Employment Specialist

Job Developer
Cincinnati, OH

In-Person

Anticipated deadline to submit application: September 5th 2025 , 5pm ET. Position may close early if application limit is met. Apply promptly for full consideration.

The Opportunity

CEO is currently seeking to hire a Job Developer for our local office, a role that’s crucial to CEO’s work to help individuals coming out of incarceration regain the skills and confidence needed for a successful transition to stable and productive lives.

Job Developers increase the range of employment opportunities available to our participants using participant interests, experiences, and their ambitions as foundation for participant job placements, and more broadly, for the identification and cultivation of potential employers for prospect portfolios.

The most rewarding part of being an Job Developer is the joy you feel upon making the “right fit” match between participant and employer. Your expertise and insight lead not only to successful matches in the now, but to participant longevity in the workforce which often drastically reduces the rate of recidivism.

As part of our mission, we strongly encourage individuals who have lived experience of incarceration or involvement in the justice system to apply for this role.

Who We Are

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides employment services to people recently released from incarceration. Across the United States, 8,000-9,000 people participate in CEO each year, transitioning to employment that supports themselves, their families, and their communities.

What began as a demonstration project of the Vera Institute of Justice in the 1970s to address employment barriers facing the formerly incarcerated following release in New York City has grown into the leading reentry employment organization in the country, where over 30,000 formerly incarcerated individuals have secured full-time employment since 1996.

Who You Are

• You’re deeply dedicated to social justice and perhaps are already working in the re-entry space


• You come to CEO with experience in workforce development, recruitment, or sales/account management, a role in which you needed to meet performance goals on a regular basis


• You’re passionate about making an impact in people's lives and interested in guiding them to achieve their career goals through a balance of accountability and empathy


• You enjoy networking and cultivating lasting relationships with people and businesses, helping them understand how our work can help them achieve their business strategy and goals


• You have excellent interpersonal and written communication skills with the ability to adjust to particular personalities and interaction styles on the spot


• You’re resilient and never give up, anticipating and addressing challenges along the way while keeping your eye on the end goal


• You’re comfortable working under pressure and meeting deadlines despite opposition or setbacks


• You’re able to look at a set of data or market research and use it to guide your practice and decision-making

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities of the Job Developer include but are not limited to:

Business Strategy and Analysis

• Envision, develop, and implement a strategic plan for placement services that ensures CEO meets its participant placement metrics


• Conduct reviews of existing CEO business partnerships regularly, evaluate employer demand and usage of CEO services, and determine improvements and ways to leverage relationships with employers


• Achieve weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual placement goals in accordance with CEO’s contractual obligations

Relationship Cultivation and Maintenance

• Research, conduct outreach to, and build relationships with prospective employers willing to hire CEO participants and who have hiring needs that match the skills, experience, and interests of our overall participant cohort


• Maintain relationships with existing employer partners


• Schedule and conduct daily prospecting, cold calls, and face-to-face meetings


• Serve as the liaison among employers, participants, and our criminal justice partners

Job Placement

• You are expected to produce up to 5 direct placements a month


• Screen and match program participants with employment opportunities, taking into consideration each participant’s skills, work experience, interests, and goals and aspirations


• Customize participants’ resumes to fit identified opportunities


• Manage a caseload of participants, support and coach them around applying for jobs, navigating the hiring process, and finding and securing right fit employment

Administrative Support

• Document all participant and employer contact, activities, and outcomes in our case management system (Salesforce)


• Perform other job-related duties and responsibilities assigned from time to time

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is $47,800 . In an effort to be both equitable and transparent, CEO's compensation philosophy considers a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, experience, internal equity, and home office location in making a final determination on our salary offer.

We recognize that salary is a part of the overall compensation package and also provide a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, as well as professional development opportunities and training, including regular training opportunities in Motivational Interviewing (MI). MI is one evidence-based skill that reentry and human service professionals can utilize when supporting participants to achieve their goals.

We also offer paid parental leave, participation in a retirement plan, sick and vacation leave, paid holidays and more. We are a workplace that promotes continual learning and teamwork, offering lunch and learns, team outings, holiday gatherings and more for our staff.

More About Us

Center for Employment Opportunities believes that everyone deserves the chance to shape a stronger future for themselves, their families, and their communities. People who are justice involved are highly encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels. CEO is committed to the CROWN Act, and creating an open space where our employees can present as their true authentic selves.

All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, gender, gender identity, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact.

Please note that due to the volume of resumes received, we are unable to contact each applicant regarding the status of each position or reply to candidates' inquiries via phone or email.

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