Employment Specialist Jobs in New York
Employment Specialist jobs in New York are among the most active in the country, with strong demand concentrated in workforce development agencies, state and city human services departments, and nonprofit organizations serving diverse communities. The heaviest hiring is in New York City, Buffalo, and Albany, where large employers such as ResCare Workforce Services, ACCES-VR, and the New York City Department of Social Services maintain ongoing needs. Case management, vocational rehabilitation, and benefits counseling are the most consistently sought specialties. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 90+ Employment Specialist jobs
TITLE: Employment Specialist
REPORTS TO: Work & Out Grant, Vocational Manager
FLSA CODE: Non-Exempt
PROGRAM: Kate Rothko Center for Recovery – 15 Hell Gate Circ. Ward’s Island, NY 10035
Our Mission:
Since 1967, Odyssey House has gone beyond helping individuals beat drugs and alcohol. We help rebuild lives. There’s more to recovery than just getting clean. We help individuals get healthy again, too, with medical and dental care, fitness programs, support for your mental health and more. Individuals can stay with their children while in treatment, while learning new life skills, so they can stay together and repair other broken relationships in their lives. We provide educational and work skill trainings, outpatient services and available housing assistance, so individuals can step back into real life with a real future.
If that sounds different than other treatment programs, you’re right. Because Odyssey is where recovery gets real.
In addition to competitive salaries, Odyssey House offers:
- A 35-hour work week (as opposed to a 40-hour work week)
- Vacation Plan and Holiday Schedule
- Life Insurance
- Medical Insurance (Two Plans)
- Dental and Vision Insurance
- Additional Insurance Coverages (hospitalization, accidental, critical illness coverage)
- Long-Term & Short-Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Account/Health Reimbursement Account
- 403(b) Plan
- Corporate Counseling Associates (CCA) EAP benefit
- Ability Assist Counseling Services (through The Hartford)
- Commuter Benefits
- Educational Assistance Programs
- Special shopping discounts through ADP Marketplace and PlumBenefits
- RUFit?! Fitness Program
- Pet Insurance
- Legal Assistance
- Optum Financial Service through ConnectYourCare
- Benefit Advocacy Center through Gallagher
Description of Duties and Responsibilities.
The employment specialist serves as liaison between program participants, internship sites and potential employers.
The employment specialist develops and maintains relationships with employers in the fields of food services,
building maintenance, cleaning and disaster recovery, and commercial furniture installation, moving and storage.
- Engages participants and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disabilities.
- Assists participants in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment.
- Refers participants to benefits counseling, as needed.
- Helps participants report earnings, as needed.
- Assesses participants’ performance in internships on a continuing basis.
- Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on his/her caseload, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
- Conducts a minimum of six employer contacts per week.
- Provides individualized follow-along support to assist participants in maintaining employment.
- Delivers services in accordance with evidence-based IPS.
- Provides education and support to employers.
- Provides outreach service as necessary to participants when they appear to disengage from the service.
- Participates in multidisciplinary case conferences
- Develops an Individual Plan of Employment (plan with participants, incorporates input from treatment team and family members, with permission).
- Participates in team meetings and clinical case conference.
- Documents delivery of services in clinical record.
- Participates in in-service training according to program requirements.
- Additional responsibilities as needed.
Qualifications for Position:
- Undergraduate degree in mental health, social services, or business required.
- One year experience as a provider of job development and employment services required.
- Experience in a residential drug treatment setting is preferred.
Skills and Knowledge Required:
- Basic competency with computer applications such as MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS Word, and MS PowerPoint required.
- Ability to document in the electronic health record.
- Must be able to articulate an ethical framework for provision of employment-related services.
- Must demonstrate understanding of the unique needs of individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders relative to work and employment.
TRAVEL & SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Some local travel is required.
- Occasional out-of-state travel may be required.
Odyssey House is an equal opportunity employer maintaining a non-discriminatory policy on hiring of its personnel. Odyssey House, and its operational divisions, will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or citizen status in all employment decisions including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, training, rate of pay or other forms of compensation, layoff, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.
TITLE: Employment Specialist
REPORTS TO: Work & Out Grant, Vocational Manager
FLSA CODE: Non-Exempt
PROGRAM: Kate Rothko Center for Recovery – 15 Hell Gate Circ. Ward’s Island, NY 10035
Our Mission:
Since 1967, Odyssey House has gone beyond helping individuals beat drugs and alcohol. We help rebuild lives. There’s more to recovery than just getting clean. We help individuals get healthy again, too, with medical and dental care, fitness programs, support for your mental health and more. Individuals can stay with their children while in treatment, while learning new life skills, so they can stay together and repair other broken relationships in their lives. We provide educational and work skill trainings, outpatient services and available housing assistance, so individuals can step back into real life with a real future.
If that sounds different than other treatment programs, you’re right. Because Odyssey is where recovery gets real.
