CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Make a Difference
Making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities matters to the more than 200 staff members employed at COC. No matter what position staff members hold at COC, they experience the intrinsic rewards of helping other people.
"My job at COC is rewarding because I enjoy helping others lead a more productive life—helping them do things they didn't think they could do."
Sharon Byers - Staff member for more than 30 years
COC's mission is significant because it impacts people's lives forever by helping them reach their potential. If you are committed to Christian values and want to work at an organization that has the privilege to satisfy customers in this unique way, we encourage you to apply at COC.
Career Paths
COC is blessed to operate in communities of south central Iowa including Pella, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Indianola, and Des Moines.
We offer a wide variety of employment opportunities including positions in:
- Direct support
- Program coordination
- Management
- Production
- Administration
- Food services
- Health services
- Computer services
- Spiritual services
- Transportation
In most cases, staff members work directly with people with disabilities and help them develop independent living skills. In our residential services program, staff members offer support in areas such as cooking, housekeeping, budgeting, shopping, and socialization. In employment programs, staff members help people meet quality and productivity standards while completing increasingly sophisticated work in our plants or in community-based jobs.
Work Environment
All of our staff members have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others in a positive environment. Staff persons are challenged to possess a vision beyond teaching specific tasks and assist people with disabilities to experience a meaningful life. We encourage our staff to continually ask themselves: "Is this the kind of place where I would want to live or work?"
COC experiences very low staff turnover compared to other providers in the disability services field for several reasons. These include our:
- Christian values and purpose
- Quality people
- Positive and friendly culture
- Intense hiring practices
- Competitive compensation and benefits
- Strong investment in training and development
- Extensive staff recognition and enhancement programs
- Strong internal promotion record
- Stable management team and fair practices
Because we value family, we encourage our staff members to properly balance their home and work lives. One way this is accomplished is through the many different work schedules available. COC has positions available throughout all hours of the day, seven days per week. Some programs have standard eight-hour shifts. Others have 24-hour shifts where employees work only two or three days per week with sleeping time compensated and "free time" during the day. These work schedules provide great flexibility to our staff members.
Training and Development
COC does not require any prior experience in disability services for any positions. We provide a comprehensive training program that gives our staff the tools necessary to succeed. In addition to the initial orientation and training period, we invest heavily in ongoing internal and external training events and seminars and provide an on-site training library. Our Staff Enhancement Program also offers our staff members the opportunity to learn additional skills such as swimming or pottery.
Benefits and Compensation
COC offers competitive wages and benefits for full-time and part-time positions. Compensation is at a level that leads the disability services market and is weighted toward longevity of service. Other benefits include paid-time-off, medical and dental insurance, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, retirement, educational assistance, employee assistance program, and numerous other supplemental benefits.