Associate Director of Employer Engagement & Career Services

Organization Summary: 

Founded in 1993, Civic Works strengthens communities through education, skills development and community service. Our Center for Sustainable Careers (CSC) includes our Career Pathways and Career Exploration (YouthBuild) workforce development programs. These programs focus on expanding access to family-sustaining careers for Baltimore residents facing significant barriers to quality employment. CSC supports participants in developing both technical skills and soft skills, and earning marketable certifications, all while providing wraparound case management and job placement services.

Through our Job Quality Initiative, Civic Works’ Center for Sustainable Careers (CSC) partners with Baltimore companies, including employer partners hiring our graduates to strengthen their workplaces. We provide support to implement workplace practices like competitive compensation, health benefits, paid leave, and leadership training that lead to increased retention and positive outcomes for employees. In turn, CSC helps these businesses grow by channeling procurement opportunities and supporting their marketing as employers of choice.

Position Summary:

The Associate Director of Employer Engagement and Career Services, will play a key role in advancing Civic Works’ mission by leading career services, employer partnerships, and initiatives to improve job quality. The Associate Director will manage program operations, personnel, and strategic planning, while building strong employer relationships to create meaningful job opportunities for Civic Works’ program graduates. They’ll ensure the delivery of impactful workshops, coaching, and assessments that prepare participants for successful job placements and long-term career success. In addition, the Associate Director will drive efforts to improve job quality for frontline workers in Baltimore, working with employers to foster better workplace practices and advocating for broader job quality improvements across the region. 

This is an exciting opportunity to drive organizational growth by streamlining processes across programs to enhance impact and efficiency, while advancing job access and quality.

Primary Responsibilities:

I.  Career Services

1. Oversee career services  including job readiness, coaching, placement and retention.
2. Design and oversee the job readiness workshops and curricula.
3. Oversee the matching of participants with job opportunities that align with their skills, interests, and aspirations.
4. Track performance to meet grant requirements for placement, retention and career advancement.
5. Support the integration of career services and operations across workforce development programs where feasible and strategic.

II. Employer Engagement

1. Develop and oversee strategies to engage and expand employer partnerships.
2. Strengthen employer networks to support the hiring of Civic Works’ graduates.
3. Oversee data management for employer tracking, feedback and outcomes in Salesforce.
4. Build and maintain relationships with key industry stakeholders, agencies and organizations.

III.  Job Quality

1. Oversee job quality programming including recruitment and cultivation of employer partners, incumbent worker training, and the development of resources and best practices supporting improved workplace practices. 
2. Lead the growth of the job quality team, strategic planning, and funding diversification for program expansion. 
3. Oversee data collection and analysis to evaluate the department’s impact on employee retention, employee advancement, employee satisfaction, and other job quality outcomes.
4. Identify and implement opportunities to expand the job quality impact of Civic Works' procurement strategies.
5. Engage with institutions, agencies, and leaders to drive systems change around job quality.
6. Refine job quality marketing strategies.

IV. Staff Management

1. Recruit, supervise, and develop program staff to enhance skills and retention. 
2. Develop the organizational design of the teams to grow Civic Works’ capacity in each of the function areas.
3. Support career advancement through internal and external professional development opportunities. 
4. Set and communicate specific and measurable performance standards, and provide regular feedback and coaching.
5. Create a strong, collaborative team environment. 
6. Continuously evaluate and improve team effectiveness using data. 
7. Ensure staff integration within Civic Works and the Center for Sustainable Careers.

V. Program Development and Evaluation

1. Streamline career services and employer engagement activities across programs.
2. Oversee the feasibility assessment of new industry sectors for expanded training and placement opportunities.
3. Continuously evaluate and improve the effectiveness of program operations.
4. Design, develop and implement change management strategies and plans.

VI. Fundraising

1. Develop and strengthen a portfolio of diversified restricted and unrestricted funding sources. Build and maintain relationships with new and existing funders.
2. Work with the grants coordinator to craft compelling grant proposals with clear, measurable outcomes. Analyze data to demonstrate impact.  

Education and Experience:

• Must have at least 6 years of progressively increasing responsibility in a relevant field.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience managing people.
• Experience leading organizational change.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: workforce development, employer engagement, recruitment, account management, and/or non-profit management.
• Strong computer and database management skills, and experience with Microsoft programs required. Experience with Salesforce is a plus.

Skills and Abilities:

• Adept at managing change in a rapidly growing team, and juggling multiple competing priorities, deadlines, and workstreams.
• Results-driven approach, with a track record of meeting goals.
• Ability to recognize problems, develop and implement innovative solutions.
• Strong relationship building skills, ability to personally connect with and engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong ability to delegate effectively while holding staff accountable, coaching, and empowering them to improve performance.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of change management principles, strategies, and techniques required for effectively planning, implementing, and evaluating change in the organization.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

• Work schedule is typically Monday through Friday. Occasional travel to meet with external partners offsite may occur.
• Hybrid position: The position is eligible to work from home up to one day per week, and would work at least four days per week from Civic Works’ office in Baltimore City.