Job Developer - EH Gentry

Candidates who are Blind or Visually Impaired and/or Deaf or Hard of Hearing are encouraged to apply for this position and may be given preference in hiring as federal laws permit. Information related to disability is not required and, if disclosed voluntarily, will be used only in AIDB’s efforts to create opportunities for individuals with exceptionalities. Non-disclosure will not subject any applicant to adverse treatment.

POSITION Job Developer LOCATION: E. H. Gentry Facility – Talladega, AL

Primary coverage areas include Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Etowah, Randoph, St. Clair and Talladega Counties.

ABOUT ALABAMA INSTITUTE FOR DEAF AND BLIND (AIDB)

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) is the world’s most comprehensive education, rehabilitation, and service program serving individuals of all ages who are Deaf, Blind, DeafBlind, multidisabled, and their families. Founded in 1858, AIDB serves more than 30,000 infants, toddlers, children, adults, and senior citizens with hearing and vision loss throughout Alabama each year. Our services span a lifetime and include five campuses in Talladega, a statewide network of regional centers, Early Intervention services, traditional and nontraditional educational opportunities in residential, day, and outreach settings, and a manufacturing facility known as Alabama Industries for the Blind (AIB), the state’s largest employer of adults who are Blind. AIDB’s three K-12 schools - Alabama School for the Blind, Alabama School for the Deaf, and Helen Keller School of Alabama - provide specialized educational services that empower students to achieve their full potential. Our employees are among the organization’s most valuable assets and resources. We share a commitment to leveling the playing field for all. Our mission makes AIDB a unique place to work.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Job Developer you are a direct service provider who works with consumers referred by the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS). Job Developers provide job readiness, job development and job coaching services. This position will serve individuals who are Deaf, Blind, DeafBlind, and/or have other exceptionalities. You will play a vital role to ensure that AIDB’s culture of inclusion is reinforced.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation, Education, Human Resources, or Human Services field OR High School Diploma/GED with five years professional experience as a Job Coach, Case Manager, or in a Human Resources position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with individuals who are blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Employer Relations & Business Development

• Partnership Cultivation: Proactively identify, contact, and build long-term relationships with local and regional employers to secure job leads, internship opportunities, and working interviews.
• Employer Education & Advocacy: Conduct presentations and training for employers and their staff to dispel misconceptions, raise awareness of the capabilities of individuals with sensory losses, and demonstrate how to foster an inclusive work environment.

Client Assessment & Job Readiness Preparation

• Comprehensive Vocational Assessment: Evaluate clients' job skills, education, work history, interests, and physical/functional capabilities, taking into critical account their preferred communication modes (e.g., American Sign Language, tactile sign, assistive technology, written/spoken English).
• Individualized Employment Planning: Collaborate with the client (and their vocational rehabilitation counselors) to design a tailored career plan outlining realistic job goals and the steps needed to achieve them.
• Skill-Building & Interview Coaching: Teach essential job-seeking skills, including resume writing, application completion, and mock interview practice. Prepare clients to discuss their accommodation needs and self-advocacy strategies comfortably with hiring managers.

Job Matching, Analysis, & Assistive Technology Consultation

• Job Site Analysis: Perform detailed assessments of prospective workplaces to evaluate physical layouts, lighting, safety risks, communication flow, and task requirements.
• Accommodation Planning: Identify and recommend specific, reasonable accommodations and assistive technologies (e.g., JAWS screen readers, ZoomText, braille displays, videophones, visual/tactile alert systems, amplification devices, or captioning services) necessary for job success.
• ADA Guidance: Advise both the employer and the employee on legal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regarding appropriate accommodations, physical accessibility, and digital accessibility.

Placement Coordination & On-The-Job Support

• Collaboration with Job Coaches: Work alongside Job Coaches and Orientation & Mobility (O&M) specialists to facilitate seamless workplace navigation, initial task mastery, and social integration.
• Troubleshooting & Communication Liaison: Act as an ongoing mediator to resolve any communication barriers, productivity concerns, or accommodation adjustments that arise during the initial employment phase.

Administration, Compliance, & Documentation

• Case Management & Tracking: Maintain highly detailed and confidential records of client progress, employer contacts, job placements, and retention rates in compliance with state, federal, and agency guidelines.
• Reporting: Prepare and submit accurate progress reports detailing placement statistics, barrier resolutions, and employer feedback to funding sources or program directors.
• Professional Development: Stay current on advancements in assistive technology, labor market trends, state vocational rehabilitation policies, and ADA legislation.

REQUIRED SKILLS & CERTIFICATIONS

• Ability to work flexible hours to meet the needs of consumers.
• Ability to work independently.
• Must be able to travel, including occasional overnight travel, to meet the needs of consumers and programs.
• Access to a safe and properly insured automobile and provide proof of comprehensive automobile insurance.
• Maintain a valid Driver License and be able to be covered by the AIDB insurance carrier.
• Complete Orientation to Blindness within the first twelve (12) months of employment.
• Complete AIDB online training on Deafness, Blindness, Visual Impairments, DeafBlindness and Multiple Disabilities within first twelve (12) months of hire.
• Obtain a sign language proficiency level of SURVIVAL within the first twelve (12) months, SURVIVAL PLUS within the first twenty-four (24) months.

Upon offer of employment, the applicant must submit to a fingerprint background check at an agency designated and paid by AIDB. This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job goals, qualifications, and responsibilities, and the employee may be required to perform other related duties as assigned.

SALARY: High School Diploma: $21.46 - $26.05 Scale: C5-45 Bachelor Degree: $51,038.76 - $76,771.32 Scale: PI-53 260 Days Direct deposit required.

Benefits:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance available
• Teachers Retirement System
• Deferred compensation options available
• Paid time off
• Paid Holidays