Transitional Specialist, Retention

Job Details

Job Title: Transitional Work and Retention Specialist

Employment Type: Full‑time, Non‑Exempt

Salary: $27.48–$31.87 hourly (approx. $50,000–$58,000 annually)

Location: Long Island City, NY 11101

Days/

Hours:

35 hours per week (Monday–Friday, 9:00AM–5:00PM); some evenings and weekends as required.

Under the direction of the Program Manager, the Transitional Work & Retention Specialist will be responsible for recruiting, screening, enrolling, and out‑reaching participants in the Transitional Work Program. They will manage the retention collection and incentive distribution process for individuals who report employment outcomes, support employer relations for internship host sites, and oversee data accuracy for key performance indicators.

The Specialist will use a trauma‑informed approach when engaging participants, facilitate weekly job‑club meetings, and assist the Program Manager with data reporting and program curriculum updates.

Essential responsibilities include fostering participant success, monitoring employment outcomes, and maintaining accurate records.

• Mission and Fit: Embodies Fortune’s mission and values; demonstrates compassion and understanding for participants at all stages of re‑entry.
• Multitasking: Prioritizes demands, focuses on complex tasks, and seeks guidance as needed.
• Participant Centered: Provides customer care and empathy, resolves participant concerns, and liaises with community partners.
• Attention to Detail: Maintains systems for retention, case management, employer research, and work progress; detects inconsistencies.

• Recruit, screen, and enroll Employment Services participants into the Transitional Work Program, assisting with application completion and resume modifications.
• Assess career interests and aptitudes to guide participants toward suitable transitional work placements.
• Act as an intermediary between interns and employers to resolve workplace issues and promote successful completion.
• Collect documentation related to employment retention and distribute incentives to participants sharing employment outcomes.
• Regularly document all retention outcomes in the Client Record Management system and work with the Program Manager, Data to ensure data quality for reporting.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation of all services.
• Co‑facilitate weekly Job Club Sessions for transitional work program participants and assist with curriculum updates.
• Participate in collaborative meetings with Employment Services staff to assess participant progress and plan services.
• Co‑facilitate transitional work program orientations.
• Visit participant work sites to understand behaviors in various settings and gather feedback from employer host sites.
• Review employer and participant feedback and performance reports, identify barriers to success, and provide coaching to promote attendance and effective participation.
• Screen current interns during the internship to determine readiness for post‑completion employment and communicate feedback with Employment Specialists and the Program Manager.
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures and program performance guidelines as outlined by the Program Manager.
• Ensure records are accurate, maintained, and updated regularly to align with ongoing changes.
• Assist with administrative tasks such as updating referral trackers, data entry, reporting, typing, filing, and scheduling appointments.
• Support resume creation, revision, and editing to include Fellowship experience for placement support.
• Maintain regular phone, email, and in‑person communication with participants and supervision officers making referrals to Fortune.
• Document all pertinent discussions, events, and incidents in real time within the agency database system(s) within 24 hours.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or equivalent required;
  Associate’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, human services, or education preferred.
• At least 2 years of prior experience as a Case Manager, Counselor, or related field.
• Experience providing services to individuals involved in the criminal legal system.
• Exceptiona…