Employment Program Manager – Rhode Island East Bay Region

Company: RISE Services LLC
Location: Rhode Island East Bay Region — East Providence to Newport
Position Type: Part-time with opportunity to transition to full-time
Schedule: Flexible weekday schedule based on client, employer, and program needs
Travel: Regular travel throughout the East Bay Region is required

About RISE Services

RISE Services is a private human services organization that helps individuals with disabilities obtain and maintain competitive, integrated employment. We provide person-centered, community-based employment services that help individuals identify career goals, secure meaningful employment, and develop the skills and supports needed for long-term success.

Our programs operate within highly regulated funding environments and require strict compliance with service authorizations, documentation standards, billing requirements, and program regulations. We value professionalism, accountability, collaboration, measurable outcomes, and high-quality service delivery.

Because our corporate office is in Fredericksburg, Virginia, we are seeking a highly motivated and independent professional who can take ownership of our services in Rhode Island’s East Bay Region.

Position Summary

The Employment Program Manager is a hands-on, working supervisor responsible for overseeing and growing RISE Services’ employment programs in the East Bay Region, primarily from East Providence to Newport.

The Employment Program Manager will:

• Maintain an active client caseload and provide direct employment services.
• Supervise Employment Specialists assigned to the region.
• Represent RISE Services at client, employer, referral, and community meetings.
• Develop relationships with employers and referral partners.
• Help expand the number of individuals served throughout the East Bay Region.
• Ensure services, documentation, and billing meet all applicable requirements.

Approximately 75% of weekly work hours must consist of direct, billable services, with approximately 25% dedicated to supervision, documentation review, referral development, meetings, program coordination, and administrative responsibilities.

This position will begin as part-time. As the Rhode Island caseload and referral network grow, our goal is to transition the position into a full-time leadership role. The successful candidate will play a direct role in making that growth possible.

This is not a remote or work-from-home position. Services are delivered in person at client homes, workplaces, employer locations, meetings, and other community settings throughout the East Bay Region.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Direct Employment Services

• Maintain an active caseload and ensure approximately 75% of weekly work hours are billable.
• Provide direct, in-person supported employment and vocational rehabilitation services in accordance with Rhode Island Office of Rehabilitation Services requirements and other applicable program standards.
• Assist individuals with career exploration, employment preparation, job development, job placement, job coaching, workplace integration, and employment retention.
• Meet with clients at their homes, workplaces, employer locations, and other community settings.
• Attend meetings involving clients, families, employers, referral partners, schools, and funding agencies.
• Develop relationships with East Bay employers and identify competitive, integrated employment opportunities that match each client’s interests, strengths, abilities, and goals.
• Provide backup client coverage during staff shortages, call-outs, vacancies, or other service gaps.
• Ensure authorized services are provided consistently and within required timeframes.

Regional Program Leadership

• Take primary ownership of the day-to-day operation and continued development of RISE Services’ employment programs in the East Bay Region.
• Serve as the primary regional point of contact for clients, staff, employers, ORS personnel, referral sources, and community partners.
• Identify service gaps, transportation barriers, operational concerns, and other obstacles to successful employment outcomes.
• Recommend strategies for program development and growth.
• Work independently while maintaining consistent communication with corporate leadership in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
• Help develop the East Bay program into a sustainable, full-time service model.

Staff Supervision and Accountability

• Provide day-to-day supervision, direction, and support to Employment Specialists.
• Conduct regular staff check-ins and provide coaching and performance feedback.
• Assign and balance caseloads based on client needs, geography, staff availability, travel time, authorizations, and required outcomes.
• Monitor staff productivity and the appropriate use of authorized service hours.
• Support the onboarding and training of new Employment Specialists.
• Reinforce expectations related to service quality, documentation, productivity, communication, and professional conduct.
• Address performance concerns promptly and escalate significant concerns to corporate leadership.
• Participate in performance evaluations, corrective actions, and performance-improvement planning.
• Ensure adequate service coverage for clients throughout the region.

