Systems Change Liaison, Family & Community Medicine

The Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities at the University of Arizona seeks a Systems Change Liaison to advance Employment First efforts and strengthen employment outcomes for people with disabilities across Arizona. This senior professional role works across state systems, community partners, and employment initiatives to identify barriers, develop solutions, and support implementation of strategies that increase competitive integrated employment.

The Systems Change Liaison collaborates with Vocational Rehabilitation, Behavioral Health systems, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Schools, Community Rehabilitation Providers, and other partners to align policies, practices, and training efforts that support employment for individuals with disabilities. The position brings subject matter expertise in benefits planning and the intersection of employment and behavioral health to help ensure individuals with co-occurring disabilities have access to competitive integrated employment. The position requires periodic travel throughout Arizona to participate in meetings, collaboration activities, and statewide initiatives related to employment and systems change.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this positions.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Systems Change and Policy Alignment

• Lead efforts to identify barriers and opportunities across state systems that affect employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Drive alignment of policies, practices, and service approaches across partner agencies that support
  competitive integrated employment and Employment First principles.
• Independently develop and advance recommendations that strengthen employment initiatives across Arizona, with particular attention to individuals with co-occurring disabilities and behavioral health needs.

Statewide Collaboration and Partnerships

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with key partners including Vocational Rehabilitation, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, behavioral health systems, community rehabilitation providers, Tribal partners, and other workforce and community organizations.
• Lead cross-system discussions and influence partner agencies to adopt shared strategies that expand employment opportunities and reduce barriers to employment.

Subject Matter Expertise and Technical Guidance

• Serve as the subject matter expert related to benefits planning, employment supports, and the intersection of employment and behavioral health. Offer guidance to partners, providers, and project teams to strengthen understanding of how public benefits, behavioral health services, and employment supports interact.
• Leads initiatives that improve access to benefits counseling and employment supports for individuals with complex service needs.

Training and Resource Development

• Lead the development of training materials, tools, and resources that support implementation of Employment First practices and employment service models.
• Determine content strategy and design learning opportunities for providers, state agency staff, and community partners that strengthen employment supports for individuals with disabilities.

Evaluation, Reporting, and Strategic Planning

• Document systems change efforts, partnership activities, and emerging issues that impact employment outcomes.
• Lead the development of project reports, presentations, and dissemination activities. Translate findings into actionable
  strategic recommendations that shape the direction of statewide employment initiatives and drive ongoing program improvement.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Employment First principles and competitive integrated employment practices.
• Knowledge of public benefits programs and work incentives, including how employment interacts with programs such as SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, and related supports.
• Knowledge of behavioral health systems and the intersection of employment and behavioral health services.
• Knowledge of supported employment, customized employment, and self-employment approaches that expand employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
• Knowledge of systems change strategies and approaches for aligning policies, practices, and partnerships across agencies and organizations.
• Strong relationship building and partnership development skills with state agencies, community organizations, service providers, and advocacy groups.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills for leading discussions, presentations, and collaborative planning with diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic problem-solving skills to identify barriers and develop solutions that improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills to support multiple initiatives, partnerships, and statewide activities.
• Ability to work across multiple systems and agencies to advance employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
• Ability to analyze system barriers and identify opportunities for improving employment policies, practices, and services.
• Ability to communicate complex information related to benefits, behavioral health, and employment supports in clear and accessible language.
• Ability to support partners in understanding and implementing employment strategies that improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
• Ability to collaborate with various partners while maintaining focus on shared goals related to employment and community inclusion.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience related to disability employment, benefits planning, behavioral health systems, workforce development, or systems change initiatives. OR equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• 12 (twelve) years of combined education and relevant experience in disability employment, benefits planning, behavioral health systems, workforce development, or systems change initiatives.
• Demonstrated knowledge of public benefits and work incentives, including how employment impacts programs such as SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, and related supports.
• Certification or training related to work incentives or benefits counseling, such as Certified Work Incentives Counselor (CWIC) or similar credentials.
• Experience working across multiple service systems or agencies to support employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
• Experience working at the intersection of employment and behavioral health systems, including supporting individuals with co-occurring disabilities or behavioral health conditions.
• Experience collaborating with state agencies such as Vocational Rehabilitation, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, behavioral health systems, or workforce development programs.
• Experience working with rural, Tribal, or underserved communities in Arizona.
• Experience facilitating cross-system partnerships, workgroups, or statewide initiatives related to disability employment.
• Experience developing or delivering training, technical assistance, or guidance for providers, state agencies, or community partners.
• Experience contributing to policy development, systems change efforts, or statewide strategic initiatives related to employment for people with disabilities.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills relevant to Arizona communities, such as Spanish or Indigenous language familiarity.