Program Manager

Enjoy building professional relationships and enhancing the community? Join an outstanding non-profit organization that supports the construction community, Southwest Washington Contractors Association (SWCA). We help our construction industry members in Southwest Washington train their employees, win more business, become more profitable, and build a stronger community through member benefits and resources.

Job Summary

The SWCA Construction as a Career Program Manager is responsible for leading the organization’s Construction as a Career Programs. This includes further development, management and expansion of a career launch program connecting schools with construction and trade companies to help students find employment opportunities upon graduation and choose construction as a career. The Construction as a Career Program Manager will also work with regional workforce board staff from Portland and Clackamas, as well as construction employers, labor partners, and pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship programs to understand the job demand and critical skills to inform the public workforce system so that talent is developed through our programs to meet employer demand. Furthermore, the Construction as a Career Program Manager will lead workforce development efforts in the regions including Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania and Wahkiakum counites to ensure the local workforce is prepared to compete for quality jobs in the construction industry.

SWCA works in collaboration with Workforce Southwest Washington(WSW) and have a shared value in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We provide an inclusive workplace where difference is valued, celebrated, and engaged. By doing so, we thrive as a company through diversity and the unique qualities and life experiences our employees bring to the workplace. We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most creative talent on our team. All staff are brought into an environment that supports and encourages self-reflection, learning, risk-taking, and growth to continually develop each employee’s understanding of themselves and others.

Essential Functions

· Manage Construction as a Career programs.

· Establish and maintain strong relationships with business, labor, apprenticeship programs, government, and educational institution leaders as they relate to the construction sector.

· Lead all SWCA efforts related to workforce development in the construction/infrastructure industry; facilitate employment and training projects led by industry. These efforts include:

o Act as a liaison between the schools and construction and trade companies.

o Coordinate workforce engagement opportunities, events, and field trips to construction sites and established industry organizations to promote and provide an inside look into the day-to-day operations of the variety of job opportunities within the construction industry.o Provide construction industry intelligence to staff in the WorkSource centers, both in Clark and Cowlitz counties; this industry intelligence will be used by the WorkSource centers to appropriately invest in training opportunities, candidate sourcing and development of a qualified construction talent pool.

o Utilize construction industry relationships and intelligence to inform initiatives, grant applications and program design.

o Work closely with industry partners and the Columbia Willamette Workforce Collaborative (CWWC) to co-develop strategies and action to be taken based on the goals of WSW’s Construction Workforce Plan. These goals include:

§ Connect Youth to Jobs, Training and Apprenticeship Opportunities in Construction

§ Advance Equity and Diversity in the Construction Industry

§ Improve Retention of Existing Apprentices and Workers

§ Connect “Career Changers” to Jobs, Training and Career Opportunities in Construction

· Follow the program curriculum, making suggestions for improvements and opportunities of growth.

· Work in partnership with the WSW Director of Business Services to develop and implement strategies that align with the WSW Strategic Plan.

· Ability to be flexible and work with special projects and other tasks as assigned that may not be specifically outlined in this job description.

· Be a part of SWCA team efforts by bringing ideas and feedback from events, meetings, and membership, back to the Executive Director to help improve SWCA’s ongoing effort to understand, improve benefits and resources, and support the construction industry in Southwest Washington.

Knowledge and Skills

· 4 years’ experience in program/project management; or equivalent combination of education and experience

· Construction industry experience/knowledge preferred.

· Bilingual

· Background Check required to meet requirements of SWCA and WSW school district partners

· Communication proficiency

· Effective public speaking and presentation skills.

· Performance management / ability to prioritize work

· Initiative

· Organizational skills

· Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and partners from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

· Able to work independently and seek direction, resources, and support when needed

· Able to manage students and keep them safe on a construction site

· Proficient in or ability to learn software and hardware including Microsoft Office, Outlook, Customer Relationship Management Database, internet and cell phone.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $67,750.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Paid time off

Experience level:

• 2 years

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Vancouver, WA 98665