Discovery Specialist
Job level: Intermediate
Julie Guzman, Employment Specialist, UCP Employment Solutions, Portland, OR“You will always get back more than you give, learn more than you teach, and you will meet the best of us in every corner you work in. And you will never be bored doing this work because the variety, the people, the challenges, and the successes are always changing.”
You may be a Discovery Specialist if you…
- Make space to listen and receive experiences and challenges of others in order to find out what they need
- Embrace collaboration and commitment to your team and those you serve
- Can handle a good challenge with quality, at times creative, problem solving
- Enjoy interacting with people and helping others connect to information and resources they need
- Display resilience and adaptability when met with barriers
- Can teach new skills and concepts with empathy and understanding
- Are a self-starter, ready to tackle tasks and yield results with minimal or no supervision.
As a Discovery Specialist…
Discovery Specialists support people with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities by connecting job opportunities best suited to an individual's interests and skillset. Through interviews, job shadowing and hands-on experience, Discovery Specialists help to uncover individuals’ strengths and identify what support is needed for them to succeed and thrive at work.
Discovery Specialists will develop a process tailored to meet each individual’s needs, exploring job scenarios based on their interests. The end result is a Discovery profile that showcases the person's talents and abilities to steer them toward a good job fit.
In addition to helping people develop a path and plan to employment, Discovery Specialists will network and make business contacts within the community to locate and develop job opportunities for people experiencing I/DD.
Average Wage Range
$13-$21 per hour
To become a Discovery Specialist...
Discovery Specialist Professionals will have some experience working with adults with developmental disabilities or a Bachelor’s degree in social services. All Discovery Specialists must be able to pass a criminal background check and drug screening.