Job Description
Job Summary
This position reports to NIWL’s Director of Learning & Workforce Development and leads a multi-million-dollar workforce development portfolio, including corporate-funded, U.S. Department of Labor, and Department of Justice projects. The role provides technical direction to workforce projects and oversees a team of 8–10 staff, ensuring high performance, quality project delivery, and responsiveness to donors, partners, and government agencies.
The position identifies workforce trends, supports business development and strategic growth, and focuses on private sector and U.S. federal/state government funding opportunities to position NIWL as a thought leader in workforce development. The role also promotes expanded opportunities for populations in underinvested communities.
Key Responsibilities
Project Direction / Quality Assurance
- Oversee operational and financial success of the workforce portfolio, including staffing, scopes of work, timelines, budgets, and compliance with FHI 360 policies.
- Provide leadership and technical direction for existing and new workforce projects, ensuring compliance, high-quality deliverables, and strategic alignment.
- Identify areas for improved efficiency and develop process improvement initiatives, including staff training.
- Expand funding, partnerships, and relationships to grow the workforce portfolio, including career and technical education, apprenticeship, work-based learning, and justice workforce programs.
- Utilize project management tools such as Jira and Salesforce to capture and share information across teams.
- Monitor workforce development trends to position FHI 360 for federal, state, tribal, local, corporate, and foundation investments.
- Collaborate with leadership on management, compliance, performance standards, budget management, knowledge management, and best practices.
- Ensure project teams document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices for incorporation into new projects.
- Maintain strong collaboration with partner organizations through regular communication, joint decision-making, and sustainable program efforts.
- Lead workforce development thought leadership events and produce external publications, white papers, and communications.
- Oversee project implementation to meet quality, communications, and performance expectations.
Technical Leadership
- Ensure technical deliverables align with industry best practices and client/funder contractual obligations.
- Provide strategic leadership in workforce development, including apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, credentialing/certifications, policy, and justice/reentry initiatives.
- Guide development and refinement of frameworks, tools, monitoring approaches, and advocacy strategies.
- Initiate new workforce projects and train staff on program design and implementation.
- Recommend strategic, operational, and business solutions to management.
- Represent FHI 360 and NIWL professionally to partners, government entities, and potential funders.
- Contribute to NIWL’s achievement of overall strategic goals.
Staff Development
- Foster a supervisory environment focused on learning, productivity, accountability, and openness.
- Facilitate performance management and professional development through feedback, coaching, and challenging assignments.
- Promote a positive climate that motivates staff to achieve their best.
Business Development
- Lead efforts to maintain and grow the workforce development portfolio.
- Guide proposal design and development for sustainable NIWL growth, identifying new programming opportunities and expanding the funder base.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Collaboration & Communication
- Build and maintain positive relationships with funders, partners, and internal staff.
- Support leadership, senior staff, and project teams in coordination and implementation.
- Maintain strong communication across teams and with program partners in a matrixed environment.
- Identify opportunities to integrate resources and services into existing and new programming.
- Increase visibility of projects within FHI 360 and among stakeholders where appropriate.
- Foster a culture of innovation, problem-solving, respect, openness, and learning.
Education
- Master’s Degree or international equivalent in Civil Society, Communication and Social Marketing, Economic Development, Education, Environment, Gender, Health, Nutrition, Public Affairs/Policy Studies, Research, Technology, Youth Development, or related fields.
Minimum Qualifications
- 10+ years of relevant experience required (15+ preferred), including project management and at least 8 years of department-level leadership or supervisory experience.
- Experience working in NGOs and intermediary organizations.
- Knowledge of organizational capacity building.
- Proven ability to manage effective teams and complex, strategic projects of national/international scope.
- Experience securing and managing U.S. workforce development projects, including design, implementation, and management.
- Knowledge of business development processes for government, foundations, and private sector funding.
- Experience working with justice-involved individuals or underrepresented groups is a plus.
Application Note
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Disclaimer: Applications will be received until this position is filled
