Business Engagement Liaison

Job Description

Job Description

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania and North Central West Virginia is a nonprofit organization that funds job training, education, and other community programs by selling donated clothing and household items in Goodwill stores and online. We offer life-changing work on a mission-minded team. We are 1,000 working as one and each of us is essential to helping our community thrive. For three years running, Goodwill has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s “Most Inspiring Companies”.

We offer a wide range of career opportunities ranging from entry-level to management in retail, human services, and administrative fields. Learn more about working at Goodwill. You can help. We can show you how.

DIVISION OVERVIEW:

Goodwill SWPA’s Human Services division is responsible for making Goodwill’s overarching vision a reality: enhancing people’s dignity and quality of life by strengthening communities and helping those with barriers to employment reach their full potential through workforce education and support. The Human Services division fulfills this mission providing high quality, outcome-oriented services for program participants by utilizing a comprehensive service delivery model covering a broad array of social programs.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:

Within the Human Services Division is the Workforce Development Department. The Workforce Development Department is responsible for many of Goodwill SWPA’s employment services programs, which are designed to assist impacted individuals in obtaining and maintaining sustainable employment. With a focus on the agency’s mission to “…help people improve their quality of life through work and related services,” the department collaborates both within the agency and with employers and social and community service providers to support participants in their employment goals. enhance service quality and accessibility to individuals and families served. As a dynamic department crucial to Goodwill SWPA’s service model, Workforce Development continually seeks new and innovative ways enhance service quality and accessibility to individuals and families served.

TEAM SUMMARY:

The Business Engagement team is a branch of Goodwill SWPA’s Workforce Development Department. Business Engagement is responsible for advancing Goodwill SWPA’s workforce development mission by managing relationships with employers within agency territory. The team oversees the full cycle of these relationships, beginning with identifying employer partnerships, developing the relationship, and both maintaining and expanding the partnership for the benefit of program participants.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Business Engagement Liaison plans and conducts outreach, education, and relationship management activities to engage employers to support the agency’s workforce development goals. The primary focus of this role is to develop and maintain strong relationships with employers that lead to job placements, work experience opportunities and mutually beneficial workforce initiatives. The Business Engagement Liaison will work closely with service areas to identify training and employment opportunities for job seekers (participants) while supporting the program and employer representatives throughout the process. A strong ability to collaborate across teams is critical for mission fulfillment and individuals’ success. Assignments will vary based on department priorities.

Status: Regular, Full-time, Non-exempt.

Location: Workforce Development Center - 118 52nd St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

External Hiring Range: $20.07 - $20.88/hour

Retention Bonus: $1,000 at 3 months of employment and $1,500 at 6 months of employment.

Schedule: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Monday - Friday. Schedule may vary depending on department needs.

Travel: This position requires occasional travel to employer locations and community partner sites.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Included but not limited to:

Relationship Management:

• Conduct outreach, establish, and maintain relationships with employers, agencies, and organizations in the community to meet the needs of Goodwill programs and services.
• Prepare and maintain records and reports using approved agency Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and platforms and following associated policies and procedures.
• Participate in continuous quality improvement efforts using key performance indicators, satisfaction feedback, and other input and outcomes data.

Development:

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local labor market and trends to identify appropriate employment, work-based learning, and partnership opportunities.
• Conduct internal and external outreach, in conjunction with the Business Engagement team and other program staff, to identify and secure work-based learning, employment, and partnership opportunities that deliver on agency and division workforce goals.
• Assist with the design, implementation and evaluation of new and existing services within the department.

Coordination and Delivery:

• Process and maintain all worksite agreements, job descriptions, surveys, and other associated documentation and reporting related to employment and work-based learning services.
• Monitor work-based learning sites to ensure they continue to meet programmatic needs.
• Maintain communication with referring staff and work-based learning hosts to ensure a smooth work-based learning experience for candidates and hosts. Provide information, feedback, and documentation to all stakeholders as necessary and appropriate to ensure program/service effectiveness.
• Provide direct service and support to employers and Goodwill staff, such as handling referrals for placement into employment or work-based learning opportunities, conducting needs evaluations, or resolving related issues.

Policies and Standards:

• Be aware of and follow guidelines for all applicable regulatory entities such as Department of Public welfare, Department of Labor, and PA Department of Education.
• Communicate production/job specific expectations to the client; meet regularly with site management to ensure communication of business needs, when applicable.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Years of Experience:

• High School Diploma AND 4+ years of Experience supporting job seekers and employers in placement or workforce development. OR
• Associates degree in Communications, Marketing, Business/Management, Social Work, Human Services, or other related field AND 2+ years of Experience supporting job seekers and employers in placement orworkforce development. OR
• Bachelors degree in Communications, Marketing, Business/Management, Social Work, Human Services, or other related field AND 1+ years of Experience supporting job seekers and employers in placement or workforce development.

Required:

• Experience supporting job seekers and employers in placement or workforce development.
• Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with employers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Skilled in employer engagement, business development, and labor market navigation.
• Proficient with CRM systems, reporting, and data management.
• Effective collaborator across teams to align employer and program goals.
• Adept at assessing employer needs, resolving issues, and delivering solutions.
• Strong public speaking, negotiation, and presentation skills.

Preferred:

• Experience with HR fundamentals, such as hiring & recruiting
• Experience designing, evaluating, or improving employment and training programs.

REQUIRED CLEARANCES, LICENSES, AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Qualified candidates must have a valid driver's license, active insurance policy, and reliable transportation for local travel.
• Candidates are expected to complete background checks assigned by Goodwill SWPA, including a National Criminal Background check, prior to their first day of employment.
• Candidates are expected to provide current, valid clearances (Child Abuse Clearance, FBI Fingerprints Clearance, and PATCH) prior to their first day of employment.