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Director of Workforce Programs

Arizona Autism Charter Schools (AZACS) is growing, and we invite you to apply to be part of our award-winning team! AZACS was awarded the 2023/2024 National Title I Distinguished School Award for Arizona and the 2022 YASS Prize for education innovation. 

Under the Executive Team's and AZACS Founder's direction, the Director of Workforce Programs will direct and oversee programming at AZACS's new workforce training center, Essential Piece Enterprises. This training center includes four community-facing businesses, an active cafe, a shirt branding studio, a shipping/receiving store, and a tech studio in development. The Director of Workforce Programs will oversee Job Coaches supporting students and adult clients engaging in internships in the four businesses. This role will also direct and oversee DDD-funded adult programming such as Adult Support Employment, Adult Day Services, and external internships with industry partners. The role will serve high school students and adult clients. Programming will be developed using data-driven and evidence-based strategies for neurodiverse learners.  

Duties: 

• Implement and develop programming for the Essential Piece Enterprises (EPE) Workforce Training Center.
• Oversee Job Coaches supporting students in the Essential Piece Cafe, Shirt Branding Studio, Shipping/Receiving Center, and Tech Studio. 
• Ensure compliance with the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) regulations. 
• Collaborate with the team to implement DDD-funded programs such as Adult Supported Employment, Adult Day Programming, and Voc Rehab programs.
• Collaborate with the Phoenix Main Campus team to support high school students engaging in internal internships with the Essential Piece Enterprises businesses. 
• Train and oversee staff in the EPE program.
• Create budgets to ensure businesses within EPE are solvent. Support students in engaging in the business budgeting process. 
• Work with staff and students to ensure supplies and inventory are ordered for EPE businesses. 
• Organize external internship placements and students/job coaches who will participate in CBI (community-based instruction). 
• Maintain relationships with existing industry partners and cultivate new relationships to expand our external internship program. 
• Provide data as needed for the Division of Developmental Disability (DDD) and the  Workforce Innovation WIOA grant.
• Collaborate with van drivers to coordinate transportation to external internships.
• Communicate with parents and guardians regarding the program and the goals for their students. 
• Consultant for any students needing support applying to jobs, colleges, etc.
• Consistent and regular attendance is essential in this leadership role. 
• Position requires full-time in-person hours (8 AM to 5 PM) during scheduled work days.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversee workforce programming for high school students and adult clients. The Director of Workforce Programs will coach, monitor, and mentor program staff working with students and adults with disabilities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of experience in transition and/or workforce programming for older students and adults with moderate to severe disabilities. 

• Ability to approach situations with optimism and perseverance.
• Ability to communicate courteously and professionally with parents, co-workers, and professional contacts following AZACS guidelines.
• Track record of leadership and ability to work independently to coordinate multiple tasks.
• Ability to exercise reasonable judgment and maintain confidentiality.
• Experience in structured teaching, center-based model preferred.

Required:

• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with adult workforce programming/vocational experience programming (preferred)
• Valid Arizona IVP fingerprint clearance card

Benefits:

• The Essential Piece Workforce Training Center is a new state-of-the-art facility
• Competitive pay based on experience ($85,000 to $100,000 DOE)
• Eligible to participate in benefits including medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, critical care, hospitalization, scheduled accident coverage, voluntary supplemental life, pet insurance
• Paid Time Off (128 hours), paid federal holidays
• Year-round position
• Eligible to participate in our 401K (traditional or Roth) with company match
• Great professional development and advancement opportunities!

ADA AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Positions in this class require stooping, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Light Work:  

Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. 

Working Conditions:  

Work is routinely performed in an indoor and outdoor classroom setting.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed by this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position, and additional duties may be assigned.

Arizona Autism Charter Schools, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Civil Rights Act Title VII of 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Arizona Autism Charter Schools, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in employment or in any of its educational programs or in the provisions of benefits and services to students.