Logo
Safer Foundation

Job Developer

Safer Foundation, Chicago, IL, United States


The Safer Foundation is a social service provider to individuals with arrest and conviction records. Through a full range of services, including case management, educational instruction and advocacy, we focus on preparing individuals for the world of work by helping them find and keep productive and meaningful employment.

General Summary:

Under limited direction, the Job Developer establishes and maintains relationships with employers and community organizations to develop job opportunities and support continued employment for justice-impacted and reentry individuals enrolled in the Clean Jobs Network program. Coordinates day-to-day activities such as soliciting employer interest and involvement in employing justice-impacted and reentry individuals. The Job Developer performs activities designed to assist clients with finding employment in their field of training, which includes researching and working closely with local employers, business organizations, and community organizations in developing job opportunities and arranging the direct placement of clients. This position will work specifically with justice-impacted and reentry individuals, many of which are experiencing a host of other needs including medical, behavioral health, housing, and other needs, while also seeking employment. The JD will also work cross-functionally with all programmatic teams and other key personnel at Safer Foundation.

Performance Results Description:

The Position is properly performed when all essential duties and responsibilities are executed by following the Safer values:

Exceeding Expectations, Communication and Collaboration, Integrity and Evidence Based Innovation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Stakeholder Interface and Service

  • Initiates develops, and maintains personal contacts with business and industry representatives for job opportunities related to Industry specific training(s)
  • Establishes and maintains temporary, full-time, part-time, and job banks
  • Assists qualified clients in identifying positions in their field of interest
  • Assists in tailoring client resumes and cover letters to available employment opportunities
  • Assist clients with employment applications as needed
  • Conduct mock interviews with clients before referring them out to potential employment partners, accessing responses appearance, and body language while coaching clients along the way
  • Maintains currency with industry trends; updates labor market information by researching online resources, attending meetings, maintaining contacts with job-ready clients, and networking with local business/chained/franchised organizations that are involved in job placement of justice-impacted and reentry individuals
  • Communicates with employers to obtain employment and retention verification of hired clients
  • Prepare quarterly reports showing job placement numbers and retention met
  • Works with faculty program coordinators to collect and track job placement data; compiles data and prepares reports and correspondence regarding job development and placement efforts
  • Works collaboratively with faculty and staff to coordinate and facilitate recruitment days, employer panels, and targeted job fairs
  • Attends scheduled meetings in collaboration with the Program Manager; advises the team of employment trends along with the needs and concerns of the local business community
  • Send emails to job-ready clients marketing available employment opportunities bi-weekly
  • Host Job Clubs monthly and small job fairs monthly
  • Collaborate with Safer Skill Training (SST) Facilitators to present to SST participants
  • The Sector Manager averages 7 - 10 placements per month
  • The Sector Manager brings in an average of 2 new employers every quarter
Stakeholder Outreach and Recruitment
  • Prospect for new employers through intensive research, community-outreach, market analysis, networking, calling, information dissemination and presentation campaigns.
  • Understanding these needs, work to identify leads and perform outreach to employers that have a demand for labor and skills who will receive referrals from Safer Foundation.
  • Spend at least 2/3 of time in the field making direct employer contacts and account management.
Tracking, Document, and Reporting
  • Enter all qualified employment placements into Safer's database.
  • Enter all services provided to clients and pertinent documents (IDs, resumes, etc.) into Safer's database
  • Enter all job starts into Safer's database.
  • Perform and document 30, 60, and 90 day retention checks with placed clients.
  • Participate in periodic multidisciplinary staffing's.
  • Submit assigned reports that are routinely correct and on-time.
  • Handle special projects along with routine expectations when it is required.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  • Passion for social justice.
  • Ability to work with high-risk populations with complex needs.
  • Excellent sales and communication skills.
  • Client-centered ideology.
  • Cultural competency (cultural and linguistic) as it relates to cultures and trauma experienced by formerly incarcerated individuals and as it relates to predominantly underserved minority communities.
  • Strong display of professionalism at all times.
  • Strong ethical principles and display of personal and professional boundaries.
  • Self-motivated, resourceful and outcome-driven.
  • Adaptable and teachable; displays a willingness to learn and further develop skills
  • Emotional Self-Awareness; Possesses knowledge of personal strengths, weakness, and triggers and the ability to self-regulate emotions.
  • Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to pay attention to detail, prioritize, and multitask.
  • Previous experience working with justice-involved individuals is desired
  • Hands-on experience and self-sufficiency with Microsoft productivity tools, including Outlook (for email), Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), and online collaboration tools (video conferencing, Zoom/Teams, messaging).
Education and Experience:
  • Bachelor's Degree is preferred or equivalent experience; prior case management experience helpful
Other:
  • Must have a valid driver's license.
  • Must have full coverage auto insurance.


Safer Foundation is a drug-free workplace.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Minorities/Females/Veterans

www.saferfoundation.org Opens a New Window

No Phone Calls Please