Families Forward, member of The Fedcap Group, is looking for a mission-driven, outgoing and professional individual to become a Placement Specialist! Also known as a Job Developer, this person will build and maintain relationships with employers and non-profits which offer volunteer and/or employment opportunities for program participants. The Placement Specialist role is an integral member of the team and will be based out of our Lewiston, Maine opportunity center location.

Position Key Highlights:

Earn a minimum 42K + (starting) pay in this amazing role where you will be building bridges in the community that help participants in a unique way to improve their economic stability and that of their family! This position hours are full-time, during the office hours of Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Families Forward offers all full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, as well as on the job training, professional development initiatives, and REAL opportunity for advancement! Apply today to be considered and contacted by a member of our recruiting team! 

Position Summary:

The Placement Specialist is a member of the Partner Engagement team - this role can also be known as Job Developer. Using a customer service approach, Placement Specialists develop and maintain exemplary relationships with non-profit organizations and employers to create volunteer (Work Experience Programs -WEP) and employment opportunities for program participants. 

Essential Job Functions:

Upholds all agency policies and expectations in performing their job. Establishes trust and rapport with program participants to effectively engage them in Families Forward services.  Runs reports in Fedcap CARES and uses data to plan daily and weekly tasks. Cultivates enduring relationships with employers and non-profits which result in ongoing volunteer and/or employment opportunities for participants. Matches participants with WEP assignments and employment opportunities based on their FCA, vocational evaluation, TANF work requirements/hours, and need for accommodations. Ensures utilization of IVR at all WEP sites. Aims to help participants get jobs consistent with their interests and skills at a minimum of 30 hours a week. Facilitates Field Training / On-The-Job (OJT) placements with non-profit and for-profit companies that lead to employment opportunities. Conducts follow-up calls and visits to ensure that nonprofit partners are satisfied with their volunteer(s), answer any questions about BTC, and mediate any concerns. Conducts follow-up calls and visits to employers to ensure their satisfaction with their hires from Families Forward, inquire about new vacancies, and mediate any concerns. Creates recruitment strategies for hiring events, retention events, and on-site employer panels. Works with WRI and others to host hiring events that strategically match participants with employers who are specifically seeking their skills and backgrounds.  Tracks working participants to ensure that they are meeting their required hours through employment and/or engagement in other activities. Maintains exceptional recordkeeping and documents all communication and contact with participants, WEP sites, and employers. Validates retention benchmarks at 30, 90, and 180 days for working participants. Represents the agency to all stakeholders and in the community in a positive and professional manner. Perform other related duties as assigned. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree preferred, along with - or as an equivalent to education - several years of relevant experience. Experience working as a Placement Specialist or Job Developer in a non-profit environment is preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment: This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work/ Travel:

This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but will be determined by your supervisor.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Fedcap provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We are an EEO employer committed to diversity, M/F/D/V.