Overview
The Opportunity
We’re looking to hire a resilient and results-driven Retention Specialist for our San Jose program who will keep our program participants fully engaged in the labor force for at least twelve months after they’ve secured full-time employment.
Successful Retention Specialists understand customer relationship management and work to build strong and trusting relationships with participants; strategically manage their caseloads, balancing the needs of individual participants with organizational needs to achieve programmatic outcomes; and hold themselves accountable for capturing a running record of participant interactions and milestone achievements within CEO’s case management system.
CEO has implemented an org-wide vaccination requirement that requires all new staff to be fully vaccinated before their first day of work. We have made this decision for the safety of our participants and employees and to enhance our ability to continue to provide the vital services we offer to our participants. As part of the onboarding process, new hires will be asked to submit proof of vaccination status prior to their first day of employment.
If you are unable to get vaccinated against COVID19 for medical or religious reasons, you can request a reasonable accommodation. An interactive meeting will be scheduled to discuss your request.
CEO does not discriminate against individuals with actual or perceived infection with COVID19 or based on an actual or perceived history of such infection nor based on any protected status.
Who We Are
The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides employment services to people with recent criminal convictions. Across the United States, over 6,000 people participate in CEO each year, transitioning to employment that supports themselves, their families, and their communities.
What began as a demonstration project of the Vera Institute of Justice in the 1970s to address employment barriers facing the formerly incarcerated following release in New York City has grown into the leading reentry employment organization in the country, where over 25,000 formerly incarcerated individuals have secured full-time employment since 1996. Since 2009, CEO has gained support to expand its programs through government, nonprofit, and private organizations including the Federal Social Innovation Fund, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Robin Hood Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. In 2016, CEO embarked on a 5-year strategic plan to grow to serve 9,000 participants annually.
Who You Are:
- You are deeply dedicated to social justice and perhaps are already working in the re-entry space
- You come to CEO with 1-2 years of related experience
- You are passionate about making an impact on people’s lives and interested in guiding them to achieving their career goals through a balance of accountability and empathy
- You are experienced in providing feedback and guidance to clients to encourage their growth and continued development of their knowledge and skills
- You have excellent interpersonal and written communication skills with the ability to adjust to particular personalities and interaction styles on the spot
- You’re a strong task manager and organized worker with the ability to maintain oversight of all of the details as you coordinate many moving pieces
- You are passionate about reviewing data and reading reports
- Knowledge of San Jose’s labor force strongly preferred
The Nitty Gritty:
Key responsibilities of the Retention Specialist include but are not limited to:
- Maintaining monthly contact with participants employed in the labor force
- Researching and connecting participants to educational and vocational opportunities as related to their short- and long-term goals
- Providing participants with financial counseling services
- Advocating for participant needs with parole officers and other constituencies
- Distributing retention incentives to eligible participants
- Using motivational interviewing techniques as appropriate to help guide participants to goal achievement
- Maintaining accurate client records in Salesforce; updating progress notes in Salesforce during and after each meeting with participants
Compensation and Benefits
The salary for this position is $54,936/annually. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, paid parental leave, participation in a retirement plan, sick and vacation leave, paid holidays and more. We’re a workplace that promotes continual learning and teamwork, offering lunch and learns, team outings, holiday gatherings and more for our staff. CEO is also dedicated to ongoing staff development and training, including regular training opportunities in Motivational Interviewing (MI). MI is one evidence-based skill that reentry and human service professionals can utilize when supporting participants to achieve their goals.
More About Us
The Center for Employment Opportunities believes that everyone deserves the chance to shape a stronger future for themselves, their families, and their communities. Our commitment to being an anti-racism organization that is inclusive across all identities and experiences drives us forward every day. We exist to create greater opportunities for people who face multiple barriers to personal and professional success, and we’re passionate about being agents of change who promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to opportunities for all.
People who are justice involved, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ+ , and people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels. We are an equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
Please note that due to the volume of resumes received, we are unable to contact each applicant regarding the status of each position or reply to candidates’ inquiries via phone or email.
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