Employer Engagement Specialist

About the role

As an Employer Engagement Specialist, you will build and maintain employer relationships to generate job opportunities under the direction of the Project Director. This position bridges employers seeking qualified candidates and job seekers who require employment support, career coaching, and access to inclusive workforce opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Employer Engagement
  • Develop, cultivate, and maintain relationships with employers across diverse industries to create employment opportunities for program participants.
  • Generate job openings and placement opportunities that match the skills, interests, experience, career goals, and readiness levels of job seekers.
  • Conduct outreach to employers, chambers of commerce, workforce boards, business associations, sector partnerships, and community organizations.
  • Assist employers in understanding the benefits of hiring from diverse pools of candidates, including individuals in recovery, people with disabilities, justice-involved individuals, veterans, and other high-barrier populations.
  • Promote inclusive hiring practices, recovery-ready workplaces, stigma reduction, workplace accommodations, second-chance hiring, retention supports, and fair employment opportunity practices.
• Job Development & Labor Market Coordination
  • Gather, organize, verify, and distribute timely job leads to career counselors and vocational rehabilitation staff.
  • Provide job market information, labor market trends, sector-specific hiring needs, and employment practice updates to program staff.
  • Network with community-based organizations, treatment and recovery providers, workforce partners, educational institutions, and public agencies to promote employment opportunities and referral pathways.
• Partnership Development & Community Engagement
  • Coordinate and participate in job fairs, hiring events, recruitment sessions, employer panels, business roundtables, advisory councils, and employment-related events.
  • Build and maintain collaborative relationships with workforce development partners, educational institutions, public agencies, employers, and community-based organizations to expand employment opportunities and support service networks.
• Participant Employment Planning & Placement Support
  • Collaborate with career counselors, vocational rehabilitation counselors, case managers, and program staff to develop and implement person-centered employment plans.
  • Conduct follow-up with employers and counselors to assess placement quality, job satisfaction, retention risks, and opportunities for additional support.
• Data Management, Tracking & Reporting
  • Create and maintain employer databases, job banks, job listings, business contact records, and employer engagement documentation.
  • Track placements, interviews, referrals, job leads, employer contacts, retention milestones, and other required performance outcomes.
  • Prepare reports for the Project Director and program leadership regarding employer engagement, job development activities, placements, retention, and progress toward deliverables.
  • Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation in required databases, spreadsheets, case management systems, and program files.
• Program Operations & Continuous Improvement
  • Participate in staff meetings, case conferences, supervision, performance reviews, professional development, and continuous quality improvement activities.
  • Maintain professional boundaries and communicate respectfully with employers, partners, funders, and colleagues.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned by the Project Director.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred in human services, social work, public health, counseling, rehabilitation, public administration, or a related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible program management experience.
• Experience managing workforce, rehabilitation, behavioral health, reentry, or human services programs strongly preferred.
• Experience with government grants or contracts and staff supervision preferred.
• Ability to build trust with employers and translate employer needs into viable job opportunities for participants.
• Strong communication skills for engaging with employers, public agencies, community partners, and internal teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills to resolve barriers related to hiring, retention, workplace fit, transportation, scheduling, background checks, and participant readiness.
• Ability to analyze labor market information and identify realistic employment pathways aligned with participant goals and employer demand.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, meet reporting requirements, and protect confidential information.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, participant-centered practice, recovery-oriented service delivery, and respectful engagement with diverse communities.

Benefits

• Health insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• Paid time off (Vacation, Sick, Floating)
• Retirement plan 403(b)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Commuter Benefits
• Life/Accident insurance
• Short-term Disability Insurance
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

Pay

$66,300 per year

About Us

The mission of Easterseals New York is to spread help, hope, and answers. We operate programs that enable people with special needs to achieve equality, dignity, and independence in their own communities. We provide exceptional services to ensure that people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play in their communities. Easterseals New York joined The Fedcap Group in 2015.

www.easterseals.com/newyork