Program Manager - Partnerships & Workforce Strategy

WORK SCHEDULE: This position is full-time regular and exempt. Work schedule will vary and may require working days, evenings, nights, and weekends.

AT YOUTHCARE: YouthCare envisions a community where no young person experiences homelessness, all young people have the opportunity to thrive, and the systems that oppress them are dismantled. YouthCare serves young people of many racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and religious beliefs, and we seek a workforce that reflects that diversity.

ABOUT YOUTHCARE: YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential. Founded in 1974, YouthCare was one of the first programs to serve runaway and homeless youth on the West Coast. The goal was to help young people find safety today and build a future for tomorrow. Over four decades, we’ve defined best practices and developed programs that are a national standard for excellence. Using a youth-centered approach, we ensure that young people experiencing homelessness ages 12-24 have the hope, skills, and confidence to gain long-term stability.

COVID vaccinations are mandated at YouthCare. Employees will be required to submit proof of vaccination or have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation at time of On-Boarding. Please note: Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Senior Director of Engagement & Workforce Services, the Program Manager, Partnerships & Workforce Strategy will provide leadership and support to the YouthBuild program team, oversee the implementation and operation of the Customer Service Training program, and provide oversight and coordination of other workforce development pilot and pathway programs, including those related to the Broadway & Pine Project. The Program Manager will work on the sector focused/industry training elements of the Broadway & Pine project in collaboration with other department and agency leaders, including program design and implementation. The Program Manager will support the development and management of various strategic partnerships, including growing employer engagement relations and communication. This role will be instrumental in creating and sustaining external relationships with partners, employers, funders, and other stakeholders. The role provides direct supervision to 3-5 staff working across multiple sites.

TEAM OVERVIEW: The Engagement and Workforce Services Team includes approximately 55 team members focused on building relationships, restoring trust, and planning for next steps as youth and young adults prepare for independence. The staff help young people learn soft skills and take attainable first steps toward longer-term employment. The Team offers transformative ways to build skills and confidence to explore a career and gain long-term employment. The Engagement and Workforce Services Team spans seven program sites- Orion Center; UDYC; South Seattle site; YouthBuild programming at the South Seattle College campus; YouthGrow programming at the Interagency Academy; the Denny Shell space (slated to open in 2022); and the Broadway/Pine project (slated to open in 2024).

The Engagement and Workforce Services division within YouthCare’s Programs Department is responsible for connecting youth and young adults to services that provide continuity and stabilization; connecting young adults to critical resources and services to prevent homelessness; outreaching into the community to educate the public and share the work YouthCare is doing to end youth homelessness; and working internally to foster an integrative service delivery approach that elevates team member competencies and success in providing culturally relevant services.

Program Department Leaders are a team of strategic thinkers and strong implementers, whose passion for this work is matched with decisiveness and patience, comfort with ambiguity, outstanding communication skills, project management prowess, and a deep commitment to young people and dismantling systems of oppression. They shape the culture of YouthCare and hold themselves and the team accountable while setting realistic goals and expectations for both staff and young people. This role is directly responsible for deploying services, programs and systems in ways that are innovative, strategic, and aligned to YouthCare’s 4 core service delivery outcomes – safe and stable housing, financial stability, wellness, and a network of support.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee assigned programming and services, and lead a cohesive team toward program, department, and agency goals
• Manage fiscal responsibilities; prepare, manage, and track program budgets for compliance, appropriateness of fund use, and on-time completion of monthly expense reporting; approve and reconcile monthly expenses, invoice, credit card reports, and back-up documentation and receipts, in a timely manner.
• Complete monthly, quarterly, and annual, internal, and external programmatic and fiscal reporting.
• Prepare for internal and external audits, as needed.
• Prepare timely and accurate narrative, qualitative, and quantitative reports, as needed
• Meet agency/program regulations and contract obligations while building on program deliverables to ensure services align with best practices
• Responsible for communication of contract deliverables and pathways of execution
• Responsible for data collection accuracy, timeliness, and security, including ensuring all staff are completing current and accurate documentation in both internal and external systems
• Update and maintain a program operation manual
• Work across teams and departments to implement new programming, policies and processes
• Attend all funder and agency-required meetings and represent YouthCare on panels, committees and workgroups as needed
• Collaborate with leadership to steer programming toward best practices
• Develop and provide presentations for internal and external audiences, as needed
• Implement Performance Quality and Improvement (PQI) activities and effectively implement practices aligned with accreditation standards.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build, maintain, and lead a high functioning cohesive team. This includes recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, evaluation, coaching, professional development, and team building.
• Participate in the hire and supervision of staff, ensuring clear understanding of job requirements and obligations.
• Provide regular supervision and coaching to direct reports, including management staff and individual contributors.
• Drive staff team to reach contractual and programmatic outcomes with participants around housing, well-being, community connectedness, and financial stability.
• Develop and facilitate training to support staff capacity; ensure staff complete all required trainings and maintain necessary certifications
• Champion and lead professional development opportunities that align with workforce development and youth development best practices; and facilitate trainings as needed
• Provide supervision and support to college-level interns and practicum students; including partnering with educational institutions and attending trainings as required.
• Set solid, attainable goals and hold performance reviews against these goals, encouraging learning and educational opportunities, both professionally and personally.
• Complete performance reviews for all direct reports in a timely manner.
• Provide coverage and support for the team and program participants, in the event of staff absences or position vacancy, including teaching classes, supporting with case management needs, and coordinating program operations

