Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Developer

ADAPT Community Network is looking for an Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Developer who can help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities explore their talents, build small business ideas, and create meaningful pathways to income, independence, and community connection.

If you understand how to develop a small business, coach someone through an idea, think creatively about marketing, and believe that everyone deserves the chance to build something of their own, this role may be for you!

Why Join ADAPT?

It’s more than a job; it’s a calling. It’s where passion meets purpose. ADAPT Community Network, formerly United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of NYC provides a multitude of services to people with developmental disabilities. At ADAPT, we are 3,000 strong, and it takes every one of us to empower the lives of the people we support. With caring and great resources at hand, we know what it takes to help people live fuller, happier, healthier lives. Our employees show their commitment to the people we support every day, and we all deliver on our promise to provide innovative and comprehensive services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

For your next career move, apply with us at ADAPT Community Network! Wherever you work among our many locations around New York City, ADAPT offers paid training, competitive benefits, and we foster a team culture of learning, support, collaboration and career growth.

SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Coordinator of Operations and Supported Employment leadership team, the Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Developer is responsible for developing, coordinating, and supporting person-centered self-employment, micro-enterprise, consulting, and entrepreneurship opportunities for people supported. This position assists individuals to explore business ideas, develop realistic business plans, build skills, access supports, launch pilot opportunities, and sustain meaningful income-generating activities that align with their employment goals, interests, strengths, and support needs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties and responsibilities of the Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Developer will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Identifies people supported who may be interested in self-employment, micro-enterprise, consulting, creative business, or non-traditional employment opportunities.
• Conducts person-centered discovery to understand each individual’s interests, strengths, talents, communication style, support needs, preferred work routines, and employment goals.
• Develops individualized business plans that include the business concept, target customers, pricing, startup needs, support plan, marketing strategy, benefits considerations, risk factors, and measurable milestones.
• Provides coaching in business readiness, communication, customer service, scheduling, money management, product development, quality control, marketing, technology use, and follow-through.
• Supports individuals in safely and professionally developing visibility through appropriate social media, online marketplace, digital storytelling, community showcase, or vendor opportunities.
• Builds partnerships with internal departments, local businesses, community organizations, markets, creative spaces, accessibility partners, technology partners, and other potential collaborators.
• Coordinates with Supported Employment, Day Habilitation, Residential, Smart Living Center, TechWorks, clinical, finance, human resources, quality, and compliance teams as needed.
• Ensures entrepreneurship and self-employment activities are connected to the person’s employment goals, service plan, business plan, documentation, and measurable outcomes.
• Maintains accurate records, progress summaries, business plan updates, coaching notes, partnership trackers, and outcome reports.
• Assists with staff training, referral tools, coaching guides, and program materials that support consistent identification and development of self-employment opportunities.
• Track and evaluate program outcomes to identify opportunities to entrepreneurship and improve self-employment services.
• Keeps abreast of developments in supported employment, entrepreneurship, self-employment, customized employment, accessibility, technology, and community-based business opportunities.
• Performs other related duties as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an …