Employer, Placement & Retention Lead

ABOUT TWIN CITIES R!SE

Twin Cities R!SE is a nonprofit 501(c)3 whose mission is to transform the lives of those impacted by racial or socio-economic barriers through Personal Empowerment career training and meaningful employment. Our vision is a community where all individuals especially people of color have attained financial independence through employment success.

Our 8-week career training programs provide participants with the skills needed to be successful on any job. Our training focuses on individual development Personal Empowerment Career Training and the 21st Century Skills that todays employers are looking for. Graduates of this program typically double or triple their annual income. Our career coaches help participants develop a career plan while providing them with the resources and placement connections needed to achieve their goals.

Employers hire TCR graduates because they value that TCR graduates apply their Personal Empowerment skills leading to accountability responsibility conflict resolution positive interaction attendance and long-term change. They also know TCR graduates receive continued coaching services through the end of the first year of employment and that over 70% of TCR graduates stay at their job 1 years well above the general average.

Our Personal Empowerment Training curriculum that provides transformative Emotional Intelligence Training has been designed by The Empowerment Institute at Twin Cities R!SE. Not only do our TCR program participants benefit from this training The Empowerment Institute partners with businesses schools universities and nonprofits to help them create their own empowered cultures within these organizations.

JOB PURPOSE

The Employer Placement & Retention Lead builds and maintains strong relationships with employer partners to create meaningful employment opportunities for participants completing Twin Cities R!SEs Career Readiness and Empowerment programs. This role bridges TCRs mission-driven training with real-world job placements by identifying employer needs promoting participant strengths and coordinating outreach and engagement strategies that lead to long-term employment outcomes.

DEPARTMENT: Career Readiness Placement and Retention

LOCATION: Minneapolis

REPORT TO: Career Readiness Placement and Retention Manager

POSITION STATUS: Full-Time

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Employer Relationship Development

• Establish and nurture employer partnerships that align with participant skills career interests and program outcomes.
• Conduct regular employer meetings (in-person virtual and community events) to assess hiring needs and promote TCR programs.
• Develop and deliver employer-facing presentations proposals and customized engagement materials that highlight the impact of hiring TCR graduates.
• Maintain a pipeline of job leads track progress in Salesforce and ensure timely follow-up to convert leads into hiring outcomes.
• Represent TCR at job fairs industry events and community engagement opportunities to expand visibility and partnership networks.

2. Job Matching & Participant Placement

• Collaborate with Career Readiness and Employment Coaches to match participants to suitable job openings using digital job-matching tools (e.g. Realtime Talent Exchange O*Net).
• Achieve a minimum of 75% employment placement rate through strategic employer outreach and matching efforts.
• Partner with program staff to ensure participants resumes interview preparation and skill profiles meet employer requirements.
• Track and evaluate placement metrics and trends; adjust outreach strategies to optimize outcomes.

3. Retention & Long-Term Support

• Support post-placement retention through check-ins with both employers and participants promoting workplace success and advancement.
• Maintain a one-year retention rate of a minimum of 80% by identifying early intervention opportunities and connecting participants to ongoing TCR supports.
• Capture and report success stories promotions and milestones to demonstrate program impact and build employer loyalty.

4. Market Analysis & Outreach Strategy

• Conduct ongoing labor market research to identify high-demand industries and emerging workforce trends within the Twin Cities region.
• Provide feedback to program leadership on employer skill requirements to inform training and curriculum alignment.
• Develop targeted outreach campaigns and digital materials (in coordination with Marketing and Communications) that promote TCRs value proposition to employers.

5. Cross-Department Collaboration

• Partner with the Empowerment Institute Business Operations and Outreach teams to align employer engagement with organizational priorities.
• Support partnership development for specialized cohorts (e.g. sector-based or employer-funded training initiatives).
• Participate in TCR events and cross-functional projects that strengthen employer visibility and community relationships.

SUPERVISION: N/A. This position does not provide supervision to any staff.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

$55780 to $66940 annual salary depending on qualifications.

Health Dental Vision employer paid Life and AD&D employer paid Long Term Disability Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution Medical Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Dependent Care FSA Limited FSA Accident coverage Critical Illness coverage Hospital Indemnity coverage 403(b) Retirement Savings account with employer match First Stop Health telemedicine Employee Assistance Program professional development.

Paid-Time Off (19 days in first year) Floating Holiday 10 paid company holidays. Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave effective January 1st 2026.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelors degree in Human Services Human Resources Marketing Business or related field or equivalent experience.
• 3 years of experience in employer relations business development workforce development or client partnership roles.
• A current valid drivers license issued by the state of Minnesota to operate a motor vehicle legally in the state.
• Experience working with diverse populations and community-based employment initiatives preferred.
• GCDF or other professional coaching certification preferred.
• Experience in staffing job development or employer relations strongly desired.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Deep understanding of employment barriers labor market trends and workforce development best practices.
• Proven ability to establish grow and sustain mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Skilled in prospecting outreach and presenting value-driven solutions to employers.
• Ability to promote candidate strengths while addressing employer needs and workforce diversity goals.
• Strong coaching motivational interviewing and goal-setting skills.
• Strong ability to use data and market trends to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Excellent interpersonal written and presentation skills; adept at cross-functional teamwork.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with both participants and employers.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities meet deadlines and adapt to changing program demands.
• Proficient with Salesforce Microsoft 365 Zoom and digital communication platforms.
• Strong critical thinking problem-solving and data analysis skills.
• Commitment to TCRs mission values of empowerment and equity and trauma-informed coaching approaches.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to use a PC/laptop requiring repetitive motion of fingers hands and wrists.
• Required to occasionally move about in an office environment to access file cabinets printers etc. and remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time.
• Ability to move about in the community.
• Ability to lift light materials and equipment in the typical office environment (up to 15 pounds).
• Ability to be on video call for all meetings.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work schedule: Occasional evenings and/or weekends will be required (workweek will be adjusted accordingly).
• Travel requirements: Position will be expected to travel throughout the Twin Cities metro area to attend meetings and other events.
• Must have access to a personal vehicle. Must have a valid current drivers license and proof of valid insurance.
• Location/structure of work: Position is hybrid; employee will be expected to work in the TCR office weekly.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications must be submitted online via the Careers page on the TCR website. To be considered for this position please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

To request an accommodation during the application process please e-mail .

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee in this position. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) COMMITMENT

Twin Cities R!SE is committed to hiring and fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that leverages the skills and talents of all employees in our organization regardless of race color creed religion national origin sex (including pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions) gender identity sexual orientation disability age marital status veteran status familial status genetic information or any other protected status. We encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds such as these to apply for this position.