Retention Specialist

Center for Employment Opportunities • New York, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Retention Specialist works with program participants in CEO’s local New York City program, supporting their continued engagement in the labor force for at least twelve months after they secure full-time employment. The role involves building strong, trusting relationships with participants, managing a caseload in a way that balances individual and organizational needs, and documenting interactions and milestones in CEO’s case management system. This is an in-person role because most participant interactions take place in person. Individuals with lived experience of incarceration or involvement in the justice system are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides employment services to people recently released from incarceration. The organization reports that 8,000–9,000 people participate in its programs each year, and that more than 30,000 formerly incarcerated individuals have secured full-time employment through CEO since 1996.

The role pays $57,400. CEO describes its benefits package as including medical and dental coverage, professional development and training, paid parental leave, retirement plan participation, sick and vacation leave, and paid holidays. Staff also have access to learning and team activities, including lunch-and-learns, team outings, and holiday gatherings.

Requirements

• 1–2+ years of related experience.
• Experience providing feedback and guidance to clients to encourage their growth and continued development of knowledge and skills.
• Strong customer service skills and a human-centered approach to communicating with participants.
• Strong time management and prioritization skills.
• Ability to anticipate and evaluate problems and determine and implement solutions.
• Computer proficiency, including demonstrated word-processing skills and the ability to use the Internet to research job opportunities.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with Salesforce.
• Lived experience of incarceration or involvement in the justice system.
• Experience or interest in working in the re-entry space.
• Dedication to social justice.
• Ability to inspire others and support them in achieving goals through a balance of accountability and empathy.

Responsibilities

• Maintain frequent contact with participants.
• Research and connect participants to educational and vocational opportunities related to their short- and long-term goals.
• Provide participants with continued life skills education and relevant resources.
• Advocate for participant needs with parole officers and other constituencies.
• Distribute retention incentives to participants.
• Use motivational interviewing techniques, as appropriate, to help guide participants toward achieving their goals.
• Maintain accurate client records in Salesforce and update progress notes during and after each participant meeting.
• Manage caseloads while balancing participant needs and organizational needs to achieve programmatic outcomes.
• Keep participants engaged in the labor force for at least twelve months after they secure full-time employment.
• Capture a running record of participant interactions and milestone achievements in CEO’s case management system.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed