Position Title: Retention Specialist - Queens Connect
Status: Full-Time
Compensation: $30.22 - $32.97/ hourly
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Jamaica, NY
About Queens Community House: Queens Community House (QCH) is a vibrant multi-service organization committed to serving the diverse population of Queens through a broad array of programs for Children and Youth, Adults and Families, and Older Adults. Our mission is to empower individuals and families with the tools to enhance their lives and build inclusive, healthy communities. We are looking for passionate individuals who are inspired by our mission and motivated to make a significant impact.
This Queens Connect program is designed to recruit, train, place, and retain New York City residents in unsubsidized employment with a focus on long-term job stability. The program will recruit and enroll 53 eligible NYC residents, providing initial workforce readiness and career navigation services. Of those enrolled, 40 participants will complete occupational skills training aligned with labor market demand. The program will place at least 35 participants into unsubsidized employment at an average starting wage of $17.00 per hour. Post-placement, the program emphasizes sustained employment through structured follow-up, coaching, and supportive services to achieve retention benchmarks of 60% at 3 months, 55% at 6 months, 53% at 9 months, and 51% at 12 months after placement.
Position Overview: The Retention Specialist is responsible for supporting participants through job placement, retention, and re-placement to promote sustained unsubsidized employment and long-term workforce attachment. This role provides post-placement coaching, employer engagement, and replacement job placement services to ensure participants meet program retention benchmarks at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after initial placement.
Key Responsibilities:Placement, Retention & Replacement Services - Support initial placement efforts in coordination with job developers and training staff, ensuring participants are appropriately matched to unsubsidized employment opportunities.
- Provide structured follow-up services to all placed participants at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month milestones post-placement.
- Maintain regular contact with participants to assess job performance, attendance, satisfaction, and workplace challenges.
- Identify early warning signs of job instability and intervene with coaching, problem-solving, and supportive services.
- Provide placement services for participants who lose employment, including rapid reassessment, job search assistance, and placement into new unsubsidized employment.
- Support participants seeking advancement, increased hours, or improved job matches when appropriate.
Employer Engagement - Maintain ongoing communication with employers to support successful placements and retention outcomes.
- Serve as a liaison between participants and employers, as appropriate, to address performance concerns or workplace issues.
- Support employers in understanding participant needs and program supports to promote long-term employment relationships.
Coaching & Supportive Services - Deliver individualized coaching on workplace communication, conflict resolution, time management, and professional conduct.
- Coordinate referrals to internal and external support services to address barriers impacting job retention.
- Reinforce career pathway planning and employment readiness post-placement.
Data Tracking & Reporting - Collect, maintain, and update employment, retention, wage, and performance data for all placed participants.
- Document placement, retention, replacement, and follow-up activities in the program's data management system.
- Support accurate and timely reporting of outcomes aligned with funder and contract requirements.
Partner Coordination - Accept and support referrals from other Jobs to Build On providers and community partners.
- Provide referring organizations with timely updates on participant status, placement, and retention outcomes.
- Coordinate with program staff to ensure continuity across recruitment, training, placement, retention, and re-placement phases.
Additional Duties: - Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
Qualifications: - HS Diploma/GED Required. Bachelor's Degree Preferred.
- 3 - 5 years of experience in workforce development.
- Experience in creating successful employer partnerships within the Human Service industry; NYC Shelter employment experience
- Experience working in performance-based programs
- Excellent facilitation, presentation and communication skills with the ability to inspire and engage adult learners
- Prior experience working with vulnerable populations, including individuals who have been incarcerated, struggled with substance use, or faced mental health challenges
What We Offer: Queens Community House provides a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Paid Family Leave
- 403(b) Retirement Plan
- Up to 17 annual leave days and 12 sick days in the first year
- Paid Federal Holidays
- Professional development, training, and networking opportunities
Additional Benefit: QCH supplements New York State Paid Family Leave to ensure full pay during approved leave.
Equal Opportunity Employment: Queens Community House, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran.
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