Outreach Specialist

Socket.dev; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

401k with employer match

Paid time off (PTO)

Job summary

STRIVE is seeking an Outreach Specialist to engage community partnerships and drive enrollment across programs. You will process intake documents, support in‑kind donation handling, and lead student recruitment with trusted relationships across diverse communities in Birmingham.

You will build grassroots outreach, coordinate information sessions, and collaborate with program leads to meet enrollment goals while maintaining accurate CRM data and weekly reporting.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree preferred or 2+ years working with populations facing barriers to employment.
• Experience conducting grassroots outreach to justice-impacted individuals.
• Demonstrates cultural competency and ability to work with diverse populations.
• Strong verbal and written communication; time management and organization are essential.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite and cloud‑based CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Apricot).
• Data-driven approach; comfortable using reports to inform service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain relationships that establish student referral sources.
• Track outreach efforts and weekly progress in a cloud CRM while meeting program metrics.
• Collaborate with program leads to assess enrollment needs.
• Develop and execute outreach plans to maximize information session attendance and applications.
• Manage recruitment reports and connect prospective students to information sessions and enrollment.
• Input data for weekly information session and lead reporting.
• Attend STRIVE information sessions and coordinate recruitment events.
• Establish relationships with targeted community groups to serve our population needs.
• Coordinate and plan STRIVE recruitment events and participate in community events.
• Create and manage student referral distribution lists and monitor marketing material inventory.

Skills

Strong communication

CRM platforms

Data-driven

Time management

Organizational skills

Conflict resolution

Diversity & inclusion

Education

Associate’s degree preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Apricot

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

STRIVE is a national leader in workforce development solutions, empowering individuals to discover their best future selves through innovative, evidence-based career training and holistic, lifelong support. STRIVE partners with employers, funders and community organizations to close gaps in workforce needs and help local economies thrive. Founded in East Harlem, NY, in 1984, STRIVE has grown from its roots to now offer programs in locations across the country.

For more than 40 years, STRIVE has been a catalyst for economic change and prosperity in underserved communities. Our tuition-free skills and job readiness training, one‑on‑one support and lifetime personal coaching prepare students for careers in high‑growth industries such as healthcare, construction and logistics. With a proven pathway to possible, 80% of STRIVE students graduate, 76% attain employment and 70% retain employment long‑term.

Looking to the future, STRIVE has embarked on an ambitious ten‑year growth plan to increase its impact in more locations nationwide, aiming to serve up to 10,000 individuals each year by 2033.

We meet individuals where they are, providing free programs tailored to adults 18+, including those impacted by the justice system. At STRIVE, there is always a path forward.

See why STRIVE has been the pathway to possible for more than 40 years in our 3-minute mission video.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Outreach Specialist will have primary responsibility for engaging and creating community partnerships that drive enrollment, process intake documents, and support the in‑kind community donation process. The Outreach Specialist will lead student recruitment across programs, building trustful relationships with students and community partners. The position requires experience with various sourcing tactics relevant to non‑profit programming and excellent relationship‑building skills to promote a strong brand among various organizations and across the communities we serve.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create and maintain relationships that establish student referral sources
• Track & monitor outreach efforts including weekly progress updates in cloud‑based CRM while meeting metric goals as determined by the program
• Collaborate with all program leads to assess their particular enrollment needs.
• Develop and execute outreach plans to maximize information session attendance and student applications.
• Manage recruitment reports and documentation and connect prospective students to information sessions and enrollment.
• Input data used in generating weekly reporting on information session attendance, application submittals, and leads.
• Report new contacts and applications for students across programs on a weekly basis
• Collaborate with team to facilitate STRIVE information sessions.
• Establish relationships with targeted community groups that serve our specific population needs.
• Coordinate and plan STRIVE recruitment events.
• Research and attend community events for recruitment purposes.
• Create and manage the student referral distribution list.
• Oversee marketing material inventory and distribution to promote the program to applicants, partners, and employers.
• Work closely with the Marketing & Communications team for collateral materials.
• On occasion may be required to attend meetings or networking events outside of normal business hours, for example weekends.
• Additional duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate’s degree preferred or a minimum of 2 years of experience working with populations facing barriers to employment (e.g., long‑term unemployment, criminal justice involvement, or substance abuse history).
• Proven experience conducting grassroots community outreach to engage justice‑impacted individuals, building trusted relationships that support successful recruitment and enrollment into workforce development programs.
• Demonstrate cultural competency and possess the ability to work with diverse populations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, time management, and organizational skills are necessary.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Proficient in entering data into cloud‑based CRM platforms such as Salesforce, Apricot, or other comparable platforms.
• High level of comfort interacting with and incorporating data reports into service delivery
• Commitment to leveraging data and supporting a data‑driven culture at STRIVE.
• Ability to effectively resolve conflict and deescalate situations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Accurate and detail‑oriented.
• Self‑directed, creative, and motivated; able to work independently as well as collaboratively with a team.
• Ability to handle high pressure and high‑volume workload.
• Professional demeanor.
• Data analytical skills preferred.

STRIVE offers a rich benefits package that includes:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Pre‑tax Commuter Benefits Program
• 401k with employer match
• 20 days of PTO (pro‑rated for part‑time employees)
• Sick leave
• Up to $500 annual professional development reimbursement
• Paid holidays (including week of Christmas)
• Early closing each Friday during the Summers
• And numerous additional benefits!

Location: In person Monday-Friday in STRIVE’s BHAM out in the field. Some weekends as needed.

STRIVE considers applicants for all positions without regard to: race; color; religion; gender; national origin; age; sexual orientation; marital or veteran status; the presence of a medical condition, genetic information or handicap, unrelated to performing the tasks of the job; or any other legally protected status.