SPECIFIC PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain dynamic collaboration with the Senior Director and all department leadership concerning program functioning and budgets, service quality, cross program partnerships, and achieving agency goals.
  Collaborate with staff across the agency to build and support a culture of workforce development as a mission imperative
• Participate in grant-writing processes – including generating content, narrative, data, and budget materials; and guarantee completion of all required programmatic and fiscal reporting
• Develop and implement strategies to center youth voice within services
• Ensure the successful daily operations of the YouthBuild program, including oversight of the education, construction, life skills, job placement, leadership, and case management components. Support program staff in setting youth up for success in enrolling, progressing, and graduating from program.
• Maintain and manage relationships with South Seattle College and coordinate regarding facilities, student credits, eligibility and enrollment, curriculum alignment, safety procedures, and more.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with funding and implementation partners including the WSLC, WL&I, and Union Leadership to ensure that the YouthBuild curriculum is providing the training and skill attainment required to maintain the program’s status as a direct source of pre-apprentices to union apprenticeship programs in the building trades.
• Lead the Pre-Apprenticeship Recognition Process for the YouthBuild program, as well as the other workforce development programs that YouthCare will develop and oversee.
• As a primary YouthBuild representative, participate in YouthBuild USA committees, training opportunities and events as needed; ensure continuous improvement via YouthBuild USA certifications and affiliation.
• Ensure the development and implementation of regular program events that will engage the community and highlight the YouthBuild program to internal and external stakeholder, including trade-based and social service network providers.
• Build a culture of collaboration at YouthBuild by developing opportunities for program staff to engage with the larger YouthCare community, as well as our various partners in the construction industry
• Ensure the successful daily operations of the Customer Services Training program, including oversight of the development and continued refinement of relevant and inclusive curriculum, recruitment, scheduling, and general program management.
• Support the Customer Service Training Program Coordinator in setting youth up for success in enrolling, progressing, and graduating from program.
• Work closely with Employer Engagement staff to identify and develop work experience opportunities in support of vocational training programs.
• Serve as the department lead for the Workforce Training curriculum project – the development, piloting, implementation, and continual review and refinement of a comprehensive workforce readiness skills curriculum
• Coordinate with data management staff and the PQI team on the integration and alignment of Workforce Training services within the Caseworthy system
• Maintain a focus on continuous quality improvement and lead the implementation of strategies that will improve program recruitment, outcomes, services, design, and operational processes
• In collaboration with the Senior Director, co-lead the design of new workforce development programs and partnerships in advance of the Broadway & Pine project completion, specifically Business & Entrepreneurship, Human Services, Medical Services, and Construction and Trades
• For new programs, work with the Senior Director to design and propose staffing plans and hiring proposals, and then execute those plans in a timely manner to ensure successful execution of new Workforce Development pilot and pathway programs.
• Collaborate with agency, department, and program leadership to identify new funding and program opportunities, develop program descriptions, and create program outcomes to ensure program sustainability prior to and throughout the implementation phase of new programs/services in workforce development programs; participate and/or lead strategic planning groups, as needed
• Collaborate with the Senior Director, Employer Engagement Specialist, and other agency staff, to establish and manage external relations including funders, enterprise and local employers, partners, and other community resources.
• In cross-departmental coordination, develop, implement, and/or maintain effective systems for partner relations
• Establish and maintain effective and positive relationships with relevant entities, including families, schools, homeless agencies, public service groups, community partners, and stakeholders
• Build and maintain referral connections with social services and other community institutions; ensure staff familiarity with available resources
• Actively participate on internal agency, local, regional, and state-wide boards, committees, task forces, and projects as assigned; and attend conferences as required
• Perform other duties, as assigned by supervisor.

