Metropolitan Center for Independent Living of Bloomington, MN is seeking a full-time Independent Living Specialist to be patient and flexible while working with individuals with disabilities and provide resources and support to increase their independence. This position works closely with vocational rehabilitation services staff. We offer a competitive salary of $38,000 plus excellent benefits including medical, dental, short and long-term disability, paid vacation, paid sick time, and paid holidays. If you have previous experience in independent living, working with people with disabilities, or as a Vocational Specialist, you may be perfect for this position! Apply today!

ABOUT METROPOLITAN CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING

The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is a Twin Cities metro-based, non-profit, consumer-directed organization founded in 1981. Being consumer-directed means that the majority of decision-making employees and members of our board of directors are individuals with disabilities. MCIL is dedicated to independent living by supporting individuals with disabilities in their personal efforts to pursue self-directed lives. Our goal is to have individuals with disabilities better represented in the workforce.

We wouldn't be able to achieve our mission to remove barriers and promote choice without the hard work of our employees. This is why we offer top compensation and comprehensive benefits. We truly value our employees which is why we have a flexible work environment and strive for an inclusive company culture that encourages work-life balance. Come join our team and make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities!

A DAY IN THE LIFE AS AN INDEPENDENT LIVING SPECIALIST

As an Independent Living Specialist, you assist persons with disabilities by addressing and overcoming barriers to independent living through needs identification, goal setting, and supportive services. Using your motivational interviewing skills, you provide benefits coaching and help clients to understand how increased income will impact their benefits and encourage them to find employment. You provide advocacy, information, and referral services to job-seekers with disabilities who are enrolled in vocational rehabilitation services. Because of this, you work closely with the vocational rehabilitation services staff.

You also see to other basic needs that create barriers to employment. It is rewarding to connect people to resources that address these basic needs such as housing or financial resources to help them live more independently. To assist people in setting and meeting their own goals, you educate and coach them on financial literacy and help them to craft both short-term and long-term independent living goals.

Your organizational skills assist you in documenting case notes and communications with vocational rehabilitation counselors. The hard work and passion you bring to work every day as an Independent Living Specialist assist you in providing a necessary service to increase employment for individuals with disabilities. Employment leads to independence and facilitating independent living is what we do!

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree
• Relevant experience
• Valid driver's license and proof of personal auto insurance (or ability to travel independently around the metro area using metro transit)

Knowledge in the field of vocational rehabilitation, human services, psychology, social work, persons with disabilities, persistent mental illness, and/or homelessness is preferred. Sign language or the understanding of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community is strongly preferred. Are you a self-starter that is able to work independently? Do you have strong organizational skills? Are you able to communicate easily through both written and verbal skills? If so, we want to meet you!

WORK SCHEDULE

The typical work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

ARE YOU READY TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

If you feel that you would be right for this Independent Living Specialist position, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application so that we can review your information. We look forward to meeting you!