Transitional Work Specialist, Retention

FORTUNE SOCIETY INC • New York, NY

1d • $27 - $32 • Onsite

About The Position

The Transitional Work Specialist, Retention role is within the Employment Services unit, reporting to the Program Manager. This full-time, non-exempt position is responsible for recruiting, screening, enrolling, and providing personnel oversight for participants in the Transitional Work Program. A key aspect of the role involves managing the collection of retention data and the distribution of incentives to individuals who report their employment outcomes. The specialist will utilize a trauma-informed approach to engage participants, supporting them in gaining work experience through Fortune's transitional work program. This role also involves managing employer relations for internship host sites and assisting the Program Manager with overseeing data accuracy for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to the Transitional Work Program's trends, metrics, and outcomes. Additionally, the specialist will support the Program Manager, Data in managing retention collection and employment outcome data. The position empowers participants by encouraging the development of soft skills through the Career Development Workshop and facilitates weekly job club meetings to help participants build skills and overcome internship obstacles. The specialist will also screen participants for employment readiness post-internship and provide feedback to participants and colleagues. Collecting and documenting retention outcomes is a crucial part of the role, requiring excellent communication, data entry, and facilitation skills.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• At least 2 years of prior experience as a Case Manager, Counselor or related field.
• Experience in providing services to individuals involved in the criminal legal system.
• Exceptional attention to detail and talent for accuracy and precision, with strong organizational skills and the ability to facilitate workshops.
• Adequate computer skills; proficient in Microsoft office: Outlook/365, Word, Excel.
• Skilled communicator who is able to liaise interdepartmentally, as well as with community partners and stakeholders.
• Strong writing skills.
• Administrative experience and strong time management and customer service skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Excel, Outlook and Office 365.
• Ability to apply skills learned from prior work experience, or formal academic training in a related subject area, to the day-to-day project activities.
• Demonstrated success in being participant-centered, self-motivated with excellent relationship skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• Ability to work independently and on a team.
• Responsive to feedback, having the ability to seek support when needed and remain in communication for guidance.
• Experience and/or desire to work with a culturally diverse population.

Nice To Haves

• Associate’s degree from and accredited college or university in social work, psychology, counseling, human services or education preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish a plus.
• Relevant personal experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, screen, and enroll Employment Services participants into the Transitional Work Program, including assisting participants in completing program applications and modifying their resumes.
• Assess career interests and aptitudes, guiding participants toward the most suitable transitional work placement sites.
• Act as an intermediary between interns and employers to resolve workplace issues and promote successful completion.
• Collect documentation related to employment retention and distribute incentives to participants sharing employment outcomes.
• Regularly document all retention outcomes in Client Record Management system, and work with the Program Manager, Data to ensure data quality is accurate to support with reporting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation of all services.
• Co-facilitate weekly Job Club Sessions for transitional work program participants and assist the Program Manager with regularly updating the curriculum as needed to enhance the program model.
• Participate in collaborative meetings with Employment Services’ staff to assess participant progress and plan services.
• Co-facilitate transitional work program orientations.
• Visit participant work sites to understand behaviors in various settings and hear feedback from employer host sites.
• Review employer and participant feedback and performance reports, identify barriers to participant success in the program, and provide coaching and support to promote attendance, safe behavior, and effective participation in job club sessions and transitional employment.
• Screen current interns throughout the internship to determine if they will be ready to seek employment post completion of the internship and communicate feedback with their assigned Employment Specialist and Program Manager.
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and program performance guidelines as outlined by the Program Manager.
• Ensure records are accurate, maintained, and updated regularly to align with ongoing changes.
• Assist with administrative tasks, such as updating referral trackers, data entry, reporting, typing, filing, and scheduling appointments.
• Support with creating, revising, and editing resumes to include Fellowship experience for placement support.
• Maintain regular phone, email, and in-person communication with participants and supervision officers who are making referrals to Fortune.
• Document all pertinent discussions, events, and incidents in real-time in the agency database system(s) within 24 hours.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with close to $90 million in annual budget with just under 600 staff.
• We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service.
• Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service.
• The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society.
• The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program.
• Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve.
• Fortune currently serves approximately 14,000 people a year.
• Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation.
• We have locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED