I. Position Summary

The Business Development Specialist will be responsible for identifying and establishing workforce relationships with employers in Chicago community areas who can support parents affiliated with Chicago Commons, particularly those who have recently completed additional education and acquired new workforce skills. This role will provide ongoing support to Chicago Commons' parents to ensure their successful integration and continuity in their new jobs. 

II. Education & Certification Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, Social Work, Public Health, or related field. Master’s Degree preferred. 

III. Experience & Training Requirements

• 3-years or more of experience working in/for non-profit organization(s).
• 3-5 years of demonstrated experience in employer engagement, business development, or workforce development.
• Proven ability of understanding of the challenges faced by parents, entering the workforce for the first time after increasing their education and skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to analyze and communicate the financial benefits of workforce hiring practices to businesses.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workforce.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Knowledge of Chicago's community areas and local workforce.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills
• Salesforce experience is a plus.
• Data management entry skills. 
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment. 
• Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with others. 
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality.
• Must be able to travel to multiple sites in diverse communities.
• Required to speak and read English proficiently, bilingual (Spanish) is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Be culturally competent with an understanding of the populations we serve.
• Highly organized and adaptable with proven ability to meet deadlines.

IV. Desired Outcomes

• Develop and implement business strategies to attract new employers and retain current employer relationships annually.
• Develop and implement a process to track referred FH clients and their productivity with new employers.
• Work with employers to identify specific skills they are seeking, document these skills and experience requirements in data system, and work with the Career Coach and Post Secondary Coordinator to develop a process for clients to acquire those skills.

V. Essential Job Requirements & Duties

Employer Engagement and Partnership:

• Identify and cultivate relationships with employers in Chicago community areas in order to understand their business and the job requirements of positions they seek to fill.
• Advocate for inclusive hiring practices and educate employers on the financial benefits of retaining diverse talent.
• Collaborate with businesses to explore and implement innovative approaches that support the retention of referred FH hires.
• Advocate for hard-to-employ FH clients including those with limited English or educational proficiencies, disabilities, and ex-offenders.

Candidate Support and Preparation:

• Work closely with the FH Career Coach to support Chicago Commons' parents who have recently completed additional education and acquired new workforce skills.
• Work closely with the FH Career Coach to provide personalized guidance and support to parents in their job search, including resume building, interview preparation, and professional development.
• Assist parents in navigating workplace challenges and accessing resources to support their integration and persistence in their new roles.

Community Collaboration:

• Partner with local educational institutions, workforce development organizations, and community stakeholders to identify employment opportunities and share best practices for workforce integration.
• Participate in community events and forums to raise awareness about the employment needs of Chicago Commons' parents in the workforce.

Data Tracking and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate records of employer engagements, candidate progress, and program outcomes.
• Generate reports as requested to measure the impact of workforce integration initiatives and inform program improvements.
• Utilize employer screening tools developed by parents to collect eligibility and candidate experience criteria.
• Identify growing employment sectors and potential employers along with analyzing parent interests and capacities.
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. The employee will be required to travel to multiple sites throughout Chicagoland for site-visits in diverse communities.

Employment Conditions: This job description is to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee’s ability to perform the duties as described. This job description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned as deemed appropriate commensurate to the position. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and Chicago Commons reserves the right to change this job description and /or assign tasks deemed appropriate.

Working Conditions: The unavoidable, externally imposed conditions under which the work must be performed, and which create hardship for the incumbent include the frequency and duration of occurrence of physical demands, environmental conditions, demands on one’s senses, and mental demands. None known.

Chicago Commons is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, marital or parental status, sexual orientation including gender identity, gender expression, military discharge status, physical or mental disability, or any other status or characteristic protected by law. In addition, Chicago Commons provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws (including during the application or hiring process).