Business Development Specialist

joining a dynamic team of seasoned workforce professionals who have a highly successful track record of placing blind and legally blind individuals in jobs across all sectors. For the last nine years, VISIONS workforce department has placed more individuals in competitive employment than any other blindness agency in New York State. The Business Development Specialist is an individual who is committed to the belief that all people who want to work should have a job. Collaborating with the rest of the Workforce Development and the Technology Training team at VISIONS, the Business Development Specialist identifies appropriate openings and helps place VISIONS job seekers who are legally blind in jobs commensurate with their education, interest, skills and experience. By developing and nurturing relationships with potential employers across all sectors, and learning their staffing needs, the Business Development Specialist matches them with qualified participants who are legally blind. Efforts are focused on face to face and virtual meetings, and other networking opportunities in order to provide information, support, and assistance to employers and participants alike.

The Business Development Specialist works with the rest of the team with a goal of placing a minimum of 45 individuals who are legally blind in competitive employment each year. They will match the actual staffing needs of employers to the abilities, skills and experience of workforce participants. Ongoing communication with the employer, the participant, the state vocational rehabilitation counselor and internal Workforce Development personnel helps ensure the satisfaction of both the employer and new employee. Specific activities of the Business Development Specialist during this process may include job or task analysis, job restructuring, identification of technical evaluation or support needs, and follow along services to ensure a successful, long-term placement (minimum of 90 days).

They will also be assigned to assist in the development of internship sites for the work experience training program. This involves identifying potential paid and unpaid internship sites in the community that may lead to a job offer. The emphasis in this program is on providing opportunities for the participant to develop work skills in real-life integrated employment settings. The Business Development Specialist may take the lead on developing, and implementing special projects on behalf of the workforce department.

The Business Development Specialist may also be tasked with providing additional pre-employment evaluations such as Diagnostic Vocational Evaluations (DVE), work readiness baseline evaluations or formal, and informal technology evaluations. VISIONS provides services in all of New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Ulster, Sullavan and Orange counties, as well as several counties in New Jersey. The Business Development Specialist must be willing to travel to any of these counties when necessary.

All new hires are subject to a three-month probationary period.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. 1. Make presentations to employers (on the phone, virtually, and in person) to promote VISIONS employment program, state vocational rehabilitation work-related programs, and the skills and experience of the work-ready participants.
   2. Consult with area chambers of commerce, workforce 1 centers, government agencies, and all local employers regarding potential employment opportunities.
   3. Identify and collaborate with new and expanding businesses /companies in the New York area that may provide internships and/or jobs.
   4. Represent the agency, as requested, with business, government, educational institutions and community agencies.
   5. Provide awareness training to educate prospective employers about vocational abilities of legally blind job seekers and explain the adaptations that may be used in the work place by our participants.
   6. Educate prospective employers about various incentives related to hiring individuals with disabilities.
   7. Establish and maintain regular communications with New York State Commission for the Blind counselors to solicit new referrals for placement, Work Experience training, vocational skills and work readiness training. Discuss current job ready participants and VISIONS vocational and placement services.
   8. Proactively identify potential employers, employment opportunities and vacancies in employment sectors that match participants’ skills and backgrounds.
   9. Coordinate efforts with the other members of the Workforce team to evaluate the job seeker’s compatibility with a potential work environment. This may include: desired work pace, desired supervisory style, desired public contact, compatibility with various corporate cultures, working remotely, in a hybrid setting, or at an in-person worksite, etc.
   10. Participate in professional development activities including workshops and in-service training sessions that will provide information on latest labor market trends, the latest assistive technology used in the workforce, ETC.
   11. Offer virtual or in-person presentations at professional conferences and VISIONS advisory board meetings or with other stakeholders.
   12. Inform your supervisor when there is a need for technical job and environmental analysis of prospective positions and work experience sites.
   13. Collaborate with the workforce team on facilitating a minimum of 6 work readiness trainings annually, at the Greenwich Street office, the West 23rd Street location, or our residential facility in Rockland County.
   14. Develop marketing and outreach materials for VISIONS workforce programs to increase enrollment and attract potential employers.
   15. Maintain an organized system for tracking employer connections. This should include name, address, email and phone number of businesses, contact person and position of contact person.Information about the types of openings that the employer might have should also be detailed. Records also must be kept on interactions with individuals referred for placement, including any job leads that are provided and interviews that are scheduled. The results should be noted as well as any feedback given by the participant and the potential employer.
   16. Complete all required written reports in compliance with standardized departmental and NYSCB guidelines. Submit all reports to your supervisor within specified timelines.
   17. Organize your own time, schedules, meetings, recruitment visits and trainings to meet the annual goals.
   18. As needed, help to implement grants the Workforce Department has received. This may include working cooperatively with other departments/agencies and developing programming.
   19. Collaborate with the workforce team to develop and implement new programs, workshops and networking events to further the goals and visibility of the department and the work that is done.
2. Perform other pre-employment evaluations as needed. This may include Diagnostic evaluations, work readiness and prevocational baseline assessments or formal or informal technology assessments.

