PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
VAMOS Employment Preparation program is an initiative of Mandy’s Farm to address service gaps for individuals with disabilities. This preparation training program is funded through support from AmeriCorps and is designed to provide employment skills to young adults with disabilities. The VAMOS Program focuses on workplace readiness, general life skills, soft skills, and real world paid internship experience. Members will serve as Employment Specialists, working together with their co-members to facilitate workplace readiness curriculum within a small group of individuals with disabilities and provide employment support to program participants at work sites. Members will learn valuable skills related to vocational rehabilitation, teaching and facilitation, caregiving, self-determination, and disability services.
POSITION DETAILS:
Title: AmeriCorps Member-Employment Specialist
Reports to: VAMOS Coordinators, Tayo McNulty [email protected] (505) 502 - 4697
THREE QUARTER TIME Position (1,200 Hours)
Total Term of Service: September 2, 2025-Mid to End of August 2026 (dependant on completion of service hours)
Training: 9/2/25-9/12/25
Direct Service: September 15, 2025-Mid to End of August 2026 (dependant on completion of service hours)
Planned Time Off: No service hours on APS holidays including Winter and Spring break and 11/26/25-11/28/25
Benefits: This is an AmeriCorps position. Members will receive a living allowance in the amount of $940/pay period, pre-tax. Upon successful completion of service hours, they will also receive an education award. This award can be used to pay tuition at Title IV colleges, universities, or trade schools, or to pay off qualified student loans already acquired. For the Three Quarter Time Members, the Education Award is in the amount of: $5,176.50.
Schedule: Requires availability Monday- Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Location: This position is based in Albuquerque, NM with flexibility needed to travel between APS transition classrooms, APS High School classrooms, Mandy’s Farm locations including the Administrative Office where the after school program takes place (7511 4th St NW Albuquerque NM 87107), and various internship site locations. The internship locations will be determined by program participant selection once the program begins. Members must be flexible to operate between these locations throughout the day/week, with mileage reimbursement available when traveling between multiple locations in a day. Site Supervisors for all locations are: VAMOS Coordinator, Tayo McNulty [email protected] (505) 502 - 4697
Total Term of Service: September 2, 2025-Mid to End of August 2026 (dependant on completion of service hours)
Training: 9/2/25-9/12/25
Direct Service: September 15, 2025-May 31, 2026 (dependant on completion of service hours)
Planned Time Off: No service hours on APS holidays including Winter and Spring break and 11/25/24-11/29/24
Benefits: This is an AmeriCorps position. Members will receive a living allowance in the amount of $940/pay period, pre-tax. Upon successful completion of service hours, they will also receive an education award. This award can be used to pay tuition at Title IV colleges, universities, or trade schools, or to pay off student loans already acquired. For the Half Time Members, the Education Award is in the amount of: $3,697.50
Schedule: Requires availability Monday- Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Location: This position is based in Albuquerque, NM with flexibility needed to travel between APS transition classrooms, APS High School classrooms, Mandy’s Farm locations including the Administrative Office where the after school program takes place (7511 4th St NW Albuquerque NM 87107), and various internship site locations. The internship locations will be determined by program participant selection once the program begins. Members must be flexible to operate between these locations throughout the day/week, with mileage reimbursement available when traveling between multiple locations in a day. Site Supervisors for all locations are: VAMOS Coordinator, Tayo McNulty [email protected] (505) 502 - 4697
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs for people who want to serve their community. People who join AmeriCorps are called members and serve at different locations. This is not a job, but an opportunity to make a real impact in your community.
AmeriCorps members serving at Mandy's Farm will be teaching skills to young adults with disabilities in an employment training program in collaboration with other team members and with the support of Program Coordinators. The goal of this training program is to prepare young adults for the workforce in a fun and engaging way!
Members will collaborate with their team members to teach topics like self-discovery, self-advocacy, financial literacy, workplace communication, soft skills, transportation, community service, resume building, interviewing and much more! In addition to classroom work, members will support participants in working at a paid internship at a local business. This opportunity is fun and rewarding. Every day is different, and members may learn as much as the participants do.
If you are interested in teaching and facilitation, mentoring, vocational rehabilitation, or disability services, this position is a perfect fit! This position is also great for recent graduates who want to pay down their student loans, or people transitioning into new careers.
