Retention Specialist

$45,000 - $49,000

The Team Works Retention Specialist provides professional follow-up and retention services to Out-of-School Youth (OSY) participants who have exited WIOA Title I–funded programming. The primary goal of this role is to support participants in sustaining unsubsidized employment, post-secondary education enrollment, or registered apprenticeship placement for a minimum of 12 months following program exit.

Aligned with Agape’s mission, this role helps ensure that participants who have transitioned out of Team Works continue to experience hope-centered support, stability, and forward momentum toward long-term self-sufficiency. The Retention Specialist works collaboratively with program staff, employers, educational partners, and community resources to remove barriers, administer supportive services and incentives, and maintain accurate documentation of post-exit outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Participant Follow-Up & Retention Support Proactive Follow-Up:
Conduct regular, mandated contacts with former participants via text, phone, or letter to monitor progress and offer support, including weekly or monthly check-ins during the first 90 days after exit and quarterly contacts thereafter for a full year.

Re-Engagement Services:
Engage unemployed former participants in job search activities and help re-establish contact with non-responsive individuals.

Crisis Response:
Respond appropriately to participant needs and crises that arise during the post-exit period, providing guidance and appropriate referrals.

Barrier Removal & Supportive Services Barrier Identification:
Identify ongoing barriers to retention—such as transportation, childcare, housing, or healthcare needs—and provide immediate referrals to internal or external resources.

Supportive Service Administration:
Assess ongoing participant needs and process requests for supportive services, including transportation vouchers (gift cards), uniforms, and work tools, to remove financial barriers to maintaining employment or education.

Financial Tracking:
Maintain detailed records of all supportive service expenditures within the VOS case management system to ensure internal controls and prevent duplication of services.

Incentive & Milestone Management Incentive Voucher Management:
Manage the timely completion, documentation, and distribution of incentive gift cards awarded to participants for reaching key milestones, such as obtaining a GED, completing educational training, or securing employment.

Milestone Tracking:
Track participant progress toward milestone-based incentives to ensure accurate and timely processing and payout.

Employer, Educator & Career Coaching Support Employer and Educator Liaison:
Serve as a resource to identify and address issues that arise for participants, employers, and educators in post-placement settings to prevent job loss or training dropout.

Career and Education

Coaching:

Counsel youth in long-term career planning and help them realize their educational goals, including assistance with promotions or additional placements as needed.

Data Integrity & Compliance Data Integrity and Documentation:
Maintain accurate case notes and enter post-program outcomes (employment status, wages, and credentials) into VOS and other required systems within established time frames.

Compliance:
Ensure all activities and documentation pertaining to follow-up contacts and supportive service distribution comply with WIOA regulations, grant requirements, and local policies regarding personally identifiable and confidential information.

Quality Assurance Alignment:
Support alignment of retention practices with Agape’s Performance Quality and Improvement (PQI) standards, and assist with related audits or monitoring as needed.

Core…