Transitional Work Specialist, Retention

Fortune Society; New York (NY); On-site; USD 50,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fortune Society in New York is seeking a Transitional Work and Retention Specialist to manage the recruitment and retention of participants for its Transitional Work Program. The role includes conducting weekly job club meetings and maintaining accurate documentation of participant outcomes.

Ideal candidates will have strong organizational and communication skills, ideally with a background in social work or counseling. This position offers full-time employment with a salary range of approximately $50,000–$58,000 annually.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience as a Case Manager, Counselor, or related field.
• Experience with individuals involved in the criminal legal system.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and enroll participants in the Transitional Work Program.
• Assess career interests and facilitate job placements.
• Document retention outcomes and maintain accurate records.

Skills

Bilingual in Spanish

Organizational skills

Customer service skills

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, human services, or education

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook/365, Word, Excel)

Job description

Job Details

Job Title: Transitional Work and Retention Specialist

Employment Type: Full‑time, Non‑Exempt

Salary: $27.48–$31.87 hourly (approx. $50,000–$58,000 annually)

Location: Long Island City, NY 11101

Days/Hours: 35 hours per week (Monday–Friday, 9:00AM–5:00PM); some evenings and weekends as required.

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Program Manager, the Transitional Work & Retention Specialist will be responsible for recruiting, screening, enrolling, and out‑reaching participants in the Transitional Work Program. They will manage the retention collection and incentive distribution process for individuals who report employment outcomes, support employer relations for internship host sites, and oversee data accuracy for key performance indicators.

The Specialist will use a trauma‑informed approach when engaging participants, facilitate weekly job‑club meetings, and assist the Program Manager with data reporting and program curriculum updates.

Essential responsibilities include fostering participant success, monitoring employment outcomes, and maintaining accurate records.

Core Competencies

• Mission and Fit: Embodies Fortune’s mission and values; demonstrates compassion and understanding for participants at all stages of re‑entry.
• Multitasking: Prioritizes demands, focuses on complex tasks, and seeks guidance as needed.
• Participant Centered: Provides customer care and empathy, resolves participant concerns, and liaises with community partners.
• Attention to Detail: Maintains systems for retention, case management, employer research, and work progress; detects inconsistencies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Recruit, screen, and enroll Employment Services participants into the Transitional Work Program, assisting with application completion and resume modifications.
• Assess career interests and aptitudes to guide participants toward suitable transitional work placements.
• Act as an intermediary between interns and employers to resolve workplace issues and promote successful completion.
• Collect documentation related to employment retention and distribute incentives to participants sharing employment outcomes.
• Regularly document all retention outcomes in the Client Record Management system and work with the Program Manager, Data to ensure data quality for reporting.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation of all services.
• Co‑facilitate weekly Job Club Sessions for transitional work program participants and assist with curriculum updates.
• Participate in collaborative meetings with Employment Services staff to assess participant progress and plan services.
• Co‑facilitate transitional work program orientations.
• Visit participant work sites to understand behaviors in various settings and gather feedback from employer host sites.
• Review employer and participant feedback and performance reports, identify barriers to success, and provide coaching to promote attendance and effective participation.
• Screen current interns during the internship to determine readiness for post‑completion employment and communicate feedback with Employment Specialists and the Program Manager.
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures and program performance guidelines as outlined by the Program Manager.
• Ensure records are accurate, maintained, and updated regularly to align with ongoing changes.
• Assist with administrative tasks such as updating referral trackers, data entry, reporting, typing, filing, and scheduling appointments.
• Support resume creation, revision, and editing to include Fellowship experience for placement support.
• Maintain regular phone, email, and in‑person communication with participants and supervision officers making referrals to Fortune.
• Document all pertinent discussions, events, and incidents in real time within the agency database system(s) within 24 hours.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, human services, or education preferred.
• At least 2 years of prior experience as a Case Manager, Counselor, or related field.
• Experience providing services to individuals involved in the criminal legal system.
• Exceptional attention to detail and talent for accuracy and precision; strong organizational skills and ability to facilitate workshops.
• Adequate computer skills; proficient with Microsoft Office (Outlook/365, Word, Excel).
• Skilled communicator who can liaise interdepartmentally and with community partners; strong writing skills.
• Administrative experience and strong time management and customer service skills.
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.
• Ability to apply skills learned from prior work experience or formal academic training to day‑to‑day activities.
• Demonstrated success being participant‑centered, self‑motivated with excellent relationship skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule and both independently and on a team.
• Responsive to feedback, seeking support when needed, and maintaining communication for guidance.
• Experience and/or desire to work with a culturally diverse population.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status, or marital status.