Systems Change Liaison, Family & Community Medicine

Position Highlights

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.

Duties & Responsibilities

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.