Occ. Code 8326001

VOCATIONAL SPECIALIST 1, GRADE 18	8326001
VOCATIONAL SPECIALIST 2, GRADE 21	8326002

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

          Positions in this title series are charged with coordinating vocational programs for youth placed in the custody of the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).  Vocational Specialists primary goal is helping individuals advance their academic and vocational skills and to enhance their ability to secure and maintain employment.  Incumbents perform the full range of academic and vocational evaluation and assessment activities to assess the clients vocational levels and increase employability of youth released from OCFS facilities.  Incumbents may be involved in placing youth in jobs appropriate to their skill level, aptitude and interest.

These positions are only classified at OCFS.  Incumbents of OCFS assist the agency in fulfilling its responsibility for its programs and services.  All incumbents perform various duties and functions in conjunction with the overall operation of a facility and/or location to which they are assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

VOCATIONAL SPECIALIST 1:  first supervisory level; assess and improve the attitudes, behaviors, and basic skills of clients to better enhance their ability to succeed academically, pursue their vocational interests and to obtain and maintain employment.

VOCATIONAL SPECIALIST 2:   second supervisory level; assess and improve the education and training programs and methods used to increase the employability of clients released from OCFS facilities.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

VOCATIONAL SPECIALIST 1

Supervise subordinate staff.

• Provide supervision, guidance, and oversight to subordinate staff, and intervene and resolve problems as necessary.
• Determine and oversee staff assignments. 
• Approve leave and track time and attendance.
• Review, monitor, and evaluate staff performance. 
• Complete performance evaluations.
• Identify training needs and arrange for provision of training.
• Manage and direct program activities by setting priorities and deadlines.
• Provide supervision of facility Vocational Instructors, monitoring vocational and academic instruction provided at the facilities to determine their effectiveness.

Meet with individual clients to determine specific needs and appropriate services.

• Interview clients to explain services that the agency has to offer, to obtain background information such as work history, and to identify clients vocational interests and goals.
• Administer and evaluate various assessments to determine academic and vocational levels and needs.
• Discuss with clients the results of diagnostic assessments/evaluations and how these will influence their individual academic and vocational paths.
• Assist in the development of an employability plan for each client, appropriately tailoring facility vocational offerings to the unique needs of the clients.  Facility offerings typically include classroom job preparation, training, vocational exploration/skills training, and stipend-compensated on-the-job training (OJT).

Implement vocational planning.

• Conduct vocational training sessions with OCFS clients
• Through periodic meetings with clients and other support team members, monitor client progress and recommend appropriate changes in overall discharge/release planning.
• Prepare reports to document client progress.
• Oversee the development of youth portfolios (vocational folders).

Locate and provide information about opportunities in the community for vocational support services available to OCFS clients (example Department of Labors centers).

Work with local employers, employers in the clients communities, and other staff to conduct job fairs, and develop job training and placement opportunities.

Oversee work-based learning programs. 

Maintain records of contracts with placement resources and follow up periodically on placements.

Provide direction in the integration of academic and workforce development skills. 

• Provide Vocational Instructors and other facility staff with oversight and direction in implementing various components of vocational programs, career technical education programs and employment training programs.

VOCATIONAL SPECIALIST 2

May perform all of the same duties and functions as a Vocational Specialist 1.

Design and pilot education and training programs and methods to increase the employability of youth released from OCFS facilities.

• Review the records of education and training provided to clients at facilities to determine its effectiveness and identify areas where possible improvement can be made.
• Monitor vocational and academic instruction provided at the facilities to determine their effectiveness.
• Track the progress of clients that are released to help determine the success of training programs.
• Interview clients who revocate to determine if better or more vocational/academic training would have made a difference with their outcomes.

Conduct job market surveys for areas to which clients will return to ensure that vocational training is relevant to the needs of the labor market. Track employer experience with former clients.

Develop and maintain cooperative arrangements with facilities and community-based programs through field visits and phone contacts, to ensure that appropriate vocational services are being provided to agency clients.

Establish a system for placing youth in jobs appropriate to their skill level, aptitude and interests.

• Test the academic level of youth for purposes of determining what percentage of youth need academic development and how much to prepare them for vocational training.
• Assist facilities in designing curricula that address both needs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

VOCATIONAL SPECIALIST 1

Open Competitive:  bachelors degree and two years of experience working with clients between the ages of 10 and 21 years in one or more of the following areas: teaching employment-related subjects, job readiness and/or career awareness skills; vocational assessment; employment counseling; career exploration, conducting job searches; supervising youth employment training programs; or coordinating structured school-to-work activities.

Substitution:  experience as a supervisor of teaching staff in a vocational shop program may be substituted, for up to one year of the qualifying experience.

VOCATIONAL SPECIALIST 2

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Vocational Specialist 1.

Revised: 5/17

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.