Alumni Specialist

Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region is seeking an Alumni Specialist to support program graduates after job placement, maintain relationships, and connect alumni with education, training, and career opportunities. You will collaborate with Career Navigators, employers, and community partners to ensure ongoing engagement and access to resources that support long-term employment success.

This role emphasizes anti-racism, equity, and inclusion, ensuring equitable access to opportunities and

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing follow-up and support to participants after job placement.
• Monitor participant progress, employment stability, and workplace satisfaction.
• Develop and implement strategies to reconnect with disengaged participants and alumni.
• Support re-engagement in Goodwill services when participants experience employment challenges or barriers to retention.
• Facilitate participant access to community resources, supportive services, education, and training programs.
• Coordinate with Career Navigators, case management, and workforce development teams to deliver comprehensive, individualized participant support.
• Promote a participant-centered approach focused on long-term employment success and career growth.
• Conduct regular participant check-ins at designated retention milestones.
• Collaborate with employers to monitor participant retention and performance, identify workplace success factors, and collect feedback to support ongoing participant development.
• Support the resolution of workplace concerns when appropriate and consistent with program guidelines.
• Partner with training teams to share participant retention feedback and identify opportunities for program improvement.
• Partner with Business Development staff to address retention challenges and improve employment outcomes.
• Monitor and track alumni employment outcomes, including retention, wage progression, career advancement, and engagement metrics.
• Maintain data quality and prepare reports to support grant, contract, and program performance requirements, identifying and escalating trends or concerns that may impact retention outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying employer trends and opportunities to enhance equitable access, participant preparation, retention, career advancement, and overall success
• Facilitate career development workshops and alumni-focused employment readiness activities.
• Guide alumni in achieving career advancement goals through access to employment opportunities, career pathways, workforce services, credential attainment, apprenticeships, and advanced training programs.
• Collaborate with the Business Development team to expand alumni access to employer-sponsored advancement opportunities and promote continuous learning and professional growth.

Job description

Our vision is that every person has the opportunity to learn, work, and thrive in all aspects of life.

To achieve our vision, we are committed to dismantling racism and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion so we can help people reach their fullest potential through our education, job placement, and career pathway services. We do our work with great gratitude for the community donations, purchases, and partnerships that make our mission possible.

Position Summary:

The Alumni Specialist supports participants after job placement by providing ongoing engagement, career advancement resources, and retention services that promote long-term employment success. This role is responsible for maintaining strong relationships with program graduates, supporting retention outcomes, and building an engaged alumni network that connects participants to continued education, training, employment, and career advancement opportunities.

Working closely with Career Navigators, Training Coordinators, Business Development staff, employers, and community partners, the Retention Specialist ensures participants remain connected to Goodwill services and have access to resources that support continued growth and stability in their careers.

This position works collaboratively across Goodwill teams to provide client-centered services that support successful transitions from training to employment to alumni engagement. The role maintains a strong commitment to anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring equitable access to opportunities and improved long-term employment outcomes for all participants.

Hourly Rate: $20.98 - $22.80 per hour

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Alumni Specialist responsibilities include the following and other duties as assigned:

Post-Placement Support

• Provide ongoing follow-up and support to participants after job placement.
• Monitor participant progress, employment stability, and workplace satisfaction.
• Develop and implement strategies to effectively reconnect with disengaged participants and alumni.
• Support re-engagement in Goodwill services when participants experience employment challenges or barriers to retention.
• Facilitate participant access to community resources, supportive services, education, and training programs.
• Coordinate with Career Navigators, case management, and workforce development teams to deliver comprehensive, individualized participant support.
• Promote a participant-centered approach focused on long-term employment success and career growth.

Retention Coordination and Career Advancement

• Conduct regular participant check-ins at designated retention milestones.
• Collaborate with employers to monitor participant retention and performance, identify workplace success factors, and collect feedback to support ongoing participant development.
• Support the resolution of workplace concerns when appropriate and consistent with program guidelines.
• Partner with training teams to share participant retention feedback and identify opportunities for program improvement.
• Partner with Business Development staff to address retention challenges and improve employment outcomes.
• Monitor and track alumni employment outcomes, including retention, wage progression, career advancement, and engagement metrics.
• Maintain data quality and prepare reports to support grant, contract, and program performance requirements, identifying and escalating trends or concerns that may impact retention outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying employer trends and opportunities to enhance equitable access, participant preparation, retention, career advancement, and overall success
• Facilitate career development workshops and alumni-focused employment readiness activities.
• Guide alumni in achieving career advancement goals through access to employment opportunities, career pathways, workforce services, credential attainment, apprenticeships, and advanced training programs.
• Collaborate with the Business Development team to expand alumni access to employer-sponsored advancement opportunities and promote continuous learning and professional growth.

Alumni Engagement & Network Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with program alumni.
• Support a seamless participant transition from training to employment and ongoing alumni engagement.
• Develop, coordinate, and implement an alumni engagement strategy designed to strengthen ongoing participant connections with Goodwill.
• Plan and support alumni events, networking opportunities, recognition programs, and engagement activities that foster ongoing community involvement and professional connections.
• Promote alumni and participant success stories through testimonials, program highlights, and outreach efforts, while creating opportunities for alumni to serve as mentors, guest speakers, volunteers, and program ambassadors
• Maintain alumni records and oversee communication platforms and outreach initiatives, including newsletters, email campaigns, social media, and other engagement activities that support ongoing alumni participation.
• Represent Goodwill at participant, alumni, employer, and community engagement activities.
• Promote continued engagement with Goodwill's workforce development programs and services.