[rehab] Job Vacancy, Iowa Department for the Blind

[Richard Sorey]

Iowa Department for the Blind
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

POSTING DATE:                                                                           December 7, 2015


JOB TITLE:                                                                                     Independent Living Teacher /                                                                  Senior Services Specialist for the
                                                                                                            Blind 1
JOB CODE:                                                                                     41151 Senior Services Specialist
for the Blind 1
LOCATION:                                                                                    Eastern Iowa
LOCATION ZIP CODE:                                                               52240
PART TIME/FULL TIME STATUS:                                          1 Permanent/Full-Time Position
SALARY MINIMUM:                                                                   $46,092
SALARY MAXIMUM:                                                                  $70,200

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Senior Service Specialist for the Blind 1 will support the mission, vision and philosophy of the Iowa Department for the Blind. This position will serve the independent living and older blind program. Position to be domiciled in Eastern Iowa.


DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:


1.      Carry out the agency's mission, vision, values, culture and philosophy.

2.      Facilitate the completion of the program application process.

3.      Ability to interpret medical reports and other eligibility criteria.

4.      Complete eligibility documentation in accordance with the federal standard.

5.      Experience with conducting independent living vision and IL skills assessments.

6.      Develop and implement a rehabilitation plan in partnership with the client.

7.      Demonstrate and provide instruction concerning the use of adaptive and low vision devices.

8.      Provide guidance and counseling and teach alternative techniques of blindness.

9.      Perform case management and other case load duties.

10. Participate in senior orientation and community-based training, and other assigned agency and or program activities.

11. Conduct public speaking engagements to promote the agency, programs and services.

12. Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds, climb steps, walk, bend and stoop..

13. Travel statewide to include three to four days per week with some overnight stays primarily in Benton, Iowa, Linn, Johnson, Jones, Cedar, Muscatine, Clinton and Scott counties.

Critical competencies:

Ability to recognize and use correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Ability to express information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information; make clear and convincing oral presentation; listen to others, attend to nonverbal cues, and respond appropriately.

Ability to imagine and develop new insights into situations and apply innovative solutions to problems.

Ability to identify problems and use sound judgment to generate and evaluate possible solutions and make recommendations.

Ability to work with others to achieve goals by encouraging and facilitating cooperation, pride, trust and group identity and fostering commitment and team spirit.

Possesses a high standard of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self and others. Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; is trustworthy.

Possesses good self-management skills; sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.

It is the policy of the Department for the Blind to conduct background checks on all finalist candidates prior to any offer of employment..


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in human service-oriented sciences, education, marketing or business and experience equal to three years of full time professional work.

For additional ways to qualify, please click on this link to view the job description<https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/class_and_pay/JobClassDescriptions/SeniorServicesSpecialistfortheBlind1-41151.pdf> and minimum qualifications.
POST CLOSE DATE:                                                                                December 28, 2015

TO APPLY:
Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise. Applications to DAS-HRE only, will not be considered.

Apply directly by submitting cover letter and resume no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day of post-closing to:

Iowa Department for the Blind
Kim Barber - Independent Living Program Director
524 Fourth Street
Des Moines, IA 50309

Or email kim.barber at blind.state.ia.us<mailto:kim.barber at blind.state.ia.us>