Employment Specialist IPS

Job Title: Employment Specialist IPS

Department: Employment Services

Union or Non-Union: Union

Exempt or Non-Exempt: Exempt

Workplace Classification: Community-Based

Job Purpose: 

• The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Specialist is responsible for the coordination and 
• delivery of supported employment services for individuals enrolled in IPS programming. This role is rooted in 
• the belief that employment is a key part of recovery and well-being. The specialist actively engages with 
• individuals to understand their employment goals, supports their job search and retention efforts, and 
• builds strong employer partnerships to facilitate successful, sustainable employment opportunities.

Reporting Relationships

Reports To: IPS Supervisor

Direct Reports: None

Essential Job Functions: (Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.)

• Serves as the IPS Employment Specialist and vocational expert on an interdisciplinary team, managing a 
• caseload of up to 20 individuals with mental health and AODA challenges.
• Provides individualized, wraparound employment supports by leveraging braided funding (e.g., CCS, 
• DVR), understanding the technical specifications, authorizations, and allowable services under each 
• funding stream.
• Implements the IPS model with fidelity, adhering to the Eight Principles and maintaining awareness of 
• the 25 fidelity markers to ensure quality and program success.
• Facilitates career exploration, job readiness, and placement services, using person-centered planning 
• to connect individuals to integrated, competitive employment opportunities.
• Builds and maintains strong employer partnerships, actively marketing the program, advocating for 
• inclusive hiring, and matching qualified candidates to appropriate positions.
• Coordinates communication across all stakeholders, including employers, funders, clients, and support 
• networks, to ensure alignment, gather feedback, and sustain engagement.
• Utilizes strategies and accommodations such as assistive technology, behavioral contracts, or 
• compensatory tools to enhance client performance and job retention.
• Completes all documentation accurately and timely, meeting clinical, contractual, and billing 
• requirements while ensuring records are comprehensive, person-centered, and compliant.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure and Credentials: (Where appropriate, education and/or experience may be substituted)

Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology, Sociology, Social Work,

Vocational Rehabilitation, or related field.

Minimum Required Experience: 6 months’ experience providing work readiness/job development services or working with individuals with mental health and/or AODA challenges.

Travel Type: Road Warrior

Required Valid Driver’s License: Valid driver’s license

Required Auto Insurance: Vehicle liability insurance in accordance with Agency Policy

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Knowledge of case management and integrated employment principles, including ethical standards and best practices for supporting individuals with disabilities in competitive employment

• Understanding of behavioral strategies, including behavior modification, compensatory techniques, and workplace accommodations

• Ability to engage professionally with HR and management-level personnel across diverse industries

• Proficiency in electronic documentation systems and digital communication tools

• Familiarity with a broad range of disabling conditions, and the ability to recommend appropriate accommodations, assistive technology, and support strategies

• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, objective reports based on observational data

• Demonstrated analytical and critical thinking skills for interpreting data and making person-centered decisions

• High degree of cultural competence, interpersonal sensitivity, and commitment to inclusive, strength-based service delivery

Physical Requirements, Visual Acuity, and Work Conditions:

Physical Requirements: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. 

Visual Acuity: The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; viewing a computer terminal, awareness of surroundings and driving.

Working Conditions: This position works in a variety of indoor and outdoor work environments which may include various outdoor weather conditions, and fluctuating temperatures.

Who We Are: Founded in 1938, the Centers for Independence (CFI) has strengthened communities by fostering hope and helping people advance their total health. CFI’s unmatched breadth of disability support services and resources through its affiliates - the Milwaukee Center for Independence, Home Care, First Person Care Consultants and iLIFE - allows others to find value in themselves and see a path forward. Join us at Centers for Independence, where your skills and talents will be valued, and your career will flourish. 

This is a general outline of the essential functions of this position and shall not be construed as an all-inclusive description of all work requirements and responsibilities that may be inherent in this position. The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested by the designated work leader(s). All requirements are subject to change over time.