Reentry Career Job Developer at SAFER FOUNDATION – Chicago, Illinois

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:

Reporting to the Employment Manager, the Reentry Career Job Developer, is a member of multi-disciplinary team staff providing wraparound supports to individuals who have arrest and/or conviction records primarily residing in the Belmont-Cragin area in efforts to break generational poverty, reduce recidivism, and restore communities.

The Reentry Career Job Developer will receive referrals from a variety of members of the team to assist with job readiness, and job placement. Reentry Career Job Developer will be responsible for providing guidance to clients to support employment goals, and ongoing employment case management. The Reentry Career Job Developer will facilitate a LifeSkills group which initiates a job readiness training continuum providing guidance on financial and digital literacy and identify potential employers that support and employ clients who are justice impacted.

Performance Results Description

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

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Stakeholder Interface and Service

• Promptly respond to referrals from the Safer staff of clients referred/enrolled for Life Skills Class.
• Screen referrals for technology needs and make recommendations for such clients to be able to attend virtual or in-person classes.
• Facilitate Life Skills classes
• Assist in job preparedness including resume and cover letter development, mock interviews and proper interviewing etiquette.
• Coordinate with the team by participating in staffings, troubleshooting issues, reporting on progress, and highlighting successes.
• Prospect for new employers through intensive research, community-outreach, market analysis, networking, calling, information dissemination and presentation campaigns.
• Upon clients completing Life Skills work with the individuals for employment and take appropriate steps to match and place clients with/in jobs tailored to their IEP (Individual Employment Plan)
• Create excellent professional relationships with employers.
• In conjunction with assigned Reentry Navigator or other involved staff, provide intensive follow-up on placements to ensure employer satisfaction; make prompt replacements when necessary.

Stakeholder Outreach and Recruitment

• Participate in occasional team-based outreach events as directed by the Program Employment Manager.
• 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

• Document class schedules in Salesforce, daily.
• Routinely check Salesforce to confirm Life skills class schedule.
• Monitor attendance and report back to referring staff person for no-shows.
• Promptly issue certificates (within 24-48 hours) for clients that complete the recommended group sessions and confirm completion with referring staff persons.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Display of professionalism always.
• Self-motivated, resourceful and outcome-driven with the capability to function in a fast-paced, start-up work environment.
• Adaptable and teachable; displays a willingness to learn and further develop skills
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to pay attention to detail, prioritize, and multitask.
• Knowledge of group dynamics, group safety; experience facilitating groups concerning job readiness.
• Knowledge of workforce development and employment services for chronically unemployed individuals or individuals experiencing poverty.
• Experience using an electronic health record system and/or case management system 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).
• Fluency in English; Spanish is preferred.
• Individuals with criminal records and other lived experience are encouraged to apply.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field (Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice, etc.) required
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working at a social service organization or behavioral health provider.
• Lived experience will be considered if the applicant can demonstrate applicable experience doing similar work.

Licenses and or Certifications:

• Not Required

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance – Care for you and eligible family members
  • Choice of two (2) Medical Plan options from BlueCross BlueShield
  • Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
  • Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
• Dental Insurance – Offered by BCBS
  • Individual coverage 100% paid by Safer!
    • Eligible family coverage available
• Vision – “See” how Safer cares for your eye health
  • Low-cost co-pays for in-network exam, frames & contacts

• Life Insurance – Protection for you & your family
  • Basic Life (equal to 1.5 times your salary.)
  • 100% paid by Safer!

• 403b Retirement Plan – Helping you save for retirement
  • Generous Company match to help you save more!

• Vacation & Holidays – Refresh, rewind, & enjoy at Safer!
  • Vacation days (non-manager)
  • Company Holidays (2025); more than industry standard
  • Paid Leave Days
    
    
• Other Benefits & Perks -adding value to You!
  • Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
  • Benefits such as Pet Insurance, Critical Illness, & Travel

Safer Foundation is a drug-free workplace.

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

www.saferfoundation.org

No Phone Calls Please