Partnerships Specialist, Non-Profit & Social Impact

Founded in Baltimore in 1985, Living Classrooms Foundation is a Baltimore - Washington, DC nonprofit that disrupts the cycle of poverty and helps our community become safer, stronger, and healthier by building skills for life. Living Classrooms inspires children, youth, and adults to achieve their potential through hands‑on education, workforce development, health and wellness, and violence prevention programming. Living Classrooms has developed a distinctive competency in experiential learning - learning by direct experience - or what we call "learning by doing."

The Workforce Development Department provides job training and other initiatives for adults who reside in Baltimore City. We utilize our environmental campuses, athletic fields, community centers, and historic ships as "living classrooms." We work with one child, one teen, one adult, and one family at a time to identify existing barriers towards success and provide resources and opportunities to help each person reach their full potential, thus supporting stronger family units and more resilient communities.

The Employment and Partnerships Specialist is responsible for building and maintaining employer partnerships, identifying and developing employment opportunities for participants across the Division of Workforce Development, supporting job placement and retention, and tracking employment outcomes.

• Promotes Living Classrooms programs and services to employers, community partners, and other stakeholders.
• Meets regularly with current employer partners to maintain and strengthen relationships and identify ongoing employment opportunities for participants.
• Conducts outreach to employers who are not currently partners to introduce them to Living Classrooms and explore opportunities for collaboration.
• Develops tangible employment opportunities for participants, including those with limited work histories and/or challenging backgrounds.
• Attends local workforce development events to build relationships, expand employer networks, and identify new employment and partnership opportunities.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with local labor unions to create career pathways and employment opportunities for program participants.

• Working with Program Director's to identify program participants who are ready to transition into employment.
• Identify and secure viable employment opportunities that align with participants’ skills, interests, and career goals.
• Support participants throughout the job placement process, including preparing for interviews, communicating with employers, and transitioning into employment.
• Serve as a liaison between participants and employer partners to facilitate successful matches and support positive employment outcomes.
• Provide ongoing support to employer partners as a thought partner in addressing workplace challenges and supporting participants as they acclimate to employment.
• Maintain regular communication with participants and employers to identify and address barriers that may impact job retention.

• Track and document employer outreach and engagement activities.
• Track job referrals, placements, and employment outcomes in Birdseye.
• Document and maintain records of employer partnerships in Birdseye.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date data on individuals served, including demographics, employment status, job placements, and retention outcomes.
• Ensure employment-related data is consistently documented and available for program reporting and evaluation.

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences or a related field, or 3-4 years of experience in outreach, community engagement, case management, workforce development, or related field.
• Excellent written communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong communication, organization, and follow-up skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and engage effectively with individuals who are unfamiliar or not previously connected to the organization.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to confidently represent Living Classrooms in community and professional settings.