Part-Time Employment Specialist

Center for Employment Opportunities • Harrisburg, PA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Employment Specialist increases the range of employment opportunities available to participants by using their interests, experiences, and ambitions to inform job placements and by identifying and cultivating prospective employers. The role operates on one of two tracks according to site and regional staffing needs: the Account Specialist track focuses on employer cultivation, engagement, and placement support in partnership with vocational staff; the Full Cycle track combines employer cultivation and placement with direct participant case management, managing the relationship from job readiness through placement.

This is an in-person role based at a CEO site, as most participant interactions are conducted in person. The position is part-time, up to 20 hours per week, and is based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Employment Specialist is expected to produce up to five placements per month.

Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides employment services to people recently released from incarceration. The organization encourages applicants with lived experience of incarceration or involvement in the justice system. The position includes employer outreach and relationship management, participant job-placement services, case documentation, and administrative support for the site. Compensation is $47,800. Benefits include medical and dental coverage, professional development and training, paid parental leave, retirement plan participation, sick and vacation leave, and paid holidays.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of experience in workforce development, recruitment, or sales/account management in a role with regular performance goals.
• Skill in networking and cultivating lasting relationships with people and businesses, and helping them understand how CEO’s work can support their business strategies and goals.
• Experience using data or market research to guide practice and decision-making.
• Commitment to CEO’s mission and interest in working in a fast-growing, results-oriented nonprofit environment.
• Passion for helping individuals achieve career goals through a balance of accountability and empathy.
• Deep interest in reentry or criminal justice reform.
• Ability to provide feedback and support that facilitates participant development of knowledge and skills.
• Ability to anticipate, assess, and solve problems.
• Ability to consider and analyze different viewpoints and data to form a context-appropriate perspective.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, including the ability to adapt to different personalities and interaction styles.
• Self-motivation, diligence, resilience, and the stamina to remain accountable to deadlines and outcomes despite adversity or setbacks.
• Comfort working under pressure and meeting deadlines despite opposition or setbacks.
• Strong organization and time-management skills, including the ability to juggle priorities or seek prioritization support when needed.
• Comfort learning new technologies adopted or implemented by an organization.

Responsibilities

• Envision, develop, and implement a strategic plan for local placement services that enables the office to meet participant placement metrics.
• Review existing business partnerships, evaluate employer demand and use of CEO services, and identify improvements and ways to leverage employer relationships.
• Meet weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual placement goals in accordance with CEO’s contractual obligations.
• Research prospective employers, conduct outreach, and build relationships with businesses whose hiring needs match participant skills, experience, and interests.
• Maintain relationships with existing employer partners.
• Schedule and conduct daily prospecting, cold calls, and face-to-face meetings.
• Serve as liaison among employers, participants, and criminal justice partners.
• Screen and match participants with employment opportunities based on their skills, work experience, interests, goals, and aspirations.
• Customize participant resumes for identified opportunities.
• Manage a participant caseload and support and coach participants in applying for jobs, navigating hiring processes, and securing suitable employment.
• For the Account Specialist track, provide placement support in partnership with assigned vocational staff and communicate employer requirements and opportunity details to support participant matching.
• For the Full Cycle track, serve as the primary point of contact for assigned participants throughout the placement process.
• Document participant and employer contacts, activities, and outcomes in Salesforce.
• Support the Site Director with administrative and operational duties that help ensure smooth site operations.
• Perform other job-related duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• Lead activities within or across offices related to role outcomes or office needs, such as case conferencing.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Professional development opportunities and training, including regular Motivational Interviewing training
• Paid parental leave
• Participation in a retirement plan
• Sick leave
• Vacation leave
• Paid holidays
• Continual learning and teamwork opportunities, including lunch-and-learns, team outings, and holiday gatherings

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed