Employer Partnerships Specialist - Work Experience

Since 1982, over 160,000 youth have been helped with Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) programs. Y.O.U. helps teens and young adults, ages 14-24 living in economically distressed communities succeed by providing educational and workforce opportunities, skills development, and access to career pathways. We offer school-based and community-based programs designed to meet the needs of Northeast Ohio employers, with a focus on those industry sectors that provide the most opportunities for career success. At Y.O.U., we are dedicated to excellence and continuous improvement of the quality of our services to youth, employers, and the community.

Job Purpose

The Employer Partnerships Specialist (EPS) is responsible for cultivating and maintaining current and new partnerships with employers to develop and provide meaningful work experience opportunities for Y.O.U. participants. The EPS implements employer registration, worksite validation, worksite supervisor orientation, work experience participant placement processes, and worksite reassignment request process. The Employer Partnerships Team is responsible for matching thousands of young people to short-term work experiences every year. The EPS also provides feedback to the Program Managers about the attitudes, abilities, and skills our employer partners are looking for in entry-level candidates.

Essential Functions

• Nurture and support existing employer partnerships and community partnerships for all Y.O.U. programs. 
• Recruit employers that can provide meaningful work experience for Y.O.U.’s participants, particularly related to in-demand career fields. 
• Conduct periodic worksite visits as needed to ensure participants are working in a safe environment that will lead to a meaningful work experience.
• Conduct employer registration and worksite validation meetings, phone calls, and processes. 
• Edit, distribute, and track the worksite agreement, ensuring timely collection of supervisor signatures.
• Add & update systems records related to both participants and employers. 
• Review worksite supervisor satisfaction surveys, identify themes, and propose solutions and processes to improve the experience for Y.O.U. employer partners.
• Lead and facilitate worksite supervisor orientation sessions, presenting information in an engaging and concise manner.
• Provide excellent customer service to employer and community partners as it relates to worksite registration and matching youth participants in a timely manner.
• Handle escalated issues from worksites with tact and diplomacy.
• Match program participants to available work experience opportunities following Y.O.U. protocols on a routine basis, within short timeframes, to include worksite reassignments.
• Provide ongoing support, training, and coaching to the seasonal team of Employer Partnerships Coordinators. Observe employee productivity and provide constructive feedback to Employer Partnerships Leadership.
• Assist other programs (Internships, LAUNCH, JOG, PACE, etc.) with coordinating work experiences, direct hires, internships, and educational placements as assigned, which includes documenting all communication and interaction supporting participants who earn unsubsidized employment as part of follow-up period.
• Assist with career fairs, resume writing workshops, and other professional development events with employer partners and for Y.O.U. participants.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision benefits available with coverage beginning the first of the month following date of hire.
• Company paid life insurance, AD&D, Short-Term Disability, Parental Leave, Employee Assistance Program and Long-Term Disability 
• Retirement Plan with generous employer contributions
• Generous paid time off package including 19 paid holidays
• Professional Development Assistance Program

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Communications, Education, Social Work) from an accredited college or university preferred
• An additional 4 years of work experience as detailed below can be substituted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree. High School Diploma or equivalent required.

Requirements

• 1-3 years of experience in sales prospecting, networking, and recruiting strategies.
• 1-3 years of experience working with at-risk youth and/or young adults as a coach, mentor, teacher, counselor, or other related position.
• Must have experience training and leading small working groups or teams.
• Familiarity in recruiting techniques and work opportunity development.
• Experience with Salesforce or a willingness and ability to learn new systems.
• Must have valid transportation to/from Y.O.U. offices, partner organizations, and other community-based locations to meet with clients. 
• Must pass a background BCI/FBI check as a condition of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Belief and commitment to Y.O.U.’s mission, vision, and values.
• Ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and respectfully, both verbally and in writing 
• Ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with colleagues, participants, partners, and other stakeholders. 
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and follow through on responsibilities. 
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, identify and resolve problems, and seek guidance when appropriate. 
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, responsibilities, and organizational needs while maintaining effectiveness and professionalism.
• Ability to appropriately handle confidential and sensitive information and exercise discretion in carrying out job responsibilities. 
• Proficiency with standard workplace technology, including Microsoft Office applications, databases, and other systems relevant to the position. Ability and willingness to learn and effectively use new software, technology, and organizational systems as required.
• Ability to build relationships with the area’s private and public-sector businesses.
• Understanding of modern job search, recruitment, and retention strategies.

Work Environment

• This position will be scheduled to work in-office at least 2-3 days a week and can work remotely 2-3 days per week. This includes a mandatory in-office day on Wednesday. 
• The position may also include occasional travel to offsite locations for meetings, programs, events, or activities as part of assigned responsibilities up to 50% of the time.
• Work is generally fast-paced and requires extended computer use, including periods of up to two hours of sustained computer or phone work, lifting up to 25 lbs periodically and carrying office supplies, standing, and walking throughout the office buildings.
• Social interaction with team members, vendors, partners and/or participants frequently.
• The environment in which the job is performed outside a normal office space may include exposure to extreme temperature, noise, or other hazards. 
• When working remotely, employees must maintain a professional, secure, and reasonably distraction-free workspace that supports confidentiality, productivity, and participation in meetings.

All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, parental status, veteran status, military service, family medical history, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.