H-1B Visa Employment Specialist Jobs
Employment Specialist roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship when the position requires a bachelor's degree in human resources, social work, counseling, or a related field. Many state workforce agencies and nonprofit workforce development organizations sponsor H-1B visas for these roles, and the annual 85,000-cap lottery applies unless your employer holds cap-exempt status.
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Professional - Nonclinical
Req #: 82832
Summary:
The Vocational Services Employment Specialist IV role is responsible for assisting individuals with complex disabilities to find and keep employment. The Specialist collaborates as a member of a mental health clinical and rehabilitation team and incorporates rehabilitation and supported employment technologies in the career development of a client.
Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
- Education: Master's Degree in education, counseling, or social services or Bachelor's degree plus five years' experience in vocational counseling / rehabilitation required.
- License/Certifications: Current Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and/or DMH Employment Specialist Certification or obtain certification within six months from hire date required.
- Experience: Five years' experience in related field required.
Hiring Scam Alert
MaineHealth will never request financial information during the interview or pre-hiring process. All legitimate communications will come from an email address ending in @mainehealth.org. If you suspect fraudulent activity, please report it immediately to mhcareers@mainehealth.org.
Additional Information
With a career at any of the MaineHealth locations across Maine and New Hampshire, you’ll be working with health care professionals that truly value the people around them – both within the walls of the organization and the communities that surround it.
We offer benefits that support an individual's needs for today and flexibility to plan for tomorrow – programs such as paid parental leave, a flexible work policy, student loan assistance, training and education, along with well-being resources for you and your family.
MaineHealth remains focused on investing in our care team and developing an inclusive environment where you can thrive and feel supported to realize your full potential. If you’re looking to build a career in a place where people help one another deliver best-in-class care, apply today.
If you have questions about this role, please contact lauren.robare@mainehealth.org.
Description
Professional - Nonclinical
Req #: 82832
Summary:
The Vocational Services Employment Specialist IV role is responsible for assisting individuals with complex disabilities to find and keep employment. The Specialist collaborates as a member of a mental health clinical and rehabilitation team and incorporates rehabilitation and supported employment technologies in the career development of a client.
Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
- Education: Master's Degree in education, counseling, or social services or Bachelor's degree plus five years' experience in vocational counseling / rehabilitation required.
- License/Certifications: Current Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and/or DMH Employment Specialist Certification or obtain certification within six months from hire date required.
- Experience: Five years' experience in related field required.
Hiring Scam Alert
MaineHealth will never request financial information during the interview or pre-hiring process. All legitimate communications will come from an email address ending in @mainehealth.org. If you suspect fraudulent activity, please report it immediately to mhcareers@mainehealth.org.
Additional Information
With a career at any of the MaineHealth locations across Maine and New Hampshire, you’ll be working with health care professionals that truly value the people around them – both within the walls of the organization and the communities that surround it.
We offer benefits that support an individual's needs for today and flexibility to plan for tomorrow – programs such as paid parental leave, a flexible work policy, student loan assistance, training and education, along with well-being resources for you and your family.
MaineHealth remains focused on investing in our care team and developing an inclusive environment where you can thrive and feel supported to realize your full potential. If you’re looking to build a career in a place where people help one another deliver best-in-class care, apply today.
If you have questions about this role, please contact lauren.robare@mainehealth.org.
See all 34+ H-1B Visa Employment Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Employment Specialist
Verify your degree field matches the role
USCIS requires a direct connection between your degree and the Employment Specialist duties. A degree in human resources, rehabilitation counseling, or workforce development carries more weight than a general business degree when your employer files the H-1B petition.
Target cap-exempt employers first
Universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government-affiliated workforce agencies are cap-exempt, meaning they can file your H-1B petition any time of year without entering the lottery. Search Migrate Mate to filter Employment Specialist roles by employers with verified H-1B filing history.
Look up prevailing wage before salary talks
Your employer must pay the DOL prevailing wage for your job location and experience level. Run your SOC code in the OFLC Wage Search before you receive an offer so you can identify whether a compensation offer meets the legal minimum.
Confirm the role's O*NET classification upfront
Employment Specialist maps to multiple SOC codes in O*NET, including workforce development and rehabilitation counseling tracks. Ask your employer which code they plan to use in the LCA, because misclassification is a common source of RFEs on specialty occupation grounds.
Request a start date that clears the 60-day grace period
If you're transitioning from OPT or a prior H-1B, your authorized work window has a hard end date. Negotiate a start date that gives your employer enough lead time to file the H-1B petition, including any premium processing buffer if USCIS processing times are running long.
Separate public-sector from private-sector timelines
State workforce boards and county employment agencies often have longer internal hiring approval chains before they can file an LCA with DOL. Build that administrative lag into your timeline so a government employer's slower process doesn't catch you between visa statuses.
H-1B Visa Employment Specialist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Employment Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It can, but it requires documentation. USCIS looks for evidence that the position normally requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field, such as human resources, social work, counseling, or a related discipline. Generic job descriptions that only list a degree as preferred, rather than required, often draw RFEs. Your employer's offer letter and job description should spell out the specific degree requirement clearly.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for Employment Specialist roles?
State workforce development agencies, federally funded workforce boards, nonprofit vocational rehabilitation organizations, and university career centers are common sponsors. Private staffing firms and HR consulting companies also sponsor this role, though their H-1B filing volume is more variable. You can find Employment Specialist roles at employers with active H-1B filing history on Migrate Mate.
How does the LCA process work for Employment Specialist positions?
Your employer files a Labor Condition Application with DOL before submitting the H-1B petition to USCIS. The LCA certifies that your wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for your job location and SOC code. DOL typically certifies LCAs within seven business days. The employer must also post a public notice of the LCA at the worksite for ten consecutive business days.
Can I work as an Employment Specialist at a nonprofit and avoid the H-1B lottery?
Possibly. Nonprofits affiliated with a university or a government research organization are cap-exempt, meaning they can file your H-1B petition outside the annual lottery. However, standalone nonprofits that are not affiliated with a qualifying institution are subject to the regular cap. Ask the employer directly whether they have filed cap-exempt H-1B petitions for other employees before.
What happens to my H-1B status if I switch Employment Specialist jobs?
Your new employer must file an H-1B transfer petition before your last day at your current employer, or you lose work authorization. Under AC21 portability, you can start the new job as soon as the transfer petition is filed and accepted, without waiting for USCIS approval, provided your current petition has been pending or approved for at least 180 days and the new role is in a same or similar occupational classification.