Nextgen Careers Peer Mentor North Region

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) is seeking a dedicated, mission-driven individual to mentor young adults, ages 18-30, living with disabilities and pursuing employment goals.  In the role of NextGen Peer Mentor, this individual will be a key member of a specialty team implementing a transformational approach to Vocational Rehabilitation, known as NextGen Careers. Through Next Gen Careers eligible individuals obtain employment, advance in or change to career ladder jobs, in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers and other industry sectors through pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, Job Driven trainings, and internships.

In NextGen Careers, the young adult is at the center and uses self-advocacy skills to drive their own career plans towards obtaining competitive integrated employment. The NextGen Peer Mentor will focus on helping and supporting the young adults' internal skills, specifically: self-capacity (confidence in their ability to perform a job), self-realization (understanding of their strengths and limitations), self-sufficiency (ability to be independent), and self-advocacy (ability to direct one's own life).

The NextGen Peer Mentor bring their personal and/or professional life experience to the work and will be a key member of a regionally based Integrated Resource Team (IRT). IRTs use a team approach, including counselors, Peer Mentors, and employment specialists, to maximize wrap around services to support the young adult. Peer Mentors will work collaboratively with young adults to identify and provide choice, resources, and supports, helping and supporting the young adults to take on more leadership roles in developing their skills, leading to increased independence and increased success throughout their career.

MRC is seeking applicants who can engage, support, and mentor young adults in an inspiring, positive, and supportive way. The work of the NextGen Peer Mentor is community-based.  Next Gen Peer Mentors will meet with young adults in a variety of settings that could include, but are not limited to, community-based settings, school and/or community programs, participant's homes, health care settings, and/or in an office setting. While incumbents will typically work a standard work week; depending on the needs of participants and/or of the work required, there may be extended hours, nights, or weekends to respond to participants' needs. 

**This is a grant-funded position through 6/30/2026.  MRC was awarded federal funds to develop and implement NextGen Careers as part of a five-year Innovation Grant.  Renewable subject to available funding. **

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) is a learning and participatory performance culture with an emphasis on high performance teams, individual performance/contribution/impact, and engaging in activities to promote and support a program/division/agency (e.g., committee membership, Roadmap workgroup membership, presenting at Town Halls). In addition, MRC is an agency committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial equity, as well as innovation, transformation, and change, and creating a culture of agility, excellence, and belonging. MRC has approximately 800 employees working in a hybrid remote and in-office environment.

This position serves the North Vocational Rehabilitation District and is assigned to the Lowell and Lawrence Offices.  The home office is Lowell and travel throughout the District is required.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive): 

• Serve in a key role within the Integrated Resource Team, and partner with all team members to support NextGen Career participants in their pursuit of career ladder opportunities and economic self-sufficiency.
• Develop working alliances with participants, based on mutual respect, trust, and accountability.
• Build rapport and develop a positive working relationship with consumers to support enthusiastic engagement with the NextGen Careers project.
• Provide role-modeling and support to consumers and their families.
• Support each participant's discovery process to determine participant's level of career self-actualization and baseline skills of self-capacity, self-realization, self-advocacy, and self-sufficiency.
• Provide support and sharing of personal life experiences to help strengthen the participant's understanding and skill level of his/her self-capacity, self-realization, self-advocacy and self-sufficiency.
• Support other members of the participant's Integrated Resource Team to ensure the participant's voice and choice is truly represented.
• Share activities to positively strengthen and build participants' career self-actualization, including but not limited to skills instruction, rehabilitation teaching, social rehabilitation orientation, etc.
• Explore experiences with the consumer, such as job shadowing, mentoring, job tours, etc. to support their career portfolio.
• Provides support and mentoring throughout the NextGen Careers process in a culturally sensitive and appropriate manner based on each consumer's unique cultural background.

Required Qualifications:

• Basic understanding of young adults, especially young adults with disabilities.
• Basic understanding of identifying an individual's strengths and limitations.
• Ability to implement best practices for engaging disability and family voice.
• Ability to communicate effectively, including in writing, to appropriately correspond with consumers, family members, team members, and other stakeholders, and to represent the agency in a professional manner using disability culturally responsive language.
• Ability to develop working alliances with consumers and other stakeholders, based on mutual respect, trust, and accountability.
• Basic understanding of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), and other pertinent disability/civil rights legislation that impact the disability community.
• Ability to utilize reflective learning practices in engagement with consumers and team members.
• Ability to assess and support cultural responsivity specific to the needs of a consumer.
• Ability to engage differently and to embrace new models of service.
• Ability to engage in goal development and goal setting with consumer.
• Commitment to flexibility, and "doing what it takes" to support consumers.
• Ability to gather information through using strategies such as active listening, questioning and observing individuals and by examining records and documents.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment to ensure safety of self and others.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize responsibilities.
• Ability to establish, build and maintain trusting and harmonious working relationships that benefit all involved parties.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and write concisely to clearly express thoughts and develop ideas in a logical sequence.
• Ability to advocate for and motivate consumers.
• Ability to understand and support individuals impacted by diverse forms of discrimination and poverty.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Ability to inspire young adults throughout the NextGen Careers process.
• Basic understanding of young adults, especially young adults with disabilities.
• Basic understanding of how to successfully engage and develop a working alliance.
• Ability to engage differently and to embrace new models of service.
• Ability to and experience with using a coaching approach to working with young adults.
• Commitment to flexibility, and "doing what it takes" to support participants.
• Experience working as part of team, with community providers, including establishing and maintaining professional working relationships.
• Ability to write clear, concise, professional reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Bilingual.

About the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission:

MRC provides services that break down barriers and empower people with disabilities to live life on their own terms. Our programs focus on vocational rehabilitation, community living, and disability determination for federal benefit programs. We are change agents and community builders. And we put the people we serve at the heart of everything we do.  We envision a Commonwealth that is open to all, where everyone can seize their true potential and contribute fully to our communities and the world.  Together with stakeholders, partners, and allies, MRC collaborates, problem solves, and innovates to bring about a better Massachusetts for everyone-one that is truly equitable, accessible, and inclusive.

Pre-Offer Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori.

Relevant Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

If you would like to request an ADA or religious accommodation, please click on the link and complete the Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form.

If you have any questions regarding this requisition, please contact Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1 (800) 510-4122, Ext. #2.

Applicants should upload a cover letter and resume for the NextGen Careers Peer Mentor - North District requisition.

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and (A) at least two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time experience as serving in a peer support capacity in the disability, rehabilitation, employment, or health care field.

Substitutions:
I. An associate degree in psychology, human services, disability studies, vocation rehabilitation, or a closely related field may be substituted for six months of the required (A) experience.
II.  A Bachelor's degree or higher in psychology, human services, disability services, vocational rehabilitation, or a closely related field may be substituted for one year of the required (A) experience.
Incumbents may be required to have a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to assignment.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.