In addition to competitive salaries, Odyssey House offers:
- A 35-hour work week (as opposed to a 40-hour work week)
- Vacation Plan and Holiday Schedule
- Life Insurance
- Medical Insurance (Two Plans)
- Dental and Vision Insurance
- Additional Insurance Coverages (hospitalization, accidental, critical illness coverage)
- Long-Term & Short-Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Account/Health Reimbursement Account
- 403(b) Plan
- Corporate Counseling Associates (CCA) EAP benefit
- Ability Assist Counseling Services (through The Hartford)
- Commuter Benefits
- Educational Assistance Programs
- Special shopping discounts through ADP Marketplace and PlumBenefits
- RUFit?! Fitness Program
- Pet Insurance
- Legal Assistance
- Optum Financial Service through ConnectYourCare
- Benefit Advocacy Center through Gallagher
Description of Duties and Responsibilities.
The employment specialist serves as liaison between program participants, internship sites and potential employers.
The employment specialist develops and maintains relationships with employers in the fields of food services,
building maintenance, cleaning and disaster recovery, and commercial furniture installation, moving and storage.
- Engages participants and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disabilities.
- Assists participants in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment.
- Refers participants to benefits counseling, as needed.
- Helps participants report earnings, as needed.
- Assesses participants’ performance in internships on a continuing basis.
- Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on his/her caseload, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
- Conducts a minimum of six employer contacts per week.
- Provides individualized follow-along support to assist participants in maintaining employment.
- Delivers services in accordance with evidence-based IPS.
- Provides education and support to employers.
- Provides outreach service as necessary to participants when they appear to disengage from the service.
- Participates in multidisciplinary case conferences
- Develops an Individual Plan of Employment (plan with participants, incorporates input from treatment team and family members, with permission).
- Participates in team meetings and clinical case conference.
- Documents delivery of services in clinical record.
- Participates in in-service training according to program requirements.
- Additional responsibilities as needed.
Qualifications for Position:
- Undergraduate degree in mental health, social services, or business required.
- One year experience as a provider of job development and employment services required.
- Experience in a residential drug treatment setting is preferred.
Skills and Knowledge Required:
- Basic competency with computer applications such as MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS Word, and MS PowerPoint required.
- Ability to document in the electronic health record.
- Must be able to articulate an ethical framework for provision of employment-related services.
- Must demonstrate understanding of the unique needs of individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders relative to work and employment.
TRAVEL & SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Some local travel is required.
- Occasional out-of-state travel may be required.
Odyssey House is an equal opportunity employer maintaining a non-discriminatory policy on hiring of its personnel. Odyssey House, and its operational divisions, will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or citizen status in all employment decisions including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, training, rate of pay or other forms of compensation, layoff, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.
See All 90 Employment Specialist Jobs in New York
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Find Employment Specialist JobsEmployment Specialist Jobs by City in New York
Where New York roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Employment Specialist Job Market in New York
A snapshot from current New York openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What New York Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in employment specialist jobs across New York.
- Bachelor's degree in human services, social work, counseling, or a related field required
- Experience with New York State workforce development programs such as WIOA strongly preferred
- Familiarity with New York's One-Stop Career Center system and partner agency protocols expected
- Knowledge of public benefit programs administered through New York State Office of Temporary Disability Assistance
- Case management experience working with diverse or underserved populations in an urban or suburban setting
- Proficiency in database systems such as WMS or OSOS used by New York State agencies
Employment Specialist Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a employment specialist in New York?
Most employment specialist positions in New York require at minimum a bachelor's degree in social work, human services, rehabilitation counseling, or a closely related field. New York does not mandate a single statewide license for the title, but roles in vocational rehabilitation typically require or strongly prefer a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor credential. Positions with ACCES-VR and other state-funded agencies often have additional civil service exam requirements through the New York State Department of Civil Service.
Which companies hire employment specialists in New York?
New York employment specialist roles are posted by Community Options, Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga, and Westhab and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. New York's large network of workforce investment boards, nonprofit social service agencies, and state-funded vocational rehabilitation programs creates consistent demand across the state.
Which New York cities have the most employment specialist jobs?
Bronx, New York, and Brooklyn have the most employment specialist openings in New York. New York City dominates because of its scale and the density of government agencies, workforce development nonprofits, and community-based organizations headquartered there, while Buffalo and Albany draw demand from regional state offices, university-affiliated programs, and county human services departments.
Are there remote employment specialist jobs in New York?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields, since employment specialists often meet clients in person at career centers, community sites, or partner offices. About 38% of employment specialist openings tied to New York are remote or hybrid as of November 2026. Case coordination, intake assessment, and administrative functions are the parts of the role most frequently performed remotely when employers do allow it.
How can I get hired as a employment specialist in New York with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through an AmeriCorps placement or a paraprofessional role such as job coach, employment counselor aide, or case management assistant at a New York workforce agency. Large New York City Human Resources Administration programs and regional WIOA-funded One-Stop Career Centers regularly hire entry-level staff and provide structured on-the-job training. A completed internship with a New York-based nonprofit or state agency, combined with a Certified Workforce Development Professional credential, gives candidates a meaningful edge over others without direct experience.
Where can I find and apply to employment specialist jobs in New York?
You can find and apply to employment specialist jobs in New York on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the listings, find roles that match your background and location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 90 Employment Specialist Jobs in New York
Find roles in New York that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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