Mentor Liaison/Employment Specialist

Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard•Pittsburgh, PA

23h

About The Position

The Veteran Services Specialist coordinates and supports Veterans Place’s mentorship program in partnership with the Allegheny County Veterans Court, with a focus on justice-involved veterans. The role recruits, trains, and supports volunteer mentors; coordinates mentor–mentee relationships; assists with Veterans Court engagement; and provides ongoing participant support. It also delivers employment services, including career counseling, resume development, job readiness, employer connections, and employment placement. The Specialist serves as a primary contact for mentorship and employment services and builds relationships with employers, volunteer mentors, Veterans Court, and community partners. The position involves individualized mentoring and employment support, program coordination, participant documentation and outcome tracking, and community outreach. The Specialist collaborates with internal departments and external partners to coordinate services and connect participants with resources such as housing, recovery, healthcare, education, and training. The work takes place in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment requiring adaptability, collaboration, and commitment to serving veterans. Other job-related duties may be assigned by a supervisor.

Requirements

Experience in mentorship, peer support, case management, workforce development, or working with veterans and/or justice-involved populations.
Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and challenges faced by veterans experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or justice-system involvement.
Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to develop relationships with, engage, and support volunteer mentors.
Comfort with public speaking, group facilitation, and community outreach.
Ability to manage multiple responsibilities independently while collaborating with internal staff and external partners.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital platforms.
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to various locations.
Ability to successfully complete required background checks and pre-employment screening.
Ability to remain stationary in a position for 50% of the time.
Ability to communicate information and ideas clearly and exchange accurate information.
Ability to move or carry up to 20 pounds across the office.

Nice To Haves

U.S. military veteran preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Social Work, Business, Human Resources, or a related field preferred; related work experience may be accepted in place of a degree.
Experience working with Veterans Court or other treatment court programs preferred.
Experience with BestNotes or similar client management systems preferred.
All Rise Veterans Mentor Training (provided) or willingness to obtain.
CPR/First Aid certification or willingness to obtain.
Peer Support Certification (optional).

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for the mentorship program and provide guidance and support to volunteer mentors.
Recruit, screen, select, and onboard veteran mentors from the community.
Coordinate mentor and mentee matches based on individual needs, goals, and compatibility.
Develop, organize, and facilitate structured mentor training, including All Rise’s trauma-informed curriculum; ensure mentors complete required training before participating in Veterans Court.
Conduct regular check-ins with mentors and mentees to monitor engagement, address concerns, and support mentoring relationships.
Attend Allegheny County Veterans Court at least twice per month and communicate with court personnel about participant progress and concerns.
Advocate for justice-involved veterans and communicate issues that may affect their participation in Veterans Court.
Organize and facilitate group mentoring sessions, workshops, and peer-support activities.
Coordinate access to Veterans Place services and community resources, including housing, recovery, healthcare, and other supportive services.
Provide individualized employment services, including career counseling, job-readiness assistance, resume development, and interview preparation.
Assess participants’ employment interests, skills, experience, and vocational goals to identify appropriate career opportunities.
Develop and maintain individualized employment plans addressing career goals and barriers to employment.
Assist veterans with job searches, applications, interview coordination, and connections to potential employers.
Establish and maintain relationships with local employers, identify job opportunities, and advocate for veteran candidates.
Organize resume workshops, mock interviews, and other employment-readiness activities.
Refer veterans to training programs, educational opportunities, and supportive services that may improve employment outcomes.
Follow up with employed veterans to support job retention and career advancement.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation of participant interactions, mentor engagement, employment services, and program progress.
Track mentorship activity, including mentor recruitment, training completion, matches, and participant engagement.
Monitor employment outcomes, job retention, and participant progress.
Assist with program reporting, grant compliance, and evaluation activities.
Maintain confidentiality and ensure documentation complies with organizational policies and applicable program requirements.
Develop and maintain relationships with Allegheny County Veterans Court, community organizations, veteran service providers, employers, and volunteer networks.
Represent Veterans Place at court proceedings, community events, outreach activities, and partner meetings.
Identify opportunities to expand mentor recruitment, employment partnerships, and resources for participating veterans.
Collaborate with internal Veterans Place departments to coordinate services and provide comprehensive participant support.
Perform other job-related duties as requested by a supervisor.