JOB DEVELOPER

Neighbors, Inc. is a non-profit, social-service agency with 50+ years of experience serving Dakota County and surrounding communities with high-dignity basic needs services (Hunger Relief, Clothing, and Community Resources). Recently, Financial Empowerment services were launched to help lift communities out of poverty. With the support of over 400+ active volunteers and 22 staff, Neighbors is a pillar of support and unity in the community.

Mission: Neighbors helping neighbors build stability to increase opportunity and well-being.

About the Role

The Job Developer develops and maintains partnerships with employers to facilitate job placements offering family-sustaining wages and benefits, with a core focus on identified high-demand industries. The role requires ongoing collaboration with employer partners, community colleges, and other relevant organizations to create and ensure effective service delivery. Additionally, the position includes providing employment preparation to clients, addressing barriers to job retention, and coordinating with internal staff to integrate services and support programmatic success. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in job development, strong analytical and project management skills, and the ability to use data-driven insights to improve program effectiveness.

Hiring range: $62,000 - $65,000 annually.

Responsibilities

• Partnership Development (75%):
  • Implement a job development strategy leading to job placements offering family-sustaining wages with benefits in high-demand industries (e.g., Healthcare, IT, Trades/Construction, Transportation, and Manufacturing).
  • Develop and execute a robust strategy for employment partnership development and maintenance.
  • Conduct weekly one-on-one meetings with local employers.
  • Represent Neighbors, Inc. in professional networking settings.
  • Develop a strong understanding of certifications and industry-recognized credential training pathways that lead to family-sustaining career placements.
  • Build relationships and pathways with community colleges and approved training providers.
  • Foster strong relationships with employers, ensuring their needs are met and matched with client skills and interests.
  • Maintain ongoing contact with employers to develop job leads.
  • Evaluate the performance of the partnership strategy, factoring in alignment to training sectors.
• Client Services (10%):
  • Match client employment goals, skills, interests, income requirements, transportation, and other relevant factors with employer partner job opportunities.
  • Provide employment preparation to clients individually and in groups (e.g., interviewing techniques, resume development, application preparation, American work culture).
  • Assist employers and clients with barriers to job retention in collaboration with the Financial Empowerment team.
  • Provide job placement services to clients.
• Internal Collaboration (15%):
  • Ensure strong retention services are in place, including 90 days after employment and long-term follow-up after 1 year of employment.
  • Collaborate with the Financial Empowerment Center Manager, Coaches, and support staff as a core member of the Financial Empowerment Team.
  • Support successful volunteerism (e.g., business leads, resume review, mock interviewing) in collaboration with the Financial Empowerment Center Manager and Volunteer Manager.
  • Coordinate and collaborate with relevant Neighbors, Inc. staff and outside partners/employers to ensure effective and streamlined service delivery.

Requirements

• Proven experience developing and maintaining partnerships with employers and meeting program and fiscal goals.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• 2 to 4 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrably equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven familiarity with the local and surrounding community.
• Knowledge of the non-profit workforce sector and contract objectives.
• Experience with CRM databases such as Salesforce, Apricot, or Workforce One.
• Bilingual: Spanish/English.

Skills

• Experience and proven results in effective job development strategies related to high-demand industries.
• Knowledge and experience with certificate and credential training sectors in high-demand industries.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated experience in all facets of employment placement assistance (e.g., resume preparation, interviewing, business expectations, high-demand industries).
• Ability to conduct effective employer partnership development.
• Strong interpersonal skills to interact effectively with staff, volunteers, and community members.
• Ability to use data-driven insights to inform continuous improvement of workforce-related programs.
• Thorough understanding of best practices in workforce development and career training programs.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, interpret, and utilize data to improve program effectiveness and participant outcomes.
• Superior project management and organizational skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for engaging with staff, participants, stakeholders, and funders.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work independently and as a team member.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products.
• Collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Able to be discreet and manage confidential information.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit at a desk for extended periods.

Additional Information

• Eligible for employment in the United States.
• Periodically able to work evenings and weekends.
• Must pass criminal, credit, and vehicular background checks.
• Must have access to reliable transportation.
• Other duties as assigned.