Referral and Program Development

• Build and maintain relationships with Rhode Island ORS, employers, schools, community organizations, families, and other stakeholders.
• Attend referral, provider, networking, transition, and community meetings.
• Respond promptly to new referrals and assist with client intake and service initiation.
• Conduct outreach to increase awareness of RISE Services and its employment programs.
• Identify opportunities to serve additional clients and expand services throughout the East Bay corridor.
• Follow up consistently with referral partners and prospective clients.
• Support efforts to increase referrals, billable services, job placements, and employment-retention outcomes.

Documentation and Compliance

• Complete accurate, timely, and detailed documentation for all services provided.
• Ensure documentation corresponds with the services delivered, the client’s employment goals, and applicable service authorizations.
• Review staff documentation for accuracy, quality, timeliness, compliance, and audit readiness.
• Monitor service authorizations, deadlines, reports, and required client records.
• Ensure compliance with Rhode Island ORS requirements and all applicable state, federal, funding-source, and organizational requirements.
• Respond promptly to documentation corrections or compliance findings.
• Help prevent billing losses caused by missed services, late documentation, insufficient documentation, or service-delivery errors.
• Maintain confidentiality and safeguard client information.

Quality Assurance and Outcomes

• Monitor client progress, job placements, employment stability, retention, and satisfaction.
• Review program information to identify trends, service gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Participate in audits, internal reviews, quality-improvement activities, and corrective-action planning.
• Address recurring concerns involving documentation, productivity, staffing, transportation, or service quality.
• Model best practices in person-centered services, employer engagement, and professional documentation.

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate:

• Is a genuine self-starter who does not require constant day-to-day direction.
• Takes initiative and follows assignments through to completion.
• Is comfortable being accountable for individual productivity and overall program performance.
• Can balance direct client services, staff supervision, and administrative responsibilities.
• Enjoys developing programs, building community relationships, and creating new opportunities.
• Communicates consistently with leadership located outside Rhode Island.
• Is organized, responsive, resourceful, and comfortable solving problems independently.
• Understands the travel demands of community-based services.
• Wants to take ownership of a developing regional program and help shape its future.
• Understands that transition to full-time will depend, in part, on increasing referrals, caseloads, service delivery, and sustainable program revenue.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must meet one of the following qualification pathways:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, counseling, rehabilitation, psychology, education, or a related field, with at least three years of experience in supported employment, vocational rehabilitation, disability services, or a related program;

OR

• High school diploma or equivalent, with at least five years of experience in supported employment, vocational rehabilitation, disability services, or a related program.

Additional Requirements

• Previous supervisory, team-lead, or staff-mentoring experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience with Rhode Island ORS, vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, transition services, or other Rhode Island disability-service systems is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of supported employment, job development, job coaching, and employment-retention practices.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise staff and maintain accountability.
• Ability to develop referral relationships and represent the organization professionally.
• Strong understanding of service documentation, compliance, authorizations, and billable-service requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and web-based case-management systems.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable personal vehicle, and automobile insurance meeting company and Rhode Island requirements.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout the East Bay Region, from East Providence to Newport.
• Ability and willingness to transport clients when required.
• Ability to successfully complete all required Rhode Island and federal background checks, screenings, and training.

Mileage reimbursement is provided in accordance with company policy.

Physical Requirements

This position requires frequent travel to client homes, workplaces, employer locations, meetings, and other community settings. The role may involve standing, walking, sitting, reaching, grasping, speaking, hearing, repetitive motions, and prolonged computer use.

The work is generally sedentary to light physical work, with occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds. Working conditions will vary among client settings, workplaces, community locations, meetings, and administrative environments.

Why Join RISE Services?

This is more than a traditional supervisory position. It is an opportunity to become the regional leader of a developing Rhode Island program and help determine how that program grows.

The right candidate will have the independence to build relationships, strengthen services, support staff, increase referrals, and create meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities throughout the East Bay Region.

As the program grows, this position is expected to have the opportunity to transition from part-time to full-time.

Equal Employment Opportunity

RISE Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, country of ancestral origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, Rhode Island, or local law.