Pre-Employment Transition Services Specialist

Title: Pre-Employment Transition Services Specialist

Location: Columbia United States

Job Description:

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Job ID

61461

Location

Columbia

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

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Hiring Department

Pre-Employment Transition Services

College of Education & Human Development

University of MO-Columbia

Job Description

This position supports the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requirement for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) to collaborate with Local Educational Agencies (LEA) to deliver Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to students with disabilities in Missouri secondary schools. This role involves working closely with LEAs, VR, and community partners to prepare students for employment, post-secondary education, and independent living.

Key Responsibilities:

Job Exploration Counseling

• Develop and assess student career interests using tools like Missouri Connections.
• Provide insights on in-demand jobs and local labor markets.
• Help students identify and explore careers of interest in their communities or geographic regions.
• Facilitate learning through simulated work experiences in the classroom.

Postsecondary Education Counseling

• Guide students on college training options relevant to their career paths.
• Facilitate visits to college disability support services and educate on accommodations in higher education.
• Educate and assist students with financial aid processes.

Workplace Readiness Training

• Teach critical work skills such as punctuality, teamwork, and communication.
• Assist with transportation planning and financial literacy.
• Coordinate mock interviews, assist with resume development, and provide feedback when needed.

Work-Based Learning Experiences

• Collaborate with LEA staff, VR counselors, and local businesses to create work-based learning experiences in the school or community.
• Arrange job shadows, business tours, and guest speakers to introduce students to careers.
• Facilitate learning through volunteer experiences in the community.

Self-Advocacy & Peer Mentoring

• Promote self-determination and self-advocacy skills.
• Support peer mentoring opportunities, including Youth Leadership Forum.
• Facilitate real-life self-advocacy skill development.

Regional Assignment and Travel Requirements: Pre-Employment Transition Services Specialists are assigned to specific high schools and service regions by the Pre-ETS Director based on programmatic, staffing, and service-delivery needs. Assignments may be modified or reassigned by the Director when necessary to meet the operational needs of the Pre-ETS Program.

Specialists are required to live within their designated service area and are responsible for providing services across all assigned school districts and communities.

Extensive travel is an essential and required function of this position. Specialists must be willing and able to travel up to 75-100% of their work time, as necessary, to assigned school districts, schools, businesses, community partners, student activities, meetings, and other locations necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.

A valid Missouri driver's license, the ability to travel extensively, and flexibility in scheduling are required conditions of the position.

Requires a home-office setup.

This position is not located in Columbia, MO; applicants must reside in the designated service area.

Shift

Monday through Friday

7:00 am to 3:30 pm, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, or 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, to align with school district schedules as approved by the Pre-ETS Director.

100% FTE, 12 month appointment

Minimum Qualifications

An associate's degree in early childhood education, child development, or related area, or the equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired, is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience: Minimum of 3-4 years, including at least two years in teaching or counseling, with frequent interaction with state agencies, school staff, and students in MO secondary schools.

Education: Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in education or related field preferred. A current MO teaching certificate or substitute teacher certification is preferred, with preference for Special Education certification.

Preferred Skills: Experience with transition-age youth, familiarity with disability programs (vocational rehabilitation, special education), career pathways, and strong skills in communication, organization, relationship-building, and leadership.

Additional: A valid MO driver's license is required, as extensive travel is required for this position.

Anticipated Hiring Range

Salary Range: $50,000 to $56,000 per year, depending on available grant funding.

Grade: GGS 008

University Title: Child Development Teacher

Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Application Materials

NOTE: All applicants must submit a cover letter specific to this position, a current resume, and a list of reference to include at least two previous supervisors.

Sponsorship Information

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.