1. Other duties as assigned by the senior director of workforce and Data Analysis, the director of Job Placement Services, the Director of Career Services, or the Chief Program Officer of the Rehab and Workforce Departments.

Qualifications

1. 1. Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of two years documented success in marketing, sales, placement in an urban setting. Or a minimum of five years documented success in marketing, sales, placement in an urban setting or vocational rehab experience in the blindness field.Or a Master’s Degree in rehab counseling, disability studies, marketing or related fields.
   2. Knowledge of barriers to employment faced by individuals with disabilities, specifically participants with vision loss is strongly preferred.
   3. Knowledge of or willingness to learn adaptations that promote full inclusion in the workforce, as well as the ability to successfully convey this information to potential employers.
   4. High expectations for success of participants, a positive attitude and ability to motivate both job seekers and prospective employers.
   5. Organized, self-starting, assertive, resourceful and goal-oriented.
   6. Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
   7. Solid networking, follow-up and partnership development skills.
   8. Willingness to travel throughout Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Westchester & Long Island, and occasionally, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, Dutchess and Ulster Counties. Travel to Northern NJ based on need.
   9. Computer literacy including word-processing, email, Internet, spreadsheet and data management skills. Proficiency in Google Suite is a plus.
   10. Ability to relate well with a diversity of age groups and cultural backgrounds.
   11. Ability to work occasional weekend and evening hours.
   12. Fluency in Spanish or another language, including American Sign Language is a plus.
   13. Experience with conducting Diagnostic Vocational Evaluations is a plus.

This is a hybrid position with the expectation that the person spends a minimum of three days at one of VISIONS locations, networking events, the NYSCB offices or meeting employers.

Salary and Benefits: The salary range for this position is $68,000 to $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience.VISIONS benefits package includes medical, dental and vision health insurance, beginning on day-one of employment. Four weeks of paid vacation, four personal days, 14 sick days, 12 paid holidays and a 403B retirement plan with employer match.

Location: This full-time exempt position is located primarily at VISIONS main office at 500 Greenwich Street, 3rd Floor in Manhattan. Occasionally will be required to work at VISIONS Center on Blindness in Rockland County and VISIONS at Selis Manor on West 23rd street in Chelsea).

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to Michael Cush, Chief Program Officer at mcush@visionsvcb.org.

VISIONS is a ninety-nine-year-old not for profit rehabilitation and social service agency incorporated in 1926. VISIONS provides service for blind and visually impaired people of all ages in the Greater New York Metropolitan Area.

VISIONS is an equal opportunity employer. All job candidates, consultants and volunteers 18 years of age and older, must consent to a background investigation including a criminal justice system search, reference and education checks.

VISIONS is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and is committed to have a workforce that reflects the community that it serves.