Retention Specialist

About This Role

This role focuses on providing professional follow-up and retention services to Out-of-School Youth (OSY) participants who have exited WIOA Title I–funded programming. The primary goal is to support participants in sustaining unsubsidized employment, post-secondary education enrollment, or registered apprenticeship placement for a minimum of 12 months after program exit. The specialist works collaboratively with program staff, employers, educational partners, and community resources to remove barriers, administer supportive services and incentives, and maintain accurate documentation of post-exit outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Conduct regular, mandated contacts with former participants via text, phone, or letter to monitor progress and offer support, including weekly or monthly check-ins during the first 90 days after exit and quarterly contacts thereafter for a full year
• Engage unemployed former participants in job search activities and help re-establish contact with non-responsive individuals
• Respond appropriately to participant needs and crises that arise during the post-exit period, providing guidance and appropriate referrals
• Identify ongoing barriers to retention—such as transportation, childcare, housing, or healthcare needs—and provide immediate referrals to internal or external resources
• Assess ongoing participant needs and process requests for supportive services, including transportation vouchers (gift cards), uniforms, and work tools, to remove financial barriers to maintaining employment or education
• Maintain detailed records of all supportive service expenditures within the VOS case management system to ensure internal controls and prevent duplication of services
• Manage the timely completion, documentation, and distribution of incentive gift cards awarded to participants for reaching key milestones, such as obtaining a GED, completing educational training, or securing employment
• Track participant progress toward milestone-based incentives to ensure accurate and timely processing and payout
• Serve as a resource to identify and address issues that arise for participants, employers, and educators in post-placement settings to prevent job loss or training dropout
• Counsel youth in long-term career planning and help them realize their educational goals, including assistance with promotions or additional placements as needed
• Maintain accurate case notes and enter post-program outcomes (employment status, wages, and credentials) into VOS and other required systems within established time frames
• Ensure all activities and documentation pertaining to follow-up contacts and supportive service distribution comply with WIOA regulations, grant requirements, and local policies regarding personally identifiable and confidential information
• Support alignment of retention practices with Agape’s Performance Quality and Improvement (PQI) standards, and assist with related audits or monitoring as needed