WEI Employer Engagement Specialist - Casual

Oakton Community College; Des Plaines (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL is hiring a part-time Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) Employer Engagement Coordinator.

The role focuses on employer engagement to accelerate WEI participants into high-demand occupations, with collaboration across Career Development Center and college staff. Requires a Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred) and 2+ years in career services or HR, plus strong communication and data-reporting skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or certification in human resources, higher education, or related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• At least 2 years of experience in career/employment/talent acquisition, human resources, or job recruiter services.
• Demonstrated understanding of BIPOC communities served.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and cultivate relationships with employers and industry partners to increase awareness of Oakton's WEI talent pipeline.
• Research and identify job opportunities aligned with WEI training programs and student goals.
• Coordinate employer engagement activities (e.g., job fairs, resume writing, interviewing skills) with internal/external partners.
• Follow up with WEI completers to share employment opportunities and collect data on outcomes and wages.
• Maintain and track employment and student data; complete state quarterly reports.
• Collaborate with WEI/college staff to ensure WEI student success.
• Perform other employer engagement duties as assigned.

Skills

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Career services experience

Strong communication

Data reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

Department: Adult, Continuing Education, and Workforce Development

Locations: Des Plaines, IL

Closes: Open Until Filled

Type: Part Time Staff

About Oakton College :

Educate. Empower. Transform

At Oakton College, we know education changes lives - and that starts with the people who make it happen. For more than 50 years, we've built a welcoming and inclusive community where students from all backgrounds and experiences thrive.

We're looking for passionate educators, professionals and leaders to join our team. Whether in the classroom, student support, or behind the scenes, your talents and expertise will make a difference and shape the future.

We provide dynamic learning environments that empower students and employees alike with campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie and a Health Careers Education Center in Evanston.

As a proud institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Oakton is more than a college - it's a place where innovation, equity and lifelong learning drive everything we do. We value diverse perspectives and embrace new ideas and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and student-centered culture.

Job Description:

The purpose of the Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) is to accelerate the time to enter and succeed in post-secondary education/training programs that lead to employment in high-skilled, high-wage, and in-demand occupations with special consideration to Black, African-American, unemployed, and/or underemployed residents from identified zip codes. The WEI Employer Engagement Coordinator is responsible for activities related to employerengagement for the purposes of bringing awareness to the WEI program and connecting students to employment post completion. This position is grant funded.

Job Description

• Under the guidance of the Senior Manager for Workforce Solutions, identify, develop, and cultivate relationships with employers, industry partners, and community organizations for the purposes of increasing awareness of Oakton's WEI talent pipeline


• Research and identify job opportunities relevant to the respective WEI training programs and student career goals


• Work with internal and external partners (e.g., Career Development Center) on the coordination of employer engagement job search activities (e.g., job fairs, resume writing, interviewing skills, etc.)


• Conduct consistent follow up with WEI completers to make them aware of employment opportunities, job search training activities, and to collect data with regard to employment outcomes and wages, etc.


• Maintain and track employment and student data as well as complete state quarterly employer engagement reports


• Work closely with all WEI/college staff on any activity designated to ensure the success of WEI students and completers


• Facilitate other employer engagement duties as assigned

Requirements:

Qualifications and Working Conditions

• Bachelor's degree or certification in human resource, higher education, or related field required. Master's degree preferred.


• At least 2 years of previous experience working in career/employment/talent acquisition services, human resources, or job recruiter services required


• Direct experience working with and/or significant understanding of the predominant population served (e.g., BIPOC)


• Exceptional organizational skills


• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external partners and students.


• Ability and/or demonstrated experience working with spreadsheets and data for the purposes of reporting

Please be sure to have a current resume, cover letter, and list of, at least, three (3) professional references with contact information prepared to submit with your application.

Oakton College conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Convictions are not a bar to employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with state and federal law and in accordance with the Illinois Department of Human Rights Conviction Record Protection Act of March 2021.

Posted positions may be removed from the Oakton website without notice when it is determined that no additional applicants are required.

Oakton College does not utilize E-Verify for employment eligibility verification.