Disability Community Coordinator

Job Title

Disability Community Coordinator

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service

Department

Family And Community Health

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Weslaco, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University
• Texas A&M Forest Service
• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world!

Position Information

We are seeking a Disability Community Coordinator who facilitates opportunities for community for individuals with developmental disabilities. The Program Coordinator II focuses on multiple goals and objectives in the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities’ (TCDD) Five-Year Federal State Plan. This includes, but is not limited to, support of new promising practices, addressing linguistic barriers, promoting leadership and advocacy training among self-advocates, families, and other allies, and assisting TCDD in supporting existing grantees, partners, and addressing new opportunities to achieve the Council’s mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a liaison and provide guidance to regional stakeholders to build community capacity to better support individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and families.
• Identify barriers to services and supports.
• Build community connections and collaborate with community partners, including TCDD grantees, to share and expand best practice models.
• Collect qualitative and quantitative data and public input (e.g., surveys, focus groups, in-person interviews) from individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to better inform TCDD state plan objectives and projects.
• Demonstrate subject matter expertise, professional confidence, and clarity when representing TCDD at regional functions.
• Coordinate the presentation of program information to regional community and professional groups to increase awareness of TCDD resources.
• Review community needs, identify areas needing support to create change, and develop plans to improve programs and address areas of concern as they relate to disabilities.
• Engage community members to create local cross-disability partnerships in the identified region.
• Track regional activities and resources in an electronic database.
• Stay informed about TCDD projects and related activities in the region.
• Prepare information documents and other products in response to requests.
• Share TCDD and other national best practice models to build community capacity.
• Support existing and new leaders and self-advocates to connect and collaborate on advocacy and systems change initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Education – Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience – Four years of related experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of resources at local, state, and federal level relevant to program areas.
• Skill in oral and written communication and public speaking.
• Skill in using personal computer, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Skill in attention to detail.
• Skill in developing and maintaining effective internal and external working relationships.
• Skill in project management and strategic planning.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to research, comprehend and effectively communicate complex ideas and concepts.
• Ability to prepare concise products and reports.
• Ability to plan and execute community events.
• Ability to travel up to 40% (monthly) in the region.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education - Master's degree preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish or other language.

What You Need to Know

Position Funding: This position is grant funded and availability is contingent on grant funding.  

Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife?

When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents.

In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums 
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays  
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas  
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

Applicant Instructions

Applications received by Texas A&M AgriLife must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.