Workforce Support & Employment Specialist

About Beyond Literacy (BeLit)

BeLit is Philadelphia's leading adult literacy and career readiness nonprofit. We pride ourselves on high-quality service to over 1,500 striving adults annually through cost-free programs including English language learning, GED-prep, digital literacy, family literacy, and job preparation. Join our staff and help us change lives through education!

Job Summary

Reporting to the Workforce Development Manager, the Workforce Support & Employment Specialist will play a pivotal role in advancing BeLit’s workforce development and career readiness goals. This hybrid role blends direct student support with employer engagement, ensuring learners gain the skills, resources, and connections needed to persist in education, transition successfully into training, and secure family-sustaining employment. The Specialist will provide career counseling, job readiness coaching, and case management, while also cultivating and maintaining employer and community partnerships that create strong pipelines to employment. The role requires some evening availability (1–2 nights per week) and occasional travel to partner sites and community events.

Key Responsibilities

Student & Graduate Support

• Provide one-on-one and group support on career readiness, including resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, job applications, interviewing (with STAR techniques), and soft skill development.
• Conduct career assessments to identify strengths, barriers, interests, and pathways; help students create and track progress on career maps and action plans.
• Deliver workshops (in-person and virtual) on career exploration, barrier reduction, and job readiness.
• Offer case management and barrier-removal support, referring learners to social services, PA CareerLink® and other community partner resources.
• Guide students through transitions to training programs, apprenticeships, and employment, including application and financial aid support.
• Maintain communication and support for program graduates to ensure retention and long-term employment success.

Employer & Partner Engagement

• Cultivate and manage relationships with employers, unions, and workforce partners—especially in energy, green jobs, and other high-demand sectors.
• Host and participate in hiring fairs, employer panels, and networking events to connect learners to career opportunities.
• Maintain ongoing communication with employers to align training and job readiness with hiring needs.
• Collaborate with the Workforce Development Manager to expand workforce programming and employment pipelines.

Program Development & Data

• Track and document work eligibility, student progress, outcomes, and employer partnerships using BeLit’s data systems (Salesforce and MS Office 365).
• Provide stories, data, and impact measures to support grant reporting and workforce development proposals.
• Stay informed on industry trends, workforce board initiatives, and local hiring needs to inform program design and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Education: Associate’s degree required; Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Workforce Development, Education, or related field preferred.
• Experience: 2–3+ years in workforce development, career counseling, employer relations, or case management. Experience working with adult learners, especially from low-income or immigrant communities, strongly preferred.
• Skills:
• Strong career counseling, workshop facilitation, and STAR interview coaching skills.
• Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation).
• Strong organizational, analytical, and time management skills with ability to balance multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; Salesforce/CRM experience a plus.
• Personal Attributes: Passion for adult education, culturally competent, solution-oriented, and motivated to help learners achieve lasting success.

Work Environment

• Full-time, primarily onsite with hybrid flexibility (1–2 remote days per week depending on program needs).
• Some evening and occasional weekend work required.
• Weekly travel between BeLit campuses, employer sites, and partner organizations.

Work Environment

• Full-time, primarily onsite with hybrid flexibility (1–2 remote days per week depending on program needs).
• Some evening and occasional weekend work required.
• Weekly travel between BeLit campuses, employer sites, and partner organizations.

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance (100% employer-paid for individual base plans).
• Employer-paid life, disability, and accident insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Employee Assistance Program.
• 401K with quarterly employer contributions.
• Paid parental leave and wellness benefits, including $500 annual mental health reimbursement.

Apply to This Job

Instructions:

Applicants must include resume, cover letter and at least two references on a separate sheet. Applications without a cover letter will NOT be considered.

Please address the cover letter to Workforce Development Manager.