SAFETY MANAGEMENT AND CRISIS RESPONSE

• Provide consultation and support in assessing potential emergency situations impacting client services and staffing.
• Comply with the agency’s mandated reporting requirement and report suspected abuse, neglect, or sexual exploitation of minors within the required timeframe.
• Lead staff and volunteer team debriefs of incidents. Attend to signs to secondary trauma of staff and volunteers
• As needed, respond to crisis situations involving YouthBuild and Customer Service Training programming and facilities
• In coordination with the Senior Director, communicate effectively to teams across agency in times of crisis. Interact as needed with outside parties such as the police department, child protection, partners, and neighbors, in accordance with agency values.

This job description is not intended to cover every aspect of your job at YouthCare. We are a team that works together to meet the needs of our clients and every member of the team is expected to pitch in and help even beyond the specific responsibilities listed in this description.

QUALIFICATIONS:

What You Bring:

• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and equity
• The ability to maintain positive regard for young people despite periods of ambiguity and opposition
• Coachability, and a desire to engage in candid two-way feedback as a means for professional growth
• Demonstrated professionalism through a positive and cooperative attitude and by maintaining the confidential and proprietary nature of client/staff relationships and related work products
• The ability to maintain stable performance under pressure or conflict; handle stress in a manner that maintains teamwork and respect for others and to the agency
• Initiative, creativity, and flexibility
• Experience with and demonstrated integrity when working with diverse populations and cultures
• Sense of humor and joy for the work

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in social work or relevant field of study and 1+ years of relevant work experience, OR an equivalent combination of education, relevant work experience, and/or lived experience (3+) serving young people experiencing homelessness, housing instability, poverty, and systemic oppression
• Three or more years of supervisory experience or strong history of effective leadership experience.
• Intermediate/advanced computer software skills including Windows, MS Outlook, MS Word, and Excel
• Ability to accurately maintain and produce files, records, logs and reports.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients while building trust and respect.
• Ability and willingness to stay awake and alert during overnight shifts.
• Ability to verbally and physically respond to a person demonstrating aggressive behaviors in ways that de-escalate, establish and maintain staff and young peoples’ safety.
• May be required to assume responsibilities or duties within the agency not specifically delineated in this job description for short periods of time or on an infrequent basis.
• Ability to assume responsibilities or duties within the agency not specifically delineated in this job description for short periods of time or on an infrequent basis.
• Ability to coordinate overall program functioning.
• Experience designing and operating programs and conducting data-driven continuous improvement process
• Experience and credentials must comply with program contractual requirements, including but not limited to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) background clearance process and must be at least 21 years of age. DCYF Clearance must be maintained for entirety of employment when working with under-18 clients.
• Commitment to YouthCare’s initiative to build cultural proficiency across the agency. Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Master Level Degree in Social Work, Human Development, Psychology or related field
• Bilingual

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must be able to provide I-9 supporting documentation for employment.
• Ability to provide a negative TB Test (results must be within one-year of hire date).
• Employees who drive YouthCare vehicles as a requirement for their position, must be at least 21 years of age, possess a valid Washington State Driver’s License, meet minimum safe driver criteria established by the agency and our insurance company which includes completion of Defensive Driving and 15-passenger Van trainings. Drivers under the age of 25 must have been licensed for at least 3-years and those operating vehicles with a capacity of 15 or more passengers must be at least 25 years old.
• Ability to obtain a current Food Handler’s Card
• Successful completion of pre-service trainings as required by contracting agencies. Trainings such as CPR & First Aid (Adult/Child), Bloodborne Pathogens, and Behavior Management.
• Computer software skills including Windows, Microsoft outlook, Microsoft Word
• Initiative, creativity, reliability, flexibility, thoroughness
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with good quality spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• High integrity when dealing with a broad array of cultures and restricted and/or confidential information
• Ability to deal therapeutically with behavioral and emotional problems presented by young people and understanding of emotionally, physically, and sexually abused young people.

PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

• Ability to perform range of physical motions, exerting up to 50 pounds. Lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, kneeling, squatting, and stooping; running for brief periods of time; and go up and down stairs.
  

BENEFITS: YouthCare provides a competitive benefits package to full time employees including medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, short-term disability, life insurance, 401(k), vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave after successful completion of the 90-day Introductory Period.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT: YouthCare is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs and YouthCare is committed to recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, regardless of actual or perceived sex; race; color; religious creed; national origin; ancestry; age; marital status; pregnancy; nursing parent status; physical, mental or sensory disability; medical condition; genetic information; sexual orientation; gender (including gender identity or expression); military or veteran status; or any other basis protected by federal, state and/or local laws. People of Color and Members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.