Description

This position is located in Evanston, Illinois.

The Workforce Development Manager, as a member of the Economic Advancement team, contributes to making our community a place where women can achieve family-sustaining employment by managing all aspects of YWCA workforce development programs. The manager oversees YW Tech Lab and YW Culinary programs through deep collaborations with the YWCA domestic violence program and key community partners. The manager supports and grows workforce programming by developing curriculum, program processes and protocols, community partnerships and referral pipelines, employer connections and provides client support as needed.

The position is responsible for developing and implementing program strategies that align with department goals, management of daily activities, and solicits and offers input on and contributes recommendations for agency policies, and department priorities, and procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development & Coordination (30%)

• In collaboration with the program director, develops long-term program plans that align with organizational goals and advance the mission to eliminate racism and empower women.
• Develops annual workforce development plans to ensure timely implementation of all aspects of delivering a high-quality workforce program.
• Leads the development, implementation, and improvement of participant registration and orientation processes for all workforce programs.
• Develops and coordinates a formal intake process that identifies participant barriers and goals and results in individualized strength-based action plans.
• Leads the development and implementation of workforce curricula aligned with current trends and best practices and leverages multiple methods for instructional delivery including managing on-line learning platforms.
• Coordinates outside speakers for workforce development trainings and presentations.
• Collaborates with Economic Advancement team to include employment resources through our financial education classes.
• Develops effective informational tools to share with clients.
• Contributes to the development of program outcomes, benchmarks, and indicators and ensures the full evaluation plan implementation including but not limited to collecting data from clients, entering data into proper technology, and reporting out on data as directed.
•  Submits monthly activity reports in a timely fashion.
• Reports on goals and objectives identified in government grants and foundations as appropriate.

Career Readiness and Placement Services (30%)

• Cultivates employer relationships that lead to successful job placements and career growth for workforce program participants.
• Works closely with the workforce development councils to develop partnerships that benefit our workforce program participants
• Works closely with the domestic violence team to plan and deliver trauma-informed career readiness and individualized employment case management and support services. Attends case review as requested to ensure coordinated service delivery.
• Develops and delivers group and individualized career readiness support including but not limited to trainings, coaching, resource referral, and employment placement and retention support.
• Keeps proper documentation and records of participant work including but not limited to reporting documentation, including written narratives on all interactions with clients and enters the data into the case management system as requested.

Staff Supervision (20%)

• Develops, motivates, and maintains a highly functioning team that demonstrates positive morale and adheres to high standards of service delivery.
• Assists in hiring a diverse staff in accordance with agency policies and procedures and submits timely, accurate, and completed hiring paperwork.
• Assists in ensuring new hires are on-boarded in accordance with agency policies and procedures including but not limited to developing, reviewing, and submitting new-hire work plans for those working 20 hours or more a week, and training on agency operations, policies, procedures, and job responsibilities.
• Oversees the workflow and productivity of staff including but not limited to maintaining accurate work schedules, reviewing and approving timesheets and activity reports in a timely manner, setting and regularly reviewing professional goals, expectations, and accomplishments.
• Develops staff capacity and morale by providing regular supervision and effective coaching including but not limited to meeting individually with staff working 20 hours or more a week at least twice a month and providing consistent and timely feedback to those working less than 20 hours a week as determined by performance needs and recognizing and recording staff accomplishments and disciplinary issues.
• Ensures all staff who are regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours a week receive a timely annual appraisal within 2 months of their anniversary date.
• Maintains current knowledge of best practices in the field and oversees ongoing professional development and required certification of all staff ensuring a commitment to high-quality, innovative service delivery.
• Stays current with agency technology and its proper usage including but not limited to taking the initiative to seek out personal training opportunities, training direct reports on proper usage, and ensuring staff maximize their efficiency with the use of available technology.
• Acts as primary liaison between direct reports and program director to ensure timely, thorough, and effective organizational communication so staff feel informed and aware of organizational policies, practices, procedures, and growth. Effectively advocates for staff by regularly soliciting staff input and representing staff needs and interest to program director.
• Ensures all staff understand and adhere to all policies in the Employee Handbook.

Community Outreach and Partner Development (10%)

• Identifies, cultivates, and maintains strategic community partnerships that could contribute to and enrich employment support services and advocates within those organizations for the benefit of workforce participants.
• Actively participates in the development and management of workforce councils to support program growth.
• Develops and implements community outreach strategies that result in a reliable pipeline for participant referrals and meeting recruitment and registration goals.
• Develops and implements employer cultivation strategies resulting in program volunteers, mentors, internships, and job placement.
• Coordinates all volunteers participating in workforce development programs.

Case Management (5%)

• Oversees the daily activities of comprehensive case management services removing barriers to access for workforce development program participants.
• Leverages agency partnerships to ensure a robust capacity to refer clients to appropriate partners.
• Develops program standards for high-quality case management services.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES (5%)

•  Attend weekly case review
•  Provides and attends staff trainings and participates in agency committees.
•  Pursues professional development
•  Understands and adheres to all of YWCA Evanston/North Shore procedures and policies as well as the YWCA Employee Handbook.
•  Performs other duties as assigned by management.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

Experience and/or Training:

•  Minimum of 3 years working in the field of workforce development
•  Experience developing and delivering trainings for diverse audiences on workforce development topics.
•  Proven success implementing job development, placement, and retention strategies.

Licenses/Certificates:

•  Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance
•  Illinois 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training completed within 3 months of employment
•  YWCA requires that all employees be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and submit proof of vaccination to Human Resources unless a request for a medical or religious accommodation is granted.

Technology/Equipment:

•  Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint.
•  Use of personal vehicle required for off-site meetings and trainings

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, human resource development, or technology-related field.

Experience and/or Training:

•  At least 5 years of progressive experience working in the field of workforce development.
•  Experience managing technology-focused workforce development programs.
•  General knowledge of workforce development ecosystem in Chicagoland area.
•  Specific knowledge of employment needs and trends for entry-level employment in technology positions.
•  Experience working with survivors of domestic violence.

Licenses/Certificates:

•  Completed Illinois 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training
•  Completed Workforce Professional’s Credential

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

Intermittent (less than 15%), Occasional (15-45%), Frequent (50-75%), and Continuous (over 75%).

•  Occasional nights and/or weekends required for events or meetings
•  Occasional local and intermittent statewide travel required
•  Tolerance of prolonged and continuous stationary periods at a desk/computer
•  Occasionally required to push, pull, lift and/or move up to 10 pounds
•  Must be able to move about the facility
•  Must be able to navigate offsite locations
•  Must be able to operate controls for computers and other equipment

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

•  Employee may be required to share office space or work in a cubicle in an open office environment
•  Employee may be required to work from home
•  Employee will frequently have meetings or work in other buildings

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.

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