AmeriCorps members will collaborate with their team members to facilitate a training program for young adults with disabilities. Members will come together to train, educate, coach, mentor and support participants throughout the program. Part of the weekdays will be spent on curriculum, either at site or in the community. Members will support participants to learn work readiness skills, including resume building, interview skills, communication skills, transportation training, financial literacy, self-defense, customer service, and self-discovery. Members will support participants with hands-on, experiential learning, exploring options for employment and post-secondary education as well as learning independent living skills like using public transportation. Members will also be responsible for supporting the participant at a paid internship site in the community. Mandy’s Farm is committed to ensuring all members have the tools and resources needed to be successful in their service. Prior to beginning direct service, members will receive training specific to serving at Mandy’s Farm. All AmeriCorps members will receive professional development trainings such as orientation to Mandy’s Farm and AmeriCorps, disability inclusion, First Aid/CPR certification, group facilitation and teaching, injury & illness, positive behavior supports, abuse/neglect/exploitation, vocational assessment writing, & incident reporting. Members interested in disability services, vocational rehabilitation, teaching, or a career in the nonprofit sector may find this service opportunity to be an excellent learning experience.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Team teach & facilitate lessons for groups of young adults with disabilities;
- Work to help participants set goals and determine interests;
- Participate in team building, training and service days;
- Participate in special events;
- Educate, train and mentor individuals with disabilities;
- Provide emotional, physical, and personal care support to participants depending on their disability support needs;
- Write vocational and skills assessments;
- Assist participants in creating resumes and preparing for interviews;
- Provide support to participants at their internship sites, ensuring their safety and quality of work.
EXPECTED DUTIES:
As AmeriCorps members participating in the Mandy’s Farm VAMOS Program, the following duties will be expected as part of service:
- Coach, train and mentor young adults with disabilities in learning work skills;
- Understand and follow Mandy’s Farm VAMOS core beliefs;
- Promote conditions conducive to effective learning;
- Have knowledge and understanding of participant’s relevant personal history, support needs, health care needs, and other information vital to providing person centered supports;
- Participate in individual specific discovery, goal creation, and development of vocational assessment;
- Implement and plan daily curriculum in collaboration with team members;
- Ensure adherence to program schedule while maintaining flexibility when changes or adaptations are necessary;
- Educate, train and mentor participants;
- Ensure thorough and timely reporting; including biweekly timesheets, as needed incident reports, ongoing vocational assessments, pre/post program surveys;
- Complete vocational assessments for assigned participant;
- Attend trainings and meetings as required by supervisor;
- Communicate thoroughly and regularly with supervisor;
- Facilitate and maintain regular thorough communication between the management at the internship site and the participant;
- Maintain regular and thorough communication with participant’s caregivers, family and/or guardian;
- Promote and encourage the independence of all participants through choice-making, the development of personal relationships, and the pursuit of other community connections;
- Ensure all participants are safe from harm and follow all health and safety standards;
- Assist participants in personal care as needed;
- Ensure program compliance with HIPAA in handling participant’s information;
- Participate in AmeriCorps Days of Service and other required trainings for Members;
- Maintain a professional boundary with the participants, refraining from the disclosure of personal information;
- Report all concerns regarding abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the Department of Health Improvement, Adult Protective Services or Child Protective Services as directed in your training. See Incident Reporting 2.13.
- Maintain regular and prompt attendance;
- Follow all agency-wide policies and procedures;
- Provide transportation to and from off campus field trips (members aged over 21, per company insurance policy) (As needed).
Specific to situations in which AmeriCorps members are participating in job coaching in internship settings, the following duties will be expected:
- Plan and follow task analysis for participant shift duties;
- Facilitate and maintain regular and consistent communication between the management at the internship site, co-workers, and the participant;
- Follow appropriate codes of conduct, including dress code, as indicated by the internship site;
- Promote and encourage independence at the internship sites.
EVALUATIONS:
Members serving in a Half Time or Three Quarter Time contract will receive an evaluation halfway through their service year and an end of service evaluation. This is designed to be a collaborative time to reflect on the member’s accomplishments and areas of growth. The member will be evaluated on the ability to complete the expected duties and align with the expected competencies. The member will have the opportunity to provide feedback to VAMOS staff in order to better the member experience for those serving at Mandy’s Farm VAMOS.
MEMBER REQUIREMENTS
AmeriCorps Members, in order to be considered for selection, must:
- Be aged 18 years of age or older;
- Have a High School Diploma or GED;
- Be willing to provide personal care assistance and behavioral support for adults with developmental disabilities;
- Pass a state and nationwide background check.
- Have reliable transportation
Mandy’s Farm expects all members to possess specific competencies required for this position, including:
- Adopt Mandy’s Farm mission statement and be committed to supporting people with disabilities;
- Be highly collaborative and responsive;
- Be enthusiastic and flexible;
- Maintain respectful, open-minded, and positive outlook for all participants, supervisors, and co-members;
- Enjoy teaching and coaching other people;
- Accept responsibility;
- Be self-motivated and detail-oriented;
- Be solutions focused;
- Have strong communication skills;
- Demonstrate exemplary multi-tasking and time management skills.
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Pay: $470.00 per week
Application Question(s):
- Are you 18 or older?
- Do you have reliable transportation?
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Working with people with developmental disabilities: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Shift availability:
Ability to Commute:
- Albuquerque, NM 87107 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Albuquerque, NM 87107: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
