Iowa Department for the Blind
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
POSTING DATE:
June 12, 2015
POSTING CLOSE: July
1, 2015
Job Title:
Senior Services Specialist for the
Blind 1 / Home Management
Instructor in the Orientation Center
JOB CODE:
41151
LOCATION:
Polk County, Iowa
LOCATION ZIP CODE: 50309
PART TIME/FULL TIME STATUS: 1
Permanent/Full-Time Position
SALARY MINIMUM: $44,969
SALARY MAXIMUM: $68,494
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Department for the Blind (IDB) is seeking applicants for the position of
Senior Services Specialist for the Blind 1/Home Management Instructor in the
adult comprehensive Adjustment- to- blindness training center. This person
provides small group instruction in the nonvisual skills of cooking,
cleaning, and daily living /personal management. We are looking for someone
who will participate fully in center activities and challenge students to
grow and reach their fullest potential. Our programs are based on a positive
attitude toward blindness and a belief in the normality and competency of
blind people. We know that with proper training and opportunity, blind
people can live full, happy, and successful lives.
Duties include but are not limited to the following:
Provide individualized, nonvisual instruction to adults in all areas of home
management including, but not limited to: food shopping and preparation,
sewing, cleaning, labeling, clothing organization and care, personal
management and budgeting.
Produce braille recipes using embossers and software.
Provide instruction to several students in a small group format.
Demonstrate and promote a positive attitude toward blindness amongst center
students.
Evaluate student progress, set goals, and write progress reports within the
case management system.
Participate fully in all center activities.
Purchase and maintain classroom supplies
Essential Functions & Critical competencies:
Expertise in the area of home management.
Ability to read and write contracted Braille within three months of start
date.
Ability to develop lessons and curriculum.
Ability to coordinate teaching services to insure that adult students
receive effective instruction in their dorms
Ability to evaluate student progress and work with students to develop goals
and objectives.
Ability to explain information in a clear and concise manner to students
with varying levels of technical knowledge and a wide range of educational
and cultural backgrounds.
Thorough knowledge of and ability to develop alternative techniques of
Blindness and to maintain knowledge of past and current related practices
and techniques.
Excellent judgment.
Ability to handle stress.
Ability to handle multiple tasks at once.
Ability to identify and solve problems both independently and as part of a
team.
Good oral and written communication skills.
Ability to use Microsoft Windows 7 and Office Suite
Ability to engage in limited travel.
Ability to demonstrate a positive attitude toward blindness.
Thorough knowledge and understanding of the agency's philosophy of blindness
and the ability to implement this philosophy in work duties.
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 see additional
ways to qualify
<https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/class_and_pay/JobClas
sDescriptions/SeniorServicesSpecialistfortheBlind1-41151.pdf> and minimum
qualifications.
POST CLOSE DATE: July 1, 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.
To Apply: Please email a resume and cover letter to:
Iowa Department for the Blind
Attention: Shawn Mayo - Orientation Center Director
524 4th Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Email: shawn.mayo at blind.state.ia.us