Career Developer

Job Title: Career Developer

Reports To: Director of Career Services

Department: Programs

Job Classification: [Full-time]

Salary Range: $60,000–$65,000 plus competitive benefits

GOSOWorks, the workforce development and employment preparation program of Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO), is seeking a dynamic, relationship-driven, and results-oriented Career Developer to support young adults ages 16–24 impacted by the criminal legal system in achieving meaningful employment and long-term career success.

This position is primarily responsible for developing internship and employment opportunities, building employer partnerships, and creating career pathways that lead to sustainable employment and advancement. The Specialist will work directly with participants, employers, and community partners to facilitate successful placements, support retention, and help participants progress from workforce preparation to internships, employment, and career growth.

The position operates within GOSO’s participant-centered framework grounded in accountability, restorative practices, workforce readiness, and opportunity creation.

Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain relationships with employers, workforce agencies, educational institutions, labor unions, and community partners.
• Develop internship, apprenticeship, and employment opportunities for participants.
• Serve as the primary contact for employer partners and internship sites.
• Conduct employer outreach, networking, site visits, and partnership development activities.
• Match participants with appropriate internship and employment opportunities.
• Coordinate onboarding, placements, and ongoing employer engagement.
• Monitor internship performance and address workplace concerns through coaching and restorative practices.
• Support participants in transitioning from internships to permanent employment.
• Develop individualized employment and career advancement plans.
• Provide job readiness coaching, including resume development, interview preparation, professional communication, and workplace success strategies.
• Facilitate workforce readiness, career exploration, and professional development workshops.
• Support participants with job search activities, employment retention, and career advancement.
• Maintain accurate participant records, case notes, employer contacts, and placement documentation.
• Track employment outcomes, retention, and partnership activities.
• Prepare reports and ensure timely data entry into program databases.
• Participate in case conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Collaborate with Education, Clinical, and Community Engagement staff to support participant success.
• Represent GOSO at employer meetings, workforce events, and community functions.
• Contribute to proBachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum two years of experience in workforce development, job placement, employer engagement, career services, youth development, or a related field.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, organizational, and networking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain accurate documentation.gram improvement efforts and workforce development initiatives.

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum two years of experience in workforce development, job placement, employer engagement, business development, career services, youth development, or a related field.
• Experience developing partnerships with employers and community organizations.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and networking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with justice-impacted youth or underserved populations.
• Experience coordinating internships, apprenticeships, or employment programs.
• Knowledge of workforce development systems and labor market trends.
• Experience with Salesforce or similar case management systems.
• Spanish language proficiency.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Competitive benefits package.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of justice-impacted young adults.

Please send a resume with a cover letter to: Show email. Resumes without a cover letter will not be considered.

GOSO is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

About GOSO: Getting Out and Staying Out has a vision of a world where neither a person’s race nor their prior contact with the legal system determines their future. To work toward that vision, we partner with young people impacted by arrest or incarceration on a journey of education, employment, and emotional well-being. For many of our participants, that journey begins while they are detained or incarcerated, on Rikers Island or in youth detention centers. We work with all interested individuals, regardless of the charges that they face, engaging them in future planning through programing focused on education, employment, and emotional well-being while helping to meet their immediate needs, whether physical (warm clothing, commissary supplies), psychological (correspondence and communication to help maintain links to the outside world), or legal (coordinating with public defense attorneys on courtroom advocacy). Among the major programs that are under the GOSO umbrella are Stand Against Violence East Harlem (SAVE), GOSOWorks, and multiple education programs (including Pathways-to-Graduation, a high school equivalency program). GOSO served its participants and the Harlem community throughout the Pandemic and, in fact, expanded its budget in the past few years. We are currently building our external relations functions, including development, in order to position GOSO for continued growth and expanded impact on those at the heart of our mission.