Employer Relations Specialist, Level Up! (51744)

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Level Up! is RiseBoro’s Economic Empowerment Program, serving clients across the agency by providing individualized financial and career coaching services. Financial and career coaches work in tandem to ensure clients receive access to education, services and programs that will enhance their household's overall income and economic well-being. The Employer Relations Specialist will be responsible for developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with employers to create employment opportunities for workforce development program participants. This role focuses on prospecting and cultivating employer relationships, building a robust referral pipeline, tracking placement outcomes, and ensuring quality partnerships that align with participants' career goals and labor market trends. The Employer Relations Specialist will work collaboratively with the Level Up! team and other programs within RiseBoro to maximize employment outcomes for the communities we serve. They will be responsible for:

• Securing potential employer partners across various industries, with particular focus on sectors aligned with workforce development program training areas.
• Conducting outreach to employers through cold calling, networking events, industry conferences, and professional associations to establish new partnerships.
• Building and maintaining a comprehensive database of employer partners, including contact information, hiring needs, job requirements, and partnership status.
• Creating and managing a robust referral pipeline by matching program participants with appropriate job opportunities based on their skills, interests, and career goals.
• Coordinating participant referrals with the career coaches especially to employer partners, including preparing participants for interviews and facilitating the application process.
• Tracking and documenting all referral outcomes, including interview results, job placements, retention rates, and reasons for unsuccessful placements.
• Maintaining regular communication with employer partners to nurture relationships, address concerns, gather feedback, and identify additional opportunities.
• Conducting annual reviews of employer partnerships to evaluate placement success rates, participant satisfaction, success stories, employer feedback, and alignment with program goals and contract metrics.
• Making data-driven recommendations on whether to continue, expand, or discontinue partnerships based on annual review outcomes.
• Monitoring and sharing local and regional labor market trends, including in-demand skills, growing industries, wage information, and employment projections.
• Organizing and facilitating employer engagement activities such as job fairs, networking events, employer panels, and workplace tours.
• Collaborating with Career Coaches and program staff to understand participant skills, readiness levels, and support needs to ensure successful placements.
• Maintaining accurate records and documentation in compliance with program requirements and funder expectations.
• Representing the organization professionally at industry events, business forums, and community meetings.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
  
  

COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrated professional experience in employer relations, business development, or workforce development partnerships required.
• Strong sales or relationship-building skills with the ability to prospect, pitch, and close partnerships, required.
• Knowledge of local labor market trends, industry sectors, and workforce development best practices.
• Exceptional organization and database management skills with attention to detail in tracking outcomes and maintaining records.
• Ability to work independently to achieve placement goals while collaborating effectively with program staff.
• Ability to analyze data and make strategic recommendations based on partnership performance metrics.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present professionally to diverse audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain positive relationships with employers, participants, and staff.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, databases, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Bilingual English/Spanish speaker strongly preferred.
• Ability to problem solve creatively to overcome barriers to employment and partnership challenges.
• Dedication to continuous learning about industry trends, labor market dynamics, and best practices.
• Commitment to RiseBoro's mission, vision, and values.
• Ability to understand the concepts of institutional and structural racism/bias; ability to understand their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.
• Demonstrated commitment to supporting communities that have experienced systemic oppression i.e. people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants, justice-involved persons, etc.
  
  

EDUCATION And EXPERIENCE

• Associate degree required; Bachelor's Degree preferred;
• A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in employer relations, business development, sales, workforce development, or related field required.
  
  

Qualifications

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)/Affirmative Action Policy Statement

It is the policy of RiseBoro to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment. No individual will be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, political or union affiliation, marital or partnership status, sex, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity, familial status, genetic information or predisposition or characteristic, disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a veteran or member of the U.S. military and related obligations, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, job placement, compensation, benefits, training and apprenticeship, employee development, promotion, demotion, discipline, transfer, lay-off and recall, and termination. RiseBoro makes reasonable accommodations based on religion and/or disability as required by law, and requests for accommodation are to be directed to the Human Resources Department.