the host business site and Project SEARCH program.
• Willingness to attend annual state-wide and national conferences.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Work is performed in various environments with extensive team member contact and frequent interruptions.
• Primary function requires sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in varying settings; to sit, stand, or walk for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, twist, lift, carry, push and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight.
• Ability to drive and operate a motor vehicle.
• Verbally communicate to exchange information.

The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the occupation described and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the occupation.