Outreach Specialist

Build Connections. Create Opportunities. Change Lives. Are you a relationship-builder who thrives on connecting people with meaningful resources and opportunities? Do you enjoy networking, presenting, engaging with communities, and helping individuals and families navigate important life decisions? If so, we invite you to join Aspire as an Outreach Specialist. At Aspire, we believe every person deserves the opportunity to live a full, meaningful, and self-directed life. As a mission-driven nonprofit organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we are seeking an enthusiastic, compassionate, and results-oriented professional to help expand awareness of our services and connect more people to the supports they need. About the Role The Outreach Specialist serves as a highly visible ambassador for Aspire throughout the Chicagoland area. This external-facing role is responsible for building referral pipelines, strengthening community partnerships, supporting census growth, and creating exceptional first impressions for prospective individuals, families, and referral sources. You will represent Aspire at networking events, community organizations, schools, healthcare providers, resource fairs, and other partner organizations while helping prospective individuals and families learn about our programs and services. Through presentations, tours, relationship-building, and ongoing outreach efforts, you will play a vital role in helping people access life-changing supports and opportunities. What You'll Do Build Community Partnerships & Referral Networks Develop and execute outreach plans that generate referrals and support sustainable program growth. Build strong relationships with hospitals, schools, social service agencies, faith communities, case managers, professional organizations, and other referral partners. Identify new opportunities to expand Aspire's community presence and referral pipeline. Represent Aspire at networking events, community outreach activities, resource fairs, and industry events. Engage Prospective Individuals & Families Serve as a welcoming and knowledgeable first point of contact for prospective individuals, families, and referral sources. Respond to inquiries via phone, email, and in-person visits. Build trust and rapport by understanding the needs, goals, and preferences of prospective individuals and families. Maintain ongoing communication with referral partners and community stakeholders. Present Aspire's Services Deliver engaging presentations to community groups, professionals, and prospective families. Coordinate and conduct tours of Aspire programs and facilities. Facilitate program immersion experiences that allow prospective individuals and families to experience Aspire's services firsthand. Clearly communicate the value, impact, and benefits of Aspire's programs and supports. Support Admissions & Service Matching Partner closely with the Admissions and Marketing teams to create a smooth and welcoming experience for prospective individuals and families. Gather and share referral information to support effective service matching. Help prospective individuals understand service options, expectations, and next steps in the admissions process. Ensure a seamless handoff from outreach to admissions and program teams. Track Performance & Drive Continuous Improvement Maintain accurate records of outreach activities, presentations, tours, referrals, and follow-up efforts. Monitor outreach metrics and referral trends to evaluate effectiveness. Provide regular updates and recommendations to leadership. Help identify opportunities to strengthen engagement, outreach strategies, and referral conversion efforts. Requirements Associate degree required; Bachelor's degree preferred Minimum of three (3) years of experience in outreach, admissions, marketing, sales, recruiting, client relations, community engagement, or a similar relationship-focused role. Experience delivering presentations, conducting tours, or representing services to external audiences. Valid driver's license with a good driving record. Ability to travel throughout the Chicagoland area. Flexibility to attend occasional early morning, evening, and weekend events. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn CRM and data management systems. Preferred Qualifications Experience in disability services, healthcare, social services, education, or related human services fields. Knowledge of community resources, referral networks, and the disability services landscape. Experience developing referral partnerships, recruiting, or community engagement initiatives. Experience interacting with people with developmental disabilities and unique communication needs. What Makes You Successful You are: A confident and engaging communicator. Passionate about helping people access services and opportunities. Skilled at building authentic relationships and community partnerships. Organized, detail-oriented, and effective at managing multiple priorities. Comfortable working independently while collaborating across teams. Adaptable, proactive, and solutions-focused. Motivated by mission-driven work and making a meaningful impact in your community. Why Aspire? At Aspire, your work has purpose. Every connection you make helps create opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to experience greater independence, engagement, and quality of life. Join a team that values collaboration, innovation, respect, and belonging while making a lasting difference in the lives of the people we support. If you're ready to combine your passion for community engagement, relationship-building, and mission-driven work, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and help build pathways to possibility. #J-18808-Ljbffr