Employer Engagement Specialist

Easterseals•New York, NY

About The Position

As Employer Engagement Specialist, under the direction of the Project Director, you will be responsible for building and maintaining employer relationships to generate job opportunities. You will identify, establish, and nurture relationships with employers across multiple industries, coordinate recruitment events and job fairs, maintain employer databases and job listings and collaborate with career counselors, vocational staff, and community partners to develop comprehensive employment plans. This position bridges employers seeking qualified candidates and job seekers who require employment support, career coaching, and access to inclusive workforce opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
At least five years of progressively responsible program management experience.
Ability to build trust with employers and translate employer needs into viable job opportunities for participants.
Ability to communicate effectively with employers, public agencies, community partners, and internal teams.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to resolve barriers related to hiring, retention, workplace fit, transportation, scheduling, background checks, and participant readiness.
Ability to analyze labor market information and identify realistic employment pathways aligned with participant goals and employer demand.
Ability to maintain accurate records, meet reporting requirements, and protect confidential information.
Commitment to equity, inclusion, participant-centered practice, recovery-oriented service delivery, and respectful engagement with diverse communities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred in human services, social work, public health, counseling, rehabilitation, public administration or a related field.
Experience managing workforce, rehabilitation, behavioral health, reentry, or human services programs strongly preferred.
Experience with government grants or contracts and staff supervision preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop, cultivate, and maintain relationships with employers across diverse industries to create employment opportunities for program participants.
Generate job openings and placement opportunities that match the skills, interests, experience, career goals, and readiness levels of job seekers.
Conduct outreach to employers, chambers of commerce, workforce boards, business associations, sector partnerships, and community organizations.
Assist employers in understanding the benefits of hiring from diverse pools of candidates, including individuals in recovery, people with disabilities, justice-involved individuals, veterans, and other high-barrier populations.
Promote inclusive hiring practices, recovery-ready workplaces, stigma reduction, workplace accommodations, second-chance hiring, retention supports, and fair employment opportunity practices.
Gather, organize, verify, and distribute timely job leads to career counselors and vocational rehabilitation staff.
Provide job market information, labor market trends, sector-specific hiring needs, and employment practice updates to program staff.
Network with community-based organizations, treatment and recovery providers, workforce partners, educational institutions, and public agencies to promote employment opportunities and referral pathways.
Coordinate and participate in job fairs, hiring events, recruitment sessions, employer panels, business roundtables, advisory councils, and employment-related events.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with workforce development partners, educational institutions, public agencies, employers, and community-based organizations to expand employment opportunities and support service networks.
Collaborate with career counselors, vocational rehabilitation counselors, case managers, and program staff to develop and implement person-centered employment plans.
Conduct follow-up with employers and counselors to assess placement quality, job satisfaction, retention risks, and opportunities for additional support.
Create and maintain employer databases, job banks, job listings, business contact records, and employer engagement documentation.
Track placements, interviews, referrals, job leads, employer contacts, retention milestones, and other required performance outcomes.
Prepare reports for the Project Director and program leadership regarding employer engagement, job development activities, placements, retention, and progress toward deliverables.
Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation in required databases, spreadsheets, case management systems, and program files.
Participate in staff meetings, case conferences, supervision, performance reviews, professional development, and continuous quality improvement activities.
Maintain professional boundaries and communicate respectfully with employers, partners, funders, and colleagues.
Perform other related duties as assigned by the Project Director.