Title: Director of Workforce Development

Summary/Overview:

Global Kids’ (GK) mission is to educate, inspire, and mobilize youth to become global citizens who are positively engaged in the world and are prepared for their future. Over its 36-year history, the organization has engaged thousands of young people in its’ innovative youth development programs that promote global awareness and action, building their agency to affect change in their community and beyond. 

Our workforce readiness program is designed to provide youth with year-round employment and supplementary educational and training experiences and support. Global Kids works across various DYCD Learn & Earn, SYEP, Work, Learn, and Grow, and YMI Mentoring contracts. The Director of Workforce Development will work in collaboration with the Senior Director of Academic Programs and Quality Assurance and the Director of Student Success to plan and integrate workforce development strategies and goals into our community schools and college & career readiness work. Through staff professional development, training, and supervision, employer and community partnership relationship building, and administrative and compliance-based oversight, the Director of Workforce Development will ensure the success of workforce programs across all sites. Additionally, in collaboration with the Senior Director of Academic Programs and Quality Assurance, the Director of Workforce Development will plan workforce development strategies and goals to improve and ensure the successful integration of workforce programs across all school-based sites.

This is a hybrid position that requires travel across New York City to school-based program sites.

Responsibilities:

Administrative / Compliance

• Direct and oversee the administration of Workforce programs to ensure compliance with all applicable Department of Labor, DYCD, WIOA, and organizational regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Communicate regulatory expectations to staff in a clear, accessible manner and collaborate with teams to develop and implement effective improvement strategies.
• Conduct monthly internal audits of DYCD Workforce programs (Career Ready, SYEP, WIOA) to ensure contractual and regulatory compliance.
• Manage confidential information in accordance with organizational and regulatory standards.
• Compile, analyze, and report workforce-related statistical and performance data as required.
• Compile and prepare information and reports for presentations to staff, leadership, panels, and external stakeholders.
• Ensure regular and consistent programmatic participation and fidelity, and fulfill other duties as assigned.

Outreach / Partnership Development

• Recruit, establish, and sustain employer partnerships across key industries and targeted neighborhoods at the local and city-wide levels to support paid and unpaid internships, mentorships, job shadowing, and long-term employment opportunities for students at key targeted school-sites. 
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with community-based organizations and federal, state, city, and county agencies that support and enhance workforce programming.
• Serve as the assigned liaison to external workforce and employment committees such as NYCETC, WPTI, DYCD, and professional associations to support advocacy and systems-level youth employment initiatives.
• Recruit subject matter experts to participate in Global Kids panels and workforce-related initiatives.
• Assist in identifying and securing opportunities to diversify workforce funding streams; oversee implementation of new programs funded through alternative funding sources when designated.
• Work in partnership with the Senior Director of Academic Programs and Quality Assurance and the Director of Student Success and Wellness to identify future expansion sites and develop sustainable Workforce growth plans across program locations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including communications, marketing, and program staff, to align messaging, branding, and goals for maximum impact.

Training / Staff Development

• Coach, train, and provide capacity‑building support for staff across all program sites to ensure adherence to programmatic standards and best practices.
• Provide strategic direction to program staff and service providers to achieve program goals and performance outcomes.
• Support training and develop curricula for key workforce workshops on career readiness, financial literacy, advising, and more.
• Collaborate with the Director of Student Success and Wellness on implementing training and coaching around case management with a strong workforce lens.
• Conduct routine site visits to ensure high-quality service delivery and adherence to program standards across all workforce program locations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain annual best practice manuals, job development guides, program management handbooks, and training curricula.
• Design and oversee professional development plans and ongoing training opportunities for workforce program staff.
• Direct workforce training and staff development initiatives to ensure staff have clear guidance, expectations, and support.
• Delegate roles and responsibilities by establishing clear guidelines to accomplish programmatic and operational objectives.
• Establish workforce team performance standards and evaluate staff performance to support accountability and professional growth.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and five years of relevant professional experience, or master’s degree in a related field and two years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience and understanding of youth workforce programs, including at least one year in a supervisory role. Experience with NYC DYCD workforce programs (WIOA, Work, Learn & Grow, Learn & Earn, SYEP, or YMI) a plus.
• Strong project management skills, including managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines
• Experience working with NYC public schools and/or high school-age youth.
• Familiarity with local placement agencies, job developers, and opportunities preferred.
• Strong communication, writing, administrative, organizational, and technology skills (Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, Zoom).
• Fluency in other languages is a plus (particularly Spanish, Haitian Creole, and South Asian languages and dialects)

GK also offers affordable medical benefits, dental, and life insurance, as well as paid holidays, 12 vacation days (year 1), increasing thereafter based on years of employment, 3 personal days, and 8 sick days. GK staff also have access to retail discounts and other benefits through our Professional Employer Organization (PEO). 

Global Kids, Inc is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity. We do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment based on race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, citizenship, mental or physical handicap or disability, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law. We continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and diversity.