Employer Engagement Coordinator

The Center for People is a dynamic non-profit organization that provides innovative services and programs to the low-income community in Lincoln, Nebraska, addressing basic needs and providing opportunities to achieve economic independence for our clients. 

We are currently looking for a Employer Engagement Coordinator. This position is a full-time, 40 hour per week, onsite position.

  I. GENERAL FUNCTIONS 

The Employer Engagement Coordinator is responsible for proactively developing, cultivating, and expanding strategic employer partnerships throughout Nebraska that strengthen workforce development, create meaningful career opportunities, and advance the mission and sustainability of the Center for People. Serving as a primary connection between the Center for People and the business community, this position develops a deep understanding of employer workforce needs, hiring expectations, organizational culture, skill gaps, and talent development priorities. Through intentional employer engagement, the coordinator translates these insights into actionable opportunities that inform education and training programs, prepare individuals for meaningful employment, and support employers in building and retaining a skilled, capable workforce. The coordinator actively introduces employers to the value of partnering with the Center for People, cultivating opportunities for talent recruitment, customized workforce training, professional development for new and existing employees, career advancement, and employer investment in workforce development initiatives. Success in this role requires a proactive, relationship-centered approach to employer recruitment, a strong understanding of the business community, consistent achievement of measurable partnership and employment outcomes, and the ability to develop mutually beneficial relationships that grow in scope and impact over time. This shifts the role from simply supporting employment outcomes to developing employer partnerships that generate employment, training participation, and organizational investment.

 II. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Proactively identify, recruit, and cultivate new employer relationships throughout Nebraska, prioritizing industries and organizations with significant workforce needs, opportunities for career advancement, and alignment with Center for People programming.
• Develop and execute an intentional employer outreach strategy that expands the Center for People's visibility, establishes new relationships, and strengthens its position as a trusted workforce development partner across the state.
• Conduct meaningful employer discovery conversations to understand organizational culture, hiring expectations, desired employee competencies, workforce challenges, training gaps, retention concerns, and anticipated talent needs.
• Build trusted relationships with business owners, executives, human resources professionals, hiring managers, and industry leaders to identify opportunities for collaboration and long-term workforce investment.
• Translate employer feedback and industry intelligence into actionable recommendations that inform curriculum development, workforce readiness programming, industry-recognized certifications, and new training pathways.
• Introduce employers to the Center for People's full range of workforce development opportunities, including candidate preparation, employee onboarding support, customized training, professional development, and career advancement pathways.
• Establish and maintain an engaged network of Employers of Choice that demonstrate a commitment to quality employment, inclusive hiring, employee growth, and sustainable career opportunities.
• Facilitate employer participation in workforce advisory discussions, program development, workplace experiences, hiring initiatives, and other activities that strengthen alignment between education and employment.
• Maintain consistent, personalized engagement with employer partners, identifying opportunities to deepen relationships, expand collaboration, and create lasting mutual value.

Strategic Partnerships & Sustainable Funding

• Cultivate employer relationships that lead to meaningful investment in workforce preparation, employee development, career advancement, and the long-term sustainability of Center for People programming.
• Proactively engage employers in conversations about the value of investing in their current and future workforce, connecting organizational talent challenges with relevant Center for People education and training solutions.
• Identify opportunities for employers to participate in or financially support customized training, employee upskilling, professional development, industry certifications, workforce readiness programming, and career advancement initiatives.
• Develop and present tailored partnership opportunities that demonstrate how collaboration with the Center for People can help employers strengthen recruitment, employee preparedness, retention, and organizational growth.
• Engage employers in supporting workforce training cohorts, professional development opportunities, sponsorship initiatives, program resources, and other strategic investments aligned with organizational needs.
• Collaborate with organizational leadership, the Education team, and the Development team to develop compelling employer partnership proposals, coordinate funding opportunities, and advance mutually beneficial commitments.
• Cultivate long-term employer partnerships that progress from initial engagement to active participation, workforce investment, and ongoing organizational support.
• Maintain a structured pipeline of prospective, developing, and established employer partnerships, documenting engagement activities, employer interests, proposed opportunities, commitments, and follow-up actions.
• Demonstrate the value and impact of employer partnerships through consistent communication, measurable workforce outcomes, and intentional relationship stewardship.

Workforce Intelligence & Talent Development Alignment

• Serve as a strategic connection between employer workforce expectations and the Center for People's education, training, and career development programs.
• Continuously gather and communicate employer insights regarding technical skills, workplace behaviors, professional competencies, industry certifications, and emerging workforce needs.
• Collaborate with the Education and Training Manager to evaluate opportunities to strengthen existing programs, develop customized learning experiences, and introduce new training pathways that reflect employer demand.
• Identify employer needs related to onboarding, employee performance, supervisory readiness, workplace communication, leadership development, and career advancement that may be addressed through Center for People training opportunities.
• Facilitate employer feedback on participant preparedness, training effectiveness, employee performance, and opportunities to improve workforce readiness.
• Engage employers in the development of practical learning experiences, workplace simulations, mentorship opportunities, and training content that reflect real-world expectations.
• Support the development of workforce pathways that benefit individuals entering employment as well as incumbent employees seeking additional skills, advancement, or career transitions.

Employer Partnership Outcomes & Performance

• Establish and achieve measurable performance objectives related to statewide employer outreach, new employer relationships, active partnerships, employment opportunities, training participation, and employer investment.
• Maintain an organized employer engagement pipeline to guide timely follow-up, relationship development, partnership proposals, and progression toward meaningful commitments.
• Track and evaluate employer engagement outcomes, including new partners recruited, partnerships activated, repeat employer participation, training collaborations, workforce investments, and job placement and retention outcomes.
• Regularly assess employer engagement strategies and partnership results to identify opportunities for improved effectiveness, expanded statewide reach, and long-term relationship growth.
• Provide leadership with regular updates on employer workforce trends, emerging partnership opportunities, anticipated investments, and measurable outcomes.

III. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; both verbal and written, including communicating with a wide variety of stakeholders
• Strong leadership skills that can be leveraged in a collaborative setting
• Must be able to proactively think, plan, and execute resourcefully
• Must be able to solve problems and be solution-oriented
• Ability to work independently and to handle multiple projects and priorities
• Proficiency in programs including but not limited to Word, Excel, Outlook, HMIS Clarity Database
• Willingness and ability to learn new software programs
• Ability to receive constructive feedback
• Ability to take personal accountability for fulfilling job responsibilities, meeting deadlines, and taking initiative and ownership of personal
• Ability to establish and maintain a good working relationship with internal and external stakeholders
• Skilled at possessing professionalism, courtesy, tact, and sound judgement
  

IV. DESIRABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE 

•  Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social Work, Organizational Development, or related field preferred, OR a minimum of 2 years of work experience in supervision, case management, career or education counseling, or related field.
  

V. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

•  Graduation from a senior high school or equivalent
• Must 18 years of age
• Valid Nebraska driver’s license and current motor vehicle insurance
  

 VI. WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL EFFORT 

Center for People operates a dynamic, multi-program facility that includes office, classroom, food pantry, warehouse, and other program and community spaces. Due to the size of the organization and the collaborative nature of our work, employees may periodically be asked to provide coverage, assistance, or support in areas outside of their primary assigned workspace or regular job duties, consistent with organizational needs and the employee's training and ability to safely perform the work.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, frequently is required to sit, occasionally to stand; walk; arms reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally move up to 30 pounds regularly. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus when operating a computer, working with numbers, and use of forklift and other heavy machinery. Work is primarily in an indoor setting.  The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Center for People is an Equal Opportunity Employer