San Diego State University Research Foundation
Outreach and Training Specialist

US-CA-San Diego

Job ID: 2026-20242
Type: Full-Time Contract
# of Openings: 1
Category: Research/Project
Interwork Institute

Overview

The starting salary range for this position is $6250.00 per month depending upon qualifications and is non-negotiable.

This position will be assigned to work as an integral member of the Hawaii training project (10%), the New York Sub Minimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) project (80%), and the Employment Transition Model Demonstration project (10%) within the Interwork Institute. The Hawaii training project will support professionals in the vocational rehabilitation field in gaining knowledge and skills to better support people. The NY SWTCIE will support ACCES-VR in developing a guide for Community Rehabilitation Providers in implementing customized employment for individuals with disabilities. Finally, the position may support research for comprehensive statewide needs assessments (CSNAs) for the VR program. All these projects are significant components of the Interwork Institute’s function and mission.

Under the direction of the Principal Investigator and Project Director, the Outreach and Training Specialist (OTS) will collaborate with a team(s) that provides training to staff and partners of public vocational rehabilitation programs, initially in Hawaii, and community rehabilitation providers across the country. In addition, the OTS will support the development of training and implementation materials for both the SWTCIE and ETM projects. In addition, the position will support the implementation of CSNAs for VR programs through contracts with specific agencies.

Responsibilities

The Outreach and Training Specialist is responsible for, but not limited to:

The position will be responsible for providing training to direct CRP staff, primarily in Hawaii, with additional states as needed. The position will engage in developing direct resources and materials on topics such as family engagement, customized employment, special education, and others. The position will provide direct technical assistance to project partners on an intensive, targeted, and universal level. The position will track and plan the provision of training and travel as required. The duties of the position will vary in intensity depending on need, but will primarily be divided as follows:

Training Development and Delivery – 50%

• Design, develop, and deliver high-quality training to CRP staff, with a primary focus on Hawai’i and additional states as needed.
• Facilitate trainings across multiple formats, including in-person, virtual, and hybrid environments
• Tailor training content to align with state VR priorities, workforce system integration, and culturally responsive practices.
• Incorporate adult learning principles and interactive strategies
• Evaluate training effectiveness and refine content based on feedback
• Work cooperatively with team members responsible for providing TA and training in the designated topic area.
• Conduct face-to-face training to CRP and VR agency staff and partners.
• Gather information on best practices in the assigned topic area for inclusion in the project and distribution to partners; and
• Conduct universal and targeted TA activities via webinars and communities of practice.
• Contribute to designing and implementing training on supported employment, vocational rehabilitation, effective human resources practice, and other employment-related policy and practice issues related to individuals with disabilities, with an emphasis on situated and distance learning.
• Contribute to building and sustaining training capacity through collaborative relationships with partners and networks, ensuring that a high-quality training program is delivered to various stakeholders across the U.S. and globally as needed.
• Participate in efforts to market training offerings.

Resource and Material Development – 40%

• Develop practical tools and resources for CRPs and partners
• Produce materials on family engagement, customized employment, special education, and workforce alignment and other topics as project needs arise.
• Ensure materials are accessible and clearly written
• Align products with federal and state guidance

Support Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessments – 5%

• Support the coordination and implementation of CSNA activities with VR agencies and SDSURF-II staff.
• Assist in developing surveys for the CSNA.
• Conduct individual and focus group interviews.
• Gather and analyze data from VR agencies.
• Triangulate data from multiple methodologies and make recommendations for program improvement; and
• Write the final CSNA report.

Other Duties and Responsibilities as Assigned - 5%

Qualifications

MINIMUM EDUCATION

• Master’s Degree in Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling or related field.
  

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

• Six years of experience at a Program Specialist II level, two years of which were in a position with high level of responsibility and requiring specialized skills.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL SKILLS

• Knowledge of effective program implementation in special education, transition, VR programs, and community rehabilitation programs;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or related programs, and online databases to track data & provide reports;
• Ability to work as a team;
• Ability to provide training effectively to large groups;
• Ability to develop reports and resources for use of project stakeholders;
• Ability to gather and analyze research data, and compile data for reports and summaries;
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports; draft and compose correspondence, standard reports and spreadsheets;
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and to adopt an effective course of action;
• Ability to independently handle multiple work unit priorities and projects;
• Ability to display strong interpersonal skills by interacting professionally with community partners and Interwork staff;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to VR program staff, staff from the Interwork Institute, and other public and private agencies;
• Ability to display exceptional organizational skills, meet deadlines, display detail orientation, and possess good judgment and common sense; and
• Ability to display sensitivity toward individuals from underrepresented groups (i.e., disabilities, ethnic minorities, second language learners, first-generation students, veterans, international students, etc.).

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Direct experience as PSII with SDSURF or in a previous position with similar responsibilities, complexity and scope of work.
• Direct experience in working with individuals from underserved communities, with particular experience in the state of Hawai’i.

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support.
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.