Job Description
Job DescriptionDescription:
The Workforce Placement Specialist is responsible for building employer partnerships and matching program participants with job and training opportunities that align with their skills and career goals. This role is crucial in ensuring positive employment outcomes for individuals served through the Handy Workforce Initiative, as outlined in the appropriations-funded workforce development programming.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain relationships with local employers and industry partners to create pipelines for employment.
- Assess job openings and align them with participant skills and interests.
- Collaborate with case managers to understand participants’ readiness, needs, and training history.
- Coordinate job fairs, on-site interviews, and employer engagement events.
- Track placement metrics, report outcomes, and maintain detailed records of job matches and retention.
- Stay updated on regional labor market trends and employer requirements.
- Facilitate communication between participants and employers to ensure smooth onboarding and retention.
- Actively identify and pursue new industry sectors (e.g., technology, manufacturing, healthcare) from the region’s high-demand occupation list to diversify employment opportunities.
- Coordinate with training providers to ensure participants gain credentials or certifications valued by employers in target industries.
- Develop post-placement follow-up plans to assist both the employer and the participant for at least 90 days, addressing performance or adjustment issues early.
- Use labor market analytics to forecast hiring trends and proactively prepare candidates.
- Oversee disbursement and tracking of youth stipends tied to employment placements, ensuring compliance with grant requirements.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Workforce Development, or related field.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in job development, employer engagement, or workforce placement.
- Strong communication and negotiation skills.
- Familiarity with local labor market and workforce development practices.
- Commitment to serving disadvantaged, unemployed, and at-risk populations.