Director

Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) exists to break the cycle of poverty and inequity through education, job training, and employment. Our vision is to strengthen the workforce by serving as a bridge to economic and educational opportunity for individuals in underserved communities. Through our skills-based training, educational services, and direct job placement efforts, we build upward economic mobility for out-of-school and unemployed youth and adults and provide the skills necessary to gain a competitive edge in the job market. Finally, OBT maintains a commitment to fostering and maintaining a work environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven into our organizational DNA.  

Position Summary

The Train & Earn (T&E) Program is a career pathways program for youth and young adults ages 16-24 that provides work readiness support, occupational skills training, and employment services, along with supportive services such as High School Equivalency (HSE) classes, paid internships, comprehensive case management, and access to post-secondary education and sector-based credential training. The Program Director will provide strengths-based leadership and in collaboration with the program team, engage in successful recruitment and enrollment, as well as the development of quality programming that leads to placement in high demand industries, advanced training, and/or enrollment in higher education.  Additionally, the Director will partner closely with the OBT Chief Program Officer and Program Manager at the NYC Department for Youth and Community Development to ensure the overall achievement of the program and contractual compliance.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Plan, oversee, and support all aspects of the Train & Earn program including developing and delivering a strong and robust job training and employment services program, high school equivalency course, service planning and case management services, and both access to and persistence with, post-secondary education and advanced training opportunities.
• Monitor levels of service, outcomes, and other key performance indicators and goals for the program, ensuring the program is meeting all contractual requirements.
• Support the development of the annual program budget and then monitor spending in collaboration with the agency’s Fiscal Department, guiding the development and execution of budget modifications when necessary.
• Represent OBT in partner conversations regarding career pathways, advanced training, and credit for prior learning opportunities.
• Oversee day-to-day activities of the Train & Earn department, including supervision of staff, facilitation of team meetings, and managing program correspondences. Identify areas for professional development for oneself and team members and secure these resources.
• Represent the program in key collaborative relationships, including with Department of Youth and Community Service, Department of Education, community partners, employers, and advanced training organizations.
• Track progress towards meeting all outcomes and funder obligations and develop and execute action plans to address gaps. Assure quality, timely data entry into both funder-mandated databases and the agency’s Salesforce instance toward this end.
• Develop a culture of professionalism designed to teach and cultivate a real-world working experience for the youth and young adults served.
• Assist in identifying and developing services and programs not currently being offered. Then, work with the Chief Program Officer, and others in the grant writing process, as it relates to this program.
• Perform all other appropriate duties assigned by Executive team. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• A passionate commitment to OBT’s mission and vision.
• A track record in program leadership within the young adult workforce space with specific indicators of program success in the delivery of services and working with young people to maintain engagement in positive outcomes for at least one-year post-program exit.
• Demonstrated experience developing programmatic systems to enhance program outcomes.
• The ability to establish strong working relationships with team members, colleagues, participants, and external stakeholders.
• The ability to work creatively, resourcefully, and collaboratively while exhibiting flexibility in achieving results.
• The ability to consistently develop and refine the program model and processes to create successful outcomes for participants and staff.
• Experience working on multiple projects and balancing competing priorities.
• Strong skill set in data management and data tracking; demonstrated experience managing data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Education and Experience/Training

• Bachelor’s degree required. A Master’s degree or additional, substantial professional development in a related field preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in education, youth development, or community-based organizations with a minimum of 2 in a leadership role.

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to HR@obtjobs.org
In the subject line, include the job title of the desired position.