Business Engagement Specialist - YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

POSITION TITLE: Business Engagement SpecialistSTATUS: Exempt, FT GRADE: 3

DEPT: Economic Empowerment PROGRAM: Workforce Innovation Institute

REPORTS TO: Business Engagement Manager SALARY: $51,500K/yr

SUPERVISES: N/A

SUMMARY: As a Business Engagement Specialist for the Economic Empowerment Institute, administered by the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, you will be responsible for building a book of business to provide opportunities to multiple program participants and providing guidance and direction to Workforce Program Participants as they engage with us to obtain sustainable careers that provide economic and quality-of-life advancements. The person in this position provides job opportunities for Workforce Program Participants by researching, identifying, and obtaining commitments from employer partners. The Business Engagement Specialist is a full-time, exempt position, reporting directly to the Director of the Workforce Innovation Institute

COLLABORATES WITH: The Business Engagement Specialist manages relationships with Employer Partners, the business community, Economic Empowerment staff, program members, other YWCA staff members, and community representatives.

ESSENTIAL responsibilities: Design and execute an aggressive job development strategy that creates pathways to employment for YWCA clients with a wide range of Chicago area employers, work in close coordination with Program Managers to identify and prioritize job placement targets for clients, use outreach and marketing strategies to effectively develop and maintains relationships with prospective employers throughout the community, meet monthly job development, placement and retention goals and provide updates to the Program Manager, maintain close contact with employers post placement to address any job performance issues that could jeopardize client’s continued employment, provide candid and constructive post-placement coaching and job retention services to clients, maintain case files, forms, and make timely data entry in order to track success and areas of challenge, participate in program-related conferences, meeting and events, including occasional evenings and weekends, assist Program Managers in preparing program reports and documents as required by funders, providing soft skills training and coaching to clients in both group and one-on-one settings.

Outreach

Attend and engage in corporate meetings such as various chambers of commerce, industry specific associations, and other business / corporate related events to expand employer partnerships. Strategize with Director in identifying innovative recruiting and service delivery activities to support program outcomes.

Evaluation

Produce monthly reports that document all direct service activities and outcomes. Job-start verifications, Retention substantiations and Contractual placements.

Professional Development

Engage in continuous learning to enhance business engagement skills and awareness of career opportunities and marketplace needs.

QUALIFICATIONS: 2 years of professional experience as job developer, business services representative, Career Coach or prior work experience in staffing or placement agency, or strong acumen in business to business sales, keen project planning and organizing skills, with an ability to support people being accountable for results, effective verbal and written communication skills; bilingual abilities a plus, Commitment to economic development of underserved communities, strong interpersonal and collaborative skills with cultural competence for working with economically, ethnically, and culturally diverse populations, ability to travel within the Chicagoland area.

Professional Training Required: NA

EDUCATION REQUIRED: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (business management, human resource management, human services, vocational counseling, sociology, social services, psychology, etc.) or equivalent training and experience

CERTIFICATION(s) REQUIRED: NA

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: N/A

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment includes offices; members and visitors may visit with children. The noise level is usually moderate. Movement requirements include walking, stooping or kneeling. There may be a need to reach, lift or move objects, such as packages, supplies and computers. Normal (or corrected) vision range; ability to see color and to distinguish letters, numbers and symbols are necessary to the work, which may require close viewing. Occasionally may need to lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Communication needs include seeing, hearing and speaking. While in the office, there will be periods of sitting, holding a telephone and using computers. Reasonable accommodations will be made for an incumbent to meet the essential responsibilities of the position.

WORK SCHEDULE: Monday – Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. This position may require work on some evenings and weekends. Schedule can vary depending on the needs of the agency.