Business Services and Employer Partnerships Specialist

Business Services and Employer Partnerships Specialist

Compensation

$40,000 annual base salary plus performance-based bonus

Schedule

Full-time, in person, Monday through Friday

Work locations

3331 W. 26th Street, Chicago, IL

5801 W. Dickens Ave., Chicago, IL 60639

Travel and language

Some local travel; bilingual English and Spanish required

About Food Hero

Food Hero connects Chicago-area residents with culinary workforce training, employment pathways, and opportunities in hospitality and food production. We work with businesses and community partners to expand access to quality jobs and build a dependable talent pipeline.

Position Overview

The Business Services and Employer Partnerships Specialist develops new employer relationships, supports staffing opportunities, and connects qualified community members with jobs in hospitality and food manufacturing. This role combines business outreach, candidate recruitment, workforce placement, and community partnership building. The specialist identifies and advances opportunities, while Food Hero leadership retains responsibility for pricing, service agreement negotiation, and final contract approval.

Key ResponsibilitiesEmployer Outreach and New Business

· Identify and contact restaurants, hotels, caterers, food manufacturers, commercial kitchens, and other prospective employers.

· Schedule employer meetings, understand staffing needs, present Food Hero services, and create qualified business opportunities.

· Support proposal preparation and hand off service agreement discussions and approvals to leadership.

· Maintain employer relationships, follow up on open staffing needs, and identify repeat and expanded opportunities.

Recruitment and Workforce Placement

· Build candidate pipelines with workforce partners, community groups, training programs, and direct outreach.

· Coordinate candidate screening, interviews, referrals, placement, and employer onboarding requirements.

· Match job seekers with positions that fit their interests, skills, experience, availability, and employer requirements.

· Follow up with placed workers and employers to address barriers and support retention.

Community Partnerships and Operations

· Develop working relationships with neighborhood organizations, public workforce programs, schools, and referral partners.

· Represent Food Hero at employer visits, job fairs, hiring events, and community meetings.

· Maintain accurate records of employer prospects, open job orders, candidate referrals, placements, and follow-up activity.

· Provide regular pipeline and outcomes reports and coordinate across both Chicago office locations.

Required Qualifications

· At least 3 years of relevant experience in staffing, employer relations, business development, or workforce services; 3 to 5 years or more strongly preferred.

· Professional working proficiency in spoken and written English and Spanish.

· Demonstrated ability to build relationships with employers, job seekers, and community partners.

· Strong organization, follow-through, communication, and proficiency with spreadsheets, scheduling tools, and CRM or applicant tracking systems.

· Ability to work on site at both offices and travel locally to employer and community locations as needed.

Preferred Experience

· Existing relationships and hands-on experience in Chicago community workforce development.

· Direct staffing or recruitment experience in hospitality, culinary operations, and food manufacturing.

· Familiarity with workforce training programs, barriers to employment, and retention support.

Measures of Success

Performance is evaluated through qualified employer outreach and meetings, new employer opportunities, active job orders, candidate referrals and placements, employer satisfaction, worker retention, and timely reporting. Specific targets and bonus eligibility will be communicated separately.

Compensation and Application

Annual base salary: $40,000. Additional compensation: eligibility for performance-based bonuses under a plan established by Food Hero. Benefits: [Insert confirmed benefits and paid leave description before publication].

Food Hero is committed to fair and inclusive hiring and welcomes qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds.