Project Specialist - WRO Statewide Expansion

Public Strategies Overview

Public Strategies (PS) is a nationally respected consulting, project management, and marketing firm based in Oklahoma City. We provide innovative solutions for federal, state, and local clients, including project and program management, training and technical assistance, technology, event management, research and evaluation, video production, and strategic communications. We also deliver research-informed direct services to financially vulnerable Oklahomans, with a focus on strengthening families and improving employment opportunities.

We are a collaborative team of thinkers, creatives, strategists, communicators, builders, researchers, and change agents committed to touching lives, driving change, and doing good well.

Position Summary

The Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Project Specialist for Work Ready Oklahoma (WRO) Statewide Expansion implements the vision, strategies, leadership, direction, and motivation to deploy and support the implementation of a statewide system of Work Ready Oklahoma Employment Centers under the guidance of the Senior Manager. These centers provide resources to financially vulnerable individuals who need to get a job, keep a job, or find a better career opportunity. Community partners collaboratively design each center to meet the unique needs of the local business community and the regional population. Centers provide a combination of employer and community resources to best support each participant's journey toward self-sufficiency and family stability.

The WRO Employment Center system expansion will relieve low-income families, individuals, and other underserved or marginalized populations from the burden of having to navigate the complex world of program-specific services, benefits, eligibility requirements, and supports, enabling them to seek services without prior knowledge or relationship with a particular service program. This system will shift the focus from program-focused engagement to a more holistic, participant-focused engagement. Through assessments, guided conversations, and relationships, this system will enable individuals to find the right program or service pathway to strengthen their capacity for economic self-sufficiency and family stability.

In support of the WRO initiative, the TTA Project Specialist is responsible for managing site training and technical assistance (TA) needs to unique local entities in communities statewide under the direction of the Senior Manager. The successful TTA Project Specialist will contribute to ensuring that WRO Employment Centers provide consistent and high-quality programs and services. This may include, but is not limited to, program and curriculum assessment, planning and implementation strategies, research and evaluation, and program facilitation.

This position requires the ability to work well with all communication styles and modalities, communicating effectively in written, interpersonal, formal, informal, and electronic means.

The complexity of this expansion requires project management skills and resourcefulness as the TTA Project Specialist. This position will collaborate cross functionally, conduct comprehensive planning, thoroughly document, and coordinate technical assistance and report on statewide outcomes. Research-informed solutions with measurable outcomes will be reported on a regular cycle for process improvement. Attention to detail, organization, confidentiality, and dependability are expectations for this role.

Essential Job Functions

• Build dynamic relationships and learning communities among statewide partners invested in the local development of WRO Centers and the self-sufficiency of low-income individuals
• Provide high quality organizational leadership to projects, including management of priorities, timelines, and objectives
• Conduct meetings with each WRO site, at least monthly, to determine site level TTA needs and monitor and address site performance
• Identify training needs and connect sites to applicable tools and resources
• Engage with subject matter experts as needed to develop new resources to support sites
• Actively communicate and collaborate with other technical assistance teams to facilitate information sharing and mutual support, create efficiencies, and ensure efforts are aligned statewide
• Report TTA activity and progress to key stakeholders
• Conducts formative background research, assessments, and analysis to identify and assess TTA needs
• Develops TTA action plans, including objectives and benchmarks
• Delivers needs-based TTA, including but not limited to phone consultation, site visits, facilitation of peer-to-peer exchanges, webinar development and
• facilitation, and development of written tools and resources
• Conducts training and provides facilitation services, through TTA efforts and for direct service programs, as applicable
• Documents processes, accomplishments, and next steps related to contextual, proactive and responsive TTA strategies
• Other duties as assigned

Education/Training

• Bachelor's degree in business, social sciences, humanities, public administration, public policy, education, not-for-profit management, or a related field

Experience

• 3 to 5 years of relevant work in project management, program planning or program operations, required
• Provide coaching to the statewide network, enabling communities to meet goals through technical assistance and training, preferred
• Proven project management skills, demonstrating the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, required
• Relevant experience may include social service program delivery, including relationship education; grant writing; program development; curriculum development; dissemination; working for or with government agencies; and working for a not-for-profit organization
• Managing multiple partner organizations, government contracts, and competing priorities, strongly preferred
• Experience presenting to large groups of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, preferred

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, evenings, and some weekends, as needed
• Understanding of government operations, preferred
• Strong communication and writing skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, program evaluation or development experience, required
• Understanding of human service programs to strengthen low-income families and the lived experience of financially vulnerable individuals, preferred
• Frequent travel statewide, including overnight
• Moderate domestic travel, including via air
• Relationship builder, critical thinker, hard-working, detail-oriented, and flexible
• Work-oriented to scalable and replicable development
• Maintain a valid Driver's License