Workforce Development Manager

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO) provides leadership on issues of economic justice by advancing racial equity and inclusive growth to ensure that all Philadelphians share in the city’s prosperous future and by alleviating the immediate impact of poverty on individuals, families and communities.  CEO is Philadelphia’s Community Action Agency (CAA); CAAs are private or public agencies created by the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act and federally designated to receive Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding.

Guiding Principles (We believe…)

• The people of Philadelphia deserve the opportunity to live happy, healthy, full lives. 
• City Government should both recognize its culpability in creating and sustaining inequity and aspire to its responsibility to provide opportunities, represent the best interests, and promote the well-being of all residents. 
• People can offer meaningful insights into both personal experiences and how systems around them function. 
• Poverty is a deliberately created systemic issue and city government can lead in calling for justice and dismantling the barriers that often prevent opportunities. 

Values (How we work)

• Dignity: We actively respect our individual colleagues and people in the community.
• Inclusivity: Our work is more beneficial, valuable, and valid when our full range of experiences, knowledge, and skills can contribute.
• Persistence: We recognize the challenges inherent in this work, and when we get discouraged, we find ways to be resilient, lift each other up, and push forward.
• Accountability: We are transparent and honest about our plans, our actions, and our results.
• Honesty: We create a space to have healthy, honest dialogues about systems, people, and misconceptions and then communicate truthfully.

Job Description

The Manager, Work Ready and Workforce Operations is responsible for managing and implementing contracts and projects that span across multiple areas of the Workforce system, along with ensuring efficiencies and consistencies globally across all service providers.  This position is also responsible for ensuring all service providers are meeting the expectations of CEO and are in line with local, state, federal funding compliance. 

Key responsibilities include working independently on difficult tasks associated with program operations or complex projects while demonstrating professionalism and confidentiality when handling all matters. Interacting with departmental directors, managers, and subcontractor staff on behalf of the Family Support and Basic Needs unit; addressing direct inquiries and helping troubleshoot and resolve requests; and participating in activities designed to enhance engagement and build subcontractor and organizational capacity.

This position supports the broader CEO Policy & Programs unit and is responsible for identifying best practices to apply more broadly across CEO.

Essential Functions

• Manage and monitor the activity of global initiatives impacting all or multiple vendors, such as:
  • Training opportunities for staff
  • Consultant support for CEO workforce system
  • Workshops and other specific employment preparatory opportunities
  • Other workforce grants in the Family Support and Basic Needs Unit
• Maintain up-to-date information on all assigned projects, including policies, standard operating procedures, dashboards, report cards, and other tools to ensure program quality, integrity, and compliance.
• Provide regular reports to leadership and funding sources, as required, related to all projects and programs assigned.
• Ensure uniformity throughout CEO workforce system in relation to new projects/opportunities that affect all service providers:
  • influence change towards uniformity
  • oversee center staff training and communicate updates and changes
• Oversee assigned staff, including all personnel related functions including recruitment and selection, performance coaching and evaluation, training, staff development, motivation, communication and building shared vision.
• Build and maintain rapport and relationships with subcontracted providers and maintain frequent communication and collaboration CEO leadership, funding partners and subcontractors  
• Collaborate with Research and Data unit regarding data and information needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of social services programs and funding sources compliance
• Experience with human centered program design and implementation
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, presentation, planning, and organizational skills
• Ability to adapt to a changing work environment and possess the flexibility to meet departmental needs
• Ability to train, motivate and build a cohesive team
• Ability to build solid relationships that engender trust
• Ability to interact effectively with various levels of staff, management, government officials, and the public
• Ability to generate innovative ideas and effectively communicate them verbally and in writing
• Ability to comprehend system wide strategy/vision and communicate it to stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to move ideas and vision to implementation successfully
• Ability to travel to various locations throughout the city
• Project Management driven
• Possess solid Office 365 and SharePoint experience
• Ability to maintain confidential information

Work-Life

Working hours are generally 37.5 hours per week. Our team is currently hybrid with both virtual and in-office days, however the position can opt to come in the office each day if desired

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, human services, or related field
• Workforce knowledge and strong familiarity of national workforce practices preferred
• 2-4 years’ experience managing provider contracts preferred

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a resume and references.

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx