ADMISSIONS SPECIALIST

About Cara Collective

Cara Collective seeks to fuel a courageous national movement to eradicate relational and financial poverty. Throughourthree entities Cara Cleanslate and Cara Plus weengage job seekers employers and other organizations across the country to break the cycle of poverty through the power and purpose of employment.

At present we produce 1000 jobs each year; however our results dont just end with employment. Todaywe takethe insights gained over the past 30 years to equip other organizations and employers with practices to help build a more inclusive economy. Learn more at .

About the Cara Collective Recruitment & Admissions Team

The Recruitment & Admissions Team is responsible for sourcing untapped talent for the entire enterprise. The team does this by maintaining mutually beneficial partnerships with a wide range of referral sources engaging a diverse group of prospective participants with enthusiasm and empathy guiding participants into appropriate programmatic and business portals after understanding their individual needs and re-engaging participants who are inactive from the program but looking to remain a part of the community.

About the Role

The Admissions Specialist plays a vital role on the Recruitment & Admissions Team by serving as the first point of contact for prospective participants guiding them through the admissions process with empathy efficiency and clarity. From that very first conversation the Admissions Specialist helps individuals feel seen heard and supported as they navigate their journey toward employment and personal transformation.

Qualifications

Were excited to offer this opportunity to a mission-aligned hands-on professional who finds fulfillment in both connecting with people and building efficient systems.

This role blends administrative precision participant-centered engagement and recruitment outreach. The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic environment and is eager to contribute to a culture rooted in care dignity and community.

As an Admissions Specialist youll conduct intake conversations maintain participant records represent Cara Collective at recruitment events and ensure every prospective participant experiences a smooth and dignified entry into our community. Youll also collaborate with internal teams and external partners to build a strong pipeline of future participants.

This is more than an administrative roleits a chance to help someone take the first step toward a new beginning. If youre detail-oriented people-centered and driven by purpose wed love to meet you.

Requirements

• Passion for and alignment with Cara Collectives mission and values.
• At least 2 years of relevant experience or completion of a related training program.
• Natural leader who fosters trust cultivates growth and creates a culture for others to see what is possible.
• Relentless passion for supporting adults from all walks of life in moving forward in their lives and careers.
• Hands-on doer equally amped up to take the reins of your own work and enthusiastic to work collaboratively with the team.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office especially Excel Word and Outlook required. Salesforce experience preferred. Capable of developing tools and templates to optimize operations.
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently in a fast-paced high-energy environment and to multi-task and balance a number of priorities while holding to tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

This is an exciting opportunity to help create and maintain the kind of space where Cara Collectives missionto break the cycle of poverty through the power and purpose of employmentcan truly thrive.

Key Responsibilities:

Admissions (50%)

• Conduct engaging phone and in-person conversations with prospective participants to understand their needs barriers and goals and connect them with appropriate programmatic and business opportunities
• Build and maintain consistent communication with prospective and enrolled participants to support them through the admissions process and until they begin programming
• Provide clear and compassionate guidance to participants ensuring they feel informed supported and welcomed into the Cara Collective community

Administrative Duties (40%)

• Promptly and professionally respond to all admissions inquiries including voicemails emails and internal referrals
• Under the direction of the Manager of Recruitment & Admissions maintain accurate tracking of candidates for our social enterprise businesses and for grant reporting purposes
• Create update and maintain accurate and compliant electronic participant files
• Administer and document drug tests; maintain updated drug testing records as results are received
• Submit and verify background check requests ensuring participant files are updated in a timely manner
• Manage and maintain a daily calendar of recruitment interviews and walk in appointments
• Support Orientation and Onboarding by participating in activities that ensure participants feel welcomed and prepared
• Scan upload and accurately label participant I-9 documents and all grant-related paperwork to ensure compliance and audit readiness

Recruitment (10%)

• Represent Cara Collective with professionalism and enthusiasm at community events resource fairs partner meetings and job fairs to build visibility and generate interest in our programs
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with referral partners to ensure a strong pipeline of prospective participants
• Collaborate with the Marketing team to support outreach strategies and promote upcoming admissions opportunities
• Support internal recruitment efforts including outreach to previous participants or those who have paused engagement to encourage reentry into programming

Reports To

Manager of Recruitment & Admissions

Direct Report(s)

N/A

Workplace Type & Team Culture

Cara Collective has a strong team culture that values collaboration communication and camaraderie. We believe in the power of working together in person which is why we expect our employees to be onsite at one of our Chicago-based locations multiple days each week. For this role that means a minimum of four days in the office with some weeks requiring all five days depending on organizational needs. The exact number of onsite days may vary by role employee tenure and other factors. This commitment to in-person collaboration fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork among our employees creating a supportive and dynamic work environment.

We consistently measure staff satisfaction through employee surveys and have found that year over year the vast majority of staff agree that Cara Collective is a great place to work and grow. This high level of employee satisfaction reflects our dedication to creating a positive and fulfilling workplace for all members of our team.

Starting Pay Range

We take budget and starting salary very seriously. We market our roles and are using a salary analysis tool called Payscale and offer competitive market-based compensation to all employees.

This positions expected starting pay range is $44000 to $48000 annually.

Any offered salary is determined based on relevant factors such as applicants skills job responsibilities prior relevant experience certain degrees and certifications and market considerations.

Benefits

Cara Collective is proud to offer a comprehensive competitive benefit package with options designed to help you make the best decision for yourself your family and your lifestyle. Available benefits ae based on eligibility. Our Total Rewards package includes a variety of medical and dental plans vision coverage disability and life insurance 401(k)

• Medical Dental Vision Plans
• Basic Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• Personal Technology Reimbursement
• Starting with 17 Vacation Days 8 Sick Days
• 14 Paid Holidays

Employee Paid Benefits

• Pre-Tax Medical Flexible Spending Account
• Pre-Tax Dependent Care Account
• Pre-Tax Transit & Parking Options
• Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (employer match up to 4% upon hire & immediately vested)

As of this posting we annually review our benefit offerings to meet our employees needs and be competitive in the market. All listed benefits offerings a at the discretion of the employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cara Collective is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Cara Collective does not discriminate on the basis of race color national origin sex gender identity religion sexual orientation age disability parental status veteran status or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability please email us at if you require reasonable accommodation to complete this application.