WORKFORCE DEV PRGMS SPEC

State of Idaho Career Opportunity

Applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM MST on the posting end date.

The mission of the Idaho Department of Labor is to support individuals through career transitions, determine benefit eligibility, connect employers with workers and oversee tax and labor law compliance.

Workforce Development Program Specialist (Project Director)

The Idaho Department of Labor's Workforce Programs Administration Bureau in downtown Boise is seeking a Workforce Development Program Specialist (Project Director) to lead RESTART Idaho-Young Adult, a statewide workforce development initiative serving justice-involved young adults ages 18-24.

The Project Director provides overall leadership for the 42-month grant, overseeing statewide implementation, compliance with U.S. Department of Labor requirements, partner coordination, budget management, and program performance.

For questions regarding this position, please contact Summer MacDonald (summer.macdonald) or Danilo Cabrera(danilo.cabrera@labor.idaho.gov).

Successful completion of a background check is required as a condition of employment.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. The Idaho Department of Labor is unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment visa.

To learn more about the Department of Labor, please visit our website at: www.labor.idaho.gov

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership Lead all phases of the RESTART Idaho-Young Adult project, including planning, implementation, statewide coordination, service delivery, and follow-up. Manage the 42-month project timeline and ensure alignment with WIOA Youth requirements and grant objectives. Ensure consistent service delivery across workforce regions and American Job Centers. Program Oversight Supervise and support reentry-focused case managers serving justice-involved young adults. Partner with business services staff to expand employer and Registered Apprenticeship opportunities. Ensure staff use a single-point-of-contact model from incarceration through post-release employment. Partnership Development Build and maintain partnerships with: Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections (IDJC) Probation & Parole Community-based organizations Employers and Registered Apprenticeship sponsors Local and regional law enforcementResponsibilities include securing facility access, coordinating pre-release engagement, establishing statewide referral processes, and integrating partners into a seamless reentry service model. Program Design & Service Delivery Oversee implementation of the three-phase RESTART model: pre-release preparation, transition at release, and post-release retention. Ensure consistent delivery of assessments, Individual Development Plans (IDPs), digital/AI literacy, financial literacy, résumé development, and interview preparation. Expand access to pre-apprenticeships, Registered Apprenticeships, on-the-job training, work experience, and industry-recognized credentials. Performance & Compliance Monitor participant enrollment, services, outcomes, and follow-up through IdahoWorks. Ensure compliance with WIOA Youth performance measures and grant requirements, including employment, earnings, credential attainment, apprenticeship participation, and recidivism reduction. Prepare required reports for the U.S. Department of Labor and agency leadership. Fiscal & Administrative Management Manage the project budget in collaboration with Accounting, Grants Management, and Financial staff. Ensure compliance with federal cost principles, procurement standards, and financial controls. Strategic Planning Develop long-term sustainability strategies to integrate RESTART Young Adult services into ongoing WIOA Youth operations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Your resume needs to clearly articulate how your skills, education and experience meet the qualifications below. Failure to provide this information may disqualify you from being considered for this position.

Good knowledge of:

• Local workforce development office operations and service delivery systems. Typically gained by one year experience providing technical support for office activities which demonstrate office knowledge in a broad scope and beyond one program area.
• Computerized applications used within the local office environment. Typically gained by one year of experience utilizing computer applications used in the local office environment, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and IdahoWorks.

Experience:

• Interpreting and applying federal employment service programs, regulations, and procedures. Typically gained one year of experience working with federal/state employment service or training programs, and interpreting and applying regulations and procedures.
• Developing and presenting training to groups in a formal setting. Typically gained by experience developing and presenting training for a minimum of 10 hours of presentation time.

Additional Qualifications:

• Managing workforce development, reentry, corrections, or human services programs.
• Ability to coordinate multi-agency partnerships and statewide initiatives.
• Knowledge of WIOA Title I-B Youth services and the public workforce system.
• Strong skills in data analysis, compliance, reporting, and budget oversight.
• Ability to work effectively with justice-involved young adults and trauma-informed service approaches.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving ability.

Preferred Experience: It is not required for this position, but applicants with this experience may receive consideration over other applicants.

• Direct experience working within IDOC, IDJC, or Probation & Parole systems.
• Experience supporting apprenticeships, work-based learning, or employer engagement.
• Familiarity with IdahoWorks or other MIS workforce systems.
• Prior management of U.S. Department of Labor grants.

Work Environment & Travel

• Frequent statewide travel to correctional facilities, reentry centers, AJCs, workforce regions, and community partner locations.
• Regular coordination with partners requiring onsite engagement.

Benefits:

The State of Idaho offers a robust total compensation and benefits package, including but not limited to:

• One of the top 5 retirement systems in the Nation (PERSI) that offers a defined lifetime benefit at retirement
• 2 voluntary supplemental retirement plans including both pre-tax and Roth options
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance benefits that become effective first of the month following your hire date. All contributions can be pre-tax
• 11 paid holidays
• Paid sick and vacation that begins accruing on your first day of employment; can be used immediately after accruing (no waiting time)
• Paid parental leave
• Life insurance for self, spouse, and children
• Additional perks and discounts available through medical provider
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Eligibility
• Employee assistance program

EEO/ADA/Veteran:

The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact (208) 334-2263 (TTY/TTD: 711), or email ada.coordinator@dhr.idaho.gov.

Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.