Employment Specialist

EmploymentSpecialist

About Cara Collective

Cara Collectiveseeksto fuel a courageous national movement to eradicate relational and financial poverty. Through our three entities Cara Cleanslate and Cara Plus we engage 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 resultsdontjust end with employment. Today we take the 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 CollectivesEmployment ServicesTeam

The Employment Services Teamis responsible forsecuring job opportunities for participants and providingconcierge-styleserviceto our employment partnersthrough job matching.

We are afast movingand passionate team withonefocusworking with our job seekers to help them secure meaningful employment.

About the Role

EmploymentSpecialists aremonitoredon key performance indicatorsincluding successful management of their participant caseloadconsistent touchpoints with their caseload before being placed on a long-term jobsend-outsand send-out to placement conversion percentages with theultimate goalbeing placements.

Qualifications

We are excited to offer this opportunity for a passionate individual to join our teamand ourcommunity. This role is ideal for a proactive relationship-focused professional eager to contribute to workforce development and help individuals secure meaningful permanent employment.

Theideal candidate will be inspired by Cara Collectives mission and committed to working in an environment dedicated to racialequityand breaking the cycle of should bea self-starter energized by fostering strong partnerships highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and committed to continuous learning. They shouldpossessexcellent interpersonal skillsa strong desireto collaborate as a team player and approach challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset. They should excel in interacting with participantsdemonstratingproblem-solving skills to support successful employment placements.

While prior experience in a social justice organization or with workforce development is notrequired it is considered a plus.

Requirements:

• 1-2years of experience inworkforce development or a related field.

• Strong organizational and written/verbal communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.

• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced high-energy environment while balancing competing demands.

• Adaptable and flexible in a changing environment.

• Strong relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders.

• Proactive hands-on self-starter with a commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel Word and Outlook)required;Salesforce experience preferred.

• Ability to develop tools and templates to streamline andoptimizeoperations.

• Driven by Cara Collectives mission and values with a passion for supporting adults from allwalks of lifein advancing their lives and careers.

• Demonstrated leadership qualities that foster trust cultivate growth and inspire others to see what is possible.

• Solid educational foundation or equivalent professional experience that prepares you for success in the role.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to Cara Collectives transformative work while growing your career in workforce development. If you are ready to make an impact we encourage you to apply!

KeyResponsibilitiesof thePosition

Participant Support (90%)

• Manage a caseload of participants whileprovidingassistancefor all stages of the job search process including:

• Applicationhelp

• Interviewprep

• Post hire onboarding support

• Consistent follow up and ongoing communication with participants and all internal teams.

• Coach and guide participants to review job requirements and other employer expectations todeterminebest fit roles.

• Participatein inpersonCara Days where we get to know incoming job seekers.

• Help participants navigate company websites in researching potential roles and companies to pursue (utilizingthe Employer Research Sheet).

Miscellaneous (10%)

• Maintainaccuratetimely and complete data entry in Salesforce and other internal systems.

• Track and manage monthly metrics related to job orders send-outs and placement outcomes.

• Participate inmonthly cross-departmental meetingswith Coaching Training Recruitment/Admissions and Employment Services teams toalign onparticipant progress employer needs and shared goals.

• Collaborate closely with internal teams to ensure a coordinated participant-centered approach across the enterprise.

Reports to

Mangerof Employment Services

Direct Reports

N/A

Workplace Type& TeamCulture

Cara Collective hasa strong teamculture 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 locationsmultiple days each week. The exact number of onsite days per week may vary by role employee tenure and other commitment to in-person collaboration fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork among our employees creating a supportive and dynamic work environment.

We consistently measurestaffsatisfaction throughemployeesurveys and have found that yearoveryearthe vastmajority ofstaff agree that Cara Collective is a great place to work and levelof employee satisfaction reflects our dedication to creating a positive and fulfillingworkplacefor all members of our team.

Starting Pay Range

We takebudgetandstartingsalary very seriously. We market our roles and are using a salary analysis tool calledPayscaleandoffer competitive market-based compensationto all employees.

This positions expected starting pay range is47000- 52000

Benefits

Cara Collectiverecentlybenchmarkedbenefitsofferings and found thatwe exceed industry standards in terms of employee-friendlinessand benefit comprehensive benefit packageinclude:

• Medical Dental Vision Plans

• Basic Life Insurance

• Long Term Disability

• Personal TechnologyReimbursement

• 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&immediatelyvested)

As of thispostingwe annually review our benefitofferingsto meet ouremployeesneeds and becompetitive in the market. All listed benefits offeringsaat the discretion of the employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cara Collective is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminateon the basis ofrace color national origin sex gender identity religion sexual orientation age disability parental status veteran status or any other protected status under applicable laws. This commitment applies to all employment practices including those supported by technology or artificial intelligence tools used in the hiring process.

We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to complete this application orparticipatein the interview process please email us at