Regional Employer Coordinator

EDA Recompete – Eastern Kentucky Workforce Training and Support Network – Regional Employer
Coordinator
Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) is hiring a full-time position to oversee activities related to its
Eastern Kentucky Workforce Training and Support Network (WTSN) component project under the EDA
Recompete Pilot Program. This Regional Employer Coordinator will play a crucial role in connecting prime
age employment gap (PAEG) workers enrolled in the WTSN with local employers. This position will
coordinate efforts to identify job opportunities for clients facing employment gaps and ensure that they are
successfully placed in sustainable employment positions. This role is essential in serving as a bridge
between local businesses and WTSN clients, promoting the development of lasting job placements that
support the economic stability of individuals in the region. This is a grant funded position serving 12 SOAR counties: Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Perry, and Pike Priority will be given to applicants residing in or within close proximity to any of these 12 counties.

There will be office locations in Pikeville, Corbin and Whitesburg, KY for this position.

This position will report to the Recompete WTSN Project Manager.

 Duties and Responsibilities: 

1. Employer Engagement and Job Matching:
   • Develop and maintain relationships with local employers across Eastern Kentucky to identify job openings, internships, and apprenticeships.
   • Assess client skills, qualifications, and employment needs to match them with suitable job opportunities.
   • Act as a liaison between employers and WTSN clients, ensuring a smooth job placement process.
2. Job Placement Services:
   • Provide individualized support to clients, assisting with job search strategies, interview preparation, and resume building.
   • Coordinate with employers to secure job placements, ensuring they meet both employer needs and client career goals.
   • Advocate for clients during the hiring process, addressing any concerns or barriers that may arise.
3. Program and Resource Coordination:
   • Collaborate with government agencies, community organizations, and educational institutions to ensure clients have access to the training and resources needed for successful employment.
   • Assist clients in applying for employment-related benefits and services, such as unemployment insurance, training programs, and other workforce development resources.
4. Documentation and Reporting:
   • Track job placements and follow up with both clients and employers to ensure job retention and satisfaction.
   • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of job placement activities, client interactions, and outcomes using the organization's database or electronic systems (eg Customer Relations Management System).
   • Provide regular reports on job placement progress and outcomes to the Recompete WTSN Project Manager.
5. Professional Development:
   • Participate in ongoing training and professional development to stay informed about job market trends, employer needs, and effective placement strategies.
   • Collaborate with team members to continuously improve job placement strategies and client support services.
     

Expectations:

1. Strong interest in increasing prosperity in Eastern Kentucky communities.
2. History of identifying and supporting marginalized populations inside underserved communities.
3. Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with employers, clients, and community partners.
4. Ability to identify challenges and barriers to job placement and develop effective solutions.
5. Ability to manage multiple client caseloads and job placement efforts effectively and efficiently. Adapting to changing client needs and regional workforce trends.
6. Familiarity with the regional employment landscape, including industries, businesses, and workforce needs.
7. Proven experience in job placement, workforce development, or a related field.
8. Knowledge of local employer needs and workforce trends within Eastern Kentucky.
9. Strong communication and negotiation skills.
10. Experience with client-facing services and job readiness assistance (e.g., resume building, interview coaching).
11. Proficiency in using database systems and basic office software.
12. Empathy, compassion and a genuine desire to prime age workers improve their quality of life and achieve economic stability.
13. Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, needs and circumstances, and willingness to embrace innovation and continuous improvement. 

Culture and Core Values

SOAR’s mission is simple: grow Eastern Kentucky’s population.

Our team culture is anchored by putting the interests of Eastern Kentucky first in all that we do. We believe treating others the way we want to be treated is always within our control. Our core values include faith, selflessness, grit, integrity, and empathy. We do our best to exemplify these daily in our interactions with each other and with external partners.

Why SOAR?

The SOAR organization offers a chance to be part of a movement that’s bigger than any one of us individually. Eastern Kentucky won’t be solved by others. It’s going to take us to come together to find the solutions. Through communications, collaborations, and convenings, SOAR is on the front lines helping to get the right people in the right rooms to ensure the future of Eastern Kentucky burns as bright as ever.

SOAR offers a competitive salary along with the following benefits:

• 100% paid individual health insurance
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan
• Cell phone stipend
• Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel
• Laptop provided
• Annual bonus

Apply Now

SOAR is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.