Manager of Employer Engagement

JVS is a non-profit, non-sectarian agency.  Our mission is to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers; and to partner with employers to hire, develop and retain productive workforces. 

JVS provides a broad range of services including adult education, skills training, job readiness training, job placement and support, and access to post-secondary education.  JVS assists employers in their search for well qualified job applicants and their initiatives to upgrade the skills of their incumbent workforce.  

 POSITION SUMMARY: Under the leadership of the Director of Employer Engagement, the Manager of Employer Engagement builds and maintains strategic relationships with employers to connect them with JVS/MassHire Downtown Boston services, ensuring high‑quality business engagement, job matching, and customer satisfaction. The role leads outreach, market research, hiring events, and candidate referral efforts to meet organizational performance goals and align employer needs with JVS workforce services

As a member of the Business Relationship Specialist Team, this role helps drive cross-agency efforts to forge, expand, and maintain relationships with employers across all industries –especially with employers who offer high quality family-sustaining jobs. S/he will continually survey the labor market environment and identify growing markets and sectors. S/he is responsible for ensuring high quality services to business customers including: developing and maintaining excellent business and employer relationships on behalf of the agency, working collaboratively with the JVS Business Services team to understand and align employer efforts with the greater agency strategy and existing employer relationships,  and providing direct value added services to business customers including marketing and outreach, orientation, information and service referral, candidate screening and referral, outplacement services and various other employment-related services.  

The Manager serves as an active member of the JVS and MassHire Downtown Boston team, thereby equitably contributing to team performance goals and working to support the overall mission and philosophy of JVS.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:     

•        In conjunction with the JVS Business Relationship Specialist Team, identify key employers and develop responsive strategies to connect job seekers with employer hiring needs.

•        Develop and maintain strong employer relationships by communicating regularly with employers, both virtually and on-site, to represent all JVS programs, assess employer workforce needs and job requirements and connect employers to JVS/MassHire Downtown Boston business services.

•        Represent MassHire Downtown Boston on committees related to employer relations issues, attend and participate in conferences, etc. as part of the statewide One-Stop Career Center network.

•        Participate in team efforts to obtain, interpret and effectively respond to customer satisfaction data.

•        Provide leadership to Career Navigators across the agency and exemplify conflict resolution and problem-solving capacity in a professional and productive manner.

•        Serve as an expert on the labor market and be able to share that expertise with Career Navigators and job seekers. Develop this expertise by asking employer targeted questions and actively listening to their responses, reading business journals and other economic publications, podcasts, newsletters, etc.  that provide current information about areas of employment growth/reduction that may affect Boston area workforce. 

Accountability and Results Focused:

•        Drives Career Center efforts to meet metrics for employer services established in the MassHire Downtown Boston charter and owns the outcomes for goals assigned.

•        Designs, develops, and executes programs, projects and events that successfully connect JVS and MassHire Downtown Boston job seekers to relevant employers, including Recruitment sessions, On-site Interviews, Industry Briefings, Career Fairs and other special recruitment efforts in coordination with the Business Relationship Specialist team and the Director of Employer Engagement.

•        In conjunction with the Director of Employer Engagement, develops an annual strategic work plan to ensure that contractual business services outcomes are achieved. 

•        Acts as a staffing and resource management consultant and provides expertise on labor market information, including screening and referral of well-qualified candidates for our business customers. 

•        Provides employers with information about training funding and employer support in the event of expansion, layoffs, or downsizing.

•        Utilizes JVS’ Job Quality Benchmarking Index tool to prepare comparison job quality data to employers and provide consultative services and recommendations for improving the quality of their jobs, as needed.   

•        Oversee the process for securing viable job orders, and successful job placements against these orders through seamless delivery of services to the satisfaction of both the employer and job seeker and communicates this information effectively with Career Navigators and other JVS staff. 

•        Collaborates with Director of Employer Engagement and Business Relationship Specialist Team to identify industries and target companies that are a good match for current job seekers served by JVS. Performs outreach to these companies to design appropriate events and activities that will lead to successful job matches and placement.

•        Monitors monthly service reports and solicits employer feedback through surveys; uses results to make modifications and enhancements to services to ensure annual One-Stop performance objectives and goals are met. 

•        Ensures high quality business customer satisfaction and customer success as measured by job placements, retention, and customer service satisfaction.

•        Assesses program success and suggests system improvements whenever possible.

•        Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of data fields, tracking, and documentation for employer and job seeker service activity and will develop proficiency in using the MOSES database and Salesforce to record all JVS employer and related job seeker activities. 

•        Initiates and oversees the coordination of hiring and recruitment events - including securing space that meets employers’ and JVS’ needs/availability, creating registration systems, developing marketing materials, promoting events across the agency and beyond, monitoring job seeker registration, corresponding with all stakeholders, and following up with them afterwards to capture hiring outcomes.

•        Prepares and monitors program work plans, in support of JVS’ contractual obligations and makes adjustments to meet objectives.

•        Analyzes and reports program progress, successes and challenges to JVS leadership, funders, evaluators and other stakeholders.

•        Develops and maintains effective communication about events, job openings, etc. with JVS staff/Career Navigators, as well as with community-based organizations and the network of career centers beyond the JVS agency. 

•        Supervises the Business Services Associate and is responsible for hiring, training, and managing the person in that role. 

•        All other duties as assigned or requested.

MINIMIUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:  

•        Minimum 3 years’ experience in job placement or employer services. 

•        Excellent interpersonal, customer service, and communication skills – including oral, written, and presentation communication, with the ability to utilize clear and concise business communication.

•        Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience, effectively guiding and influencing staff, including those outside direct reporting lines, while fostering collaboration and high performance within a team-structured, customer-centered environment. 

•        Strong attention to detail, organizational, planning and time management skills. 

•        Excellent ability to correctly assess business customers’ needs, communicate these to other staff and customize services to meet customer needs.  

•        Past experience working in a diverse, high profile, dynamic, high-volume environment strongly desired. 

•        Strong technological adaptability, with experience in database/CRMs (such as MOSES and/or Salesforce), the ability to identify and recommend system improvements, and comfort learning and using web‑based tools, showing a readiness to embrace new platforms and evolving digital solutions.

•        Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as to work in a team based, customer centered environment.

EDUCATION REQUIRED: Bachelor’s Degree preferred or equivalent experience in Workforce Development, Human Resources, Sales or related field.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Regular local travel, evening hours and some weekend availability required.   

JVS CULTURE: JVS is strongly committed to diversity and a workplace environment that respects, appreciates and values employee differences and similarities. By providing and supporting a work culture that fosters and builds upon diversity and its strengths, JVS will better serve our local communities and continue to provide quality services.

Please submit a cover letter with your application.