Workforce Initiatives Manager

Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) exists to break the cycle of poverty and inequity through education, job training, and employment. Our vision to strengthen the workforce by serving as a bridge to economic opportunity for individuals in underserved communities is critical for economic recovery. Through our skills-based training, education, and direct job placement, 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. Through our principles of accountability, confidence, and professionalism, we emphasize Values of Integrity-Respecting our commitments, personally and professionally, Excellence-Pushing one another to be our very best and Empowerment-Positive change begins with us. Our commitment to fostering and maintaining a work environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven into our organizational DNA.

Diversity & Racial Equity Mission Statement: We recognize that structural racism, discrimination, systems of power, and other forms of oppression, give privilege and access to resources, lead to inequities, and have contributed to persistent disparities.  OBT is on an intentional journey to champion and operationalize the values of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion into our organization and the communities we serve. We strive to sustain a culture where all individuals can thrive and feel a sense of belonging, especially those whose voices and experiences have been historically marginalized. We commit our work to breaking oppressive barriers and serving as a bridge to sustainable economic opportunities that will build and strengthen an equitable workforce.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility & Belonging (DEIA&B) Statement: We value individual differences and the benefits diversity and inclusion bring to our organization. It enables us to effectively grow by developing respected representation in the communities OBT serves while giving back through our personal experiences and efforts thereby adding immediate value. We understand that diversity is not simply about people who represent the full spectrum or ethnicities, national origins, ages, sexual orientation, gender identity, beliefs, religions and faith, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds and levels of physical ability; it also involves our ability to being open-minded and creating balance within OBT as an organization. Within our diversified workforce, we see our differences as assets, not liabilities and intentionally prioritize methods to enhance our DEIA&B journey. OBT realizes that diversity is an important issue for our organization, but we also realize that it is not enough to hire people with the differences mentioned above. Everyone needs to feel like they are truly welcome, safe and free to be themselves in the workplace. We are establishing a sense of belonging and inclusion, so we can ensure that all employees, regardless of their background and experiences, are connected with equal opportunities and create a healthier, more successful future together.

Position Summary:
The Workforce Initiatives Manager oversees Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) workforce team, leads our employment partnerships, and strengthens our program design to ensure youth and young adults have access to employment pathways. The Manager develops and cultivates employer relationships with companies across the New York City (NYC) area to partner with them on a range of solutions from employment opportunities to other forms of employment engagement. The Manager will serve as a subject matter expert on the identification and interpretation of labor market trends and insights with respect to the overall operational effectiveness of the organization with respect to workforce planning and placement.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Provide oversight of the Workforce Initiatives department, including direct supervision of the Career Development Specialists & the Adult Employment and Resource Specialist.
• Develop actionable, proactive metrics that drive forecasting capabilities and strategic insights for the workforce team.
• Develop a range of internship and employment opportunities in a variety of industries to engage and support young adults at varying levels of skill development and interests for the purpose of career exploration and sector focused experiences, that promote career growth.
• Identify and utilize strategies to determine internship and employer partner needs and incorporate these into program design.
• Cultivate existing relationships and build new relationships with varied stakeholders, including young adults, internship sites, employers, and community partners.
• Work effectively with internal teams and external partners to best prepare and support young adults as they enter the workforce.
• Achieve all program milestones, benchmarks, and credentials at required intervals.
• Provide training, support, and accountability to team members in their goals and measurable outcomes.
• Formulate high level quarterly reports for funders and numerous stakeholders reporting on progress, challenges, and recommendations.
• Cultivate and manage relationships within OBT’s interdisciplinary team.
• Evaluate program design, using participant and labor market information to make improvements.
• Identify and coordinate job fairs, employment recruitment events, and other events to support the work of the Workforce Initiatives team,
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated success in leading and developing a team.
• Detail-oriented with a proven track record of taking initiative and prioritizing tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to perform non-routine work, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and work independently, as well as within teams.
• Ability to establish positive relationships with program participants, internship sites, potential employers, and other CBOs.
• Ability to manage, delegate, and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced setting.
• Ability to support the team to achieve program quality and program outcomes.
• Possess a deep understanding of the labor market and ability to utilize this to inform program design.
• Timeliness of data collection and entry into organization and funder databases.

Education and Experience/Training:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least two (2) years of experience in workforce development, partnership, or business development experience, preferably in non-profit, business-to-business, or government solutions.
• Experience managing complex projects with multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive communications with employees.
• Ability to set priorities and implement strategies to meet program outcomes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Other Qualifications:  These are the skills & attributes that all OBT employees need in order to meet the expectations of each other, our participants, and our partners. 

Communicate with Clarity – Be clear, concise, and actionable. Be relentlessly constructive. Seek and provide meaningful feedback. 

Work with Purpose – Exhibit a “We Can” mindset. Results outweigh effort. Everyone understands how their role contributes. Set aside personal objectives for team results. 

Drive to Decision – Cut the swirl with defined deadlines and decision points. Be clear on individual accountability and decision authority. Guided by a commitment to and accountability for mission outcomes. 

Own the Outcome – Defined milestones, commitments and intended results. Assess your work in context, if you’re unsure, ask. Demonstrate unwavering support for decisions.