Employer & Participant Engagement Specialist

Acorn Training LTD; United States; Remote; USD 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave up to 26 days

Pension scheme

CPD workshops

Wellbeing initiatives

Volunteer days

Employee of the Month/Year incentives

Job summary

Acorn Training LTD is seeking an Employer and Participant Engagement Officer to deliver a person-centred employment service, connecting participants to meaningful, sustainable paid work through proactive employer relationships.

The role focuses on rapid engagement after referrals, building trust with participants, and applying IPS principles to support rapid job search and in-work retention in collaboration with NHS and community partners.

Responsibilities

• Act as a primary point of contact for participants, ensuring rapid engagement following referral (ideally within 48 hours).
• Build strong, trusting relationships with participants, particularly those who may feel anxious, ambivalent, or disengaged from employment.
• Use person-centred, strengths-based conversations to understand employment goals, preferences, skills, and support needs.
• Sensitively explore barriers such as mental health challenges, long-term unemployment, confidence, or life circumstances.
• Explain and apply the IPS approach, including voluntary engagement, rapid job search, and integration with health and community services.
• Maintain engagement during fluctuating motivation through tailored contact (calls, texts, emails, face-to-face) and agreed action plans.
• Work collaboratively with NHS teams, community partners, and internal colleagues to ensure coordinated, participant-focused support.
• Employer Engagement and Job Development
• Proactively identify, approach, and build long-term relationships with employers through repeat, in-person engagement, even when no vacancies exist.
• Position employers as valued customers, demonstrating clear benefits of working with the service.
• Source suitable vacancies that genuinely align with individual participant preferences, strengths, and employment goals.
• Address employer concerns around additional support needs using IPS-consistent, solution-focused approaches.
• Identify hidden jobs, job-carving opportunities, and reasonable workplace adjustments to improve outcomes.
• Develop and maintain a balanced vacancy pipeline that meets a wide range of participant needs.
• Provide professional employer follow-up, including thank-you messages, updates, and regular check-ins.

Job description

Acorn Training LTD is seeking an Employer and Participant Engagement Officer to deliver a person-centred employment service, connecting participants to meaningful, sustainable paid work through proactive employer relationships.

The role focuses on rapid engagement after referrals, building trust with participants, and applying IPS principles to support rapid job search and in-work retention in collaboration with NHS and community partners.