Employment Specialist

Employment Specialist (Part-Time)

Whole Systems Learning | Long Beach, CA

Compensation: $28.00 - $34.00 per hour (DOE)

Help Youth Turn Their Passions into Careers

Whole Systems Learning is seeking a Part-Time Employment Specialist who believes that meaningful employment begins with understanding a person's interests, talents, and aspirations.

This role is not about placing young people into jobs simply because they are in demand. It is about partnering with youth and young adults ages 16-24 to discover their passions, explore career pathways, build professional networks, and secure employment opportunities that align with their individual goals.

The Employment Specialist will serve as a career coach, connector, advocate, and relationship‑builder, helping youth identify opportunities that support long‑term career success.

The Ideal Candidate Will:

• Have experience placing youth, young adults, reentry populations, or justice‑impacted individuals into employment.
• Possess strong recruiting and networking skills.
• Understand how to build relationships with employers across multiple industries.
• Be skilled at helping individuals identify their passions, strengths, and career interests.
• Have experience conducting targeted job searches and developing employment opportunities.
• Maintain strong professional and community networks throughout Long Beach and surrounding areas.
• Be committed to participant‑centered career development rather than one‑size‑fits‑all job placement.
• Excel at motivating, coaching, and empowering young people.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individualized career coaching and career planning.
• Support youth in identifying meaningful career pathways based on their interests and goals.
• Develop job posting profiles, resumes, and professional branding materials.
• Build and maintain employer partnerships.
• Create internship, apprenticeship, job shadowing, and employment opportunities.
• Conduct targeted job searches aligned with participant career interests.
• Facilitate workforce readiness and professional development workshops.
• Track participant outcomes and employment retention.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Individuals with lived experience and a demonstrated ability to connect with and support opportunity youth, justice‑impacted individuals, and those affected by gang involvement are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Strong employer engagement and business development experience.
• Experience developing partnerships, MOUs, and community collaborations.
• Knowledge of workforce development resources and career pathways.

Schedule

Part‑Time | Approximately 20‑25 hours per week | Flexible Schedule

What We Offer

• Opportunity to help young people build careers that reflect their passions and talents.
• Flexible work schedule.
• Collaborative and mission‑driven team environment.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Meaningful work that creates lasting impact in the community.