The Workforce Development Specialist has an employer relations focus and works directly with the members of the Workforce team to assess the needs of HopeWorks clients and graduates and design a pathway to employment for each client sector of HopeWorks. The Workforce Development Specialist will work to bridge the gap between HopeWorks job seekers and employers through connecting clients with training programs and resources and making in-person calls to local employers, building relationships with employers and meeting KPI’s related to job placement goals.

Focusing on employer partnerships and Business-to-Business networking and account management, the Workforce Development Specialist will work to build strong ties with local business by selling local businesses on the value of hiring HopeWorks clients and graduates.

The Workforce Development Specialist’s primary goal is to build and grow business partnerships to create job and training pipelines for HopeWorks program participants and graduates.

The Workforce Development Specialist is responsible for establishing a relationship with and advocating for clients served across all HopeWorks programs. The Specialist should participate in staff meetings and other relevant meetings associated with client care as well as community meetings that provide an avenue to make employer contacts. The Workforce Development Specialist will develop a Retention plan for follow-up services to employers who hire HopeWorks clients. The Specialist should be process-oriented, detail-focused, timely and ambitious for the success of clients creating a broad plan for client pathways to employment that includes employer sponsored training, apprenticeships and internships.

The Workforce Specialist should model HopeWorks values and ethics central to the HopeWorks mission of “Hope in Christ”. To be effective in this position, one must be caring, empathetic, conscientious, confidential, culturally-sensitive, and client-centered. This individual should adhere to professional standards as outlined by rules and regulations governing their profession

Build Partnerships
· Make in-person calls to local business leaders identified by the Director of Workforce as potential new employer partners, to pitch the HopeWorks Workforce program.
· Follow-up on leads and established partners provided by the Workforce Director in-person and via phone calls to maintain the employment pathway partnership for the HopeWorks Workforce program.
· Meet KPI’s for number of businesses contacted

· Create employer connections for the most needed jobs in Shelby County to HopeWorks Clients and affirm a training avenue to ensure HopeWorks clients are ready for those jobs.
· Vocational Site Tours: Visit local job sites to understand the working environment before sending clients to interview.
· Document Business partners, number of HopeWorks clients sent for interview, and number placed/matched with the employer.
· Assess the business needs of local hiring managers to learn their staffing challenges and skill gaps. Share data collected with workforce team to direct accurate matches of HopeWorks clients to appropriate open positions.
· Coordinate and attend employer events such as, job fairs, hiring days, employer panels, community events, etc.
· Assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with employment and/or educational opportunities.
· Participate and support job development, marketing and coordination of Career and Recruitment services such as online job listing services, career fairs, resume referrals and special career events for all HopeWorks departments, service organizations and others to provide needed support services.
· Match client skill set with employers who are hiring for that skill set

Documentation, Reporting and Professional Standards

· Maintain all required documentation for assigned caseload following professional standards as outlined by rules and regulations governing the profession.
· Maintain client records in Apricot and report to the Director of Workforce.
· Maintain up-to-date records in the Apricot database regarding interactions with clients, developing data needed to report each stage of a client’s pathway to employment.
· Develop a two-fold Employer Retention Plan for maintaining (1) feedback and retention of clients hired by the Employer, and (2) Periodic reconnect with all potential employers in the database and report results to the Director of Workforce on a weekly basis.
· Produce relevant documentation, correspondence and statistical information as needed to share with the Director of Workforce.
· Commit to personal professional development and high standards. Participate in educational activity through reading of relevant information, participation in classes, webinars and seminars related to maintaining up-to-date industry standards for professional growth.
· Report and maintain job placement retention data in Apricot for placed clients and report to the Director of Workforce.
· Create daily reports to the Director of Workforce for employer contacts, available job opportunities, client follow-up and outcomes.
· Other duties as requested.