Overview
Director of Workforce Programs Jobs in Chicago, IL at JIREH Workforce Foundation
About Us
JIREH Workforce Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to training people for careers that build a better planet. We bridge divides through workforce excellence that transforms lives and industries. Through our clean energy training and workforce development programs, we equip individuals from underserved communities with the education, technical skills, and wraparound services needed to overcome barriers and achieve lasting economic mobility. Our initiatives focus on creating equitable pathways to employment in the clean energy sector by providing comprehensive training, barrier reduction support, and job placement assistance. At JIREH, we believe in taking people potential into purpose through empowerment, community, excellence, faith, innovation, transformation, and connection.
Job Summary
The Director of Workforce Programs reports to the Executive Director and leads JIREH Workforce Foundation’s training pipeline, from curriculum design through job placement. This role owns curriculum strategy: enhancing existing programs and building new certification tracks in areas like operations and maintenance, battery storage, and continuing education, extending JIREH’s reach beyond clean energy. The Director manages program operations, staff supervision, and grant and accreditation/credentialing compliance, and is accountable for participant completion and placement outcomes. The Director also sets and executes JIREH’s growth strategy, expanding fiscal capacity through funding and partnerships and physical capacity through new locations or program sites, while building employer partnerships that convert into hiring pipelines.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Direct daily cohort operations, including program schedules, instructor coverage, instructional delivery, assessments, participant attendance, progress, conduct, and interventions.
- Lead and manage case management, instructional, and program staff through clear assignments, performance expectations, coaching, evaluations, and corrective action.
- Manage the full participant lifecycle from recruitment, admissions, selection, and onboarding through workforce readiness, completion, job placement, 12-month employment retention tracking, and alumni engagement.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen and enhance the program through fund development, resource identification, networking, and the cultivation of collaborative partnerships.
- Build workforce program pipelines based on verified employer demand and JIREH’s training capacity.
- Build partnerships with employers, educational institutions, workforce agencies, industry associations, and community organizations to expand talent pipelines and job placement opportunities.
- Establish and document organizational standards for consistent program delivery and replication.
- Maintain compliance with grant funding requirements, programmatic goals, documentation standards, and reporting deadlines.
- Represent JIREH at community meetings, industry events, and stakeholder forums to increase organizational visibility.
- Track and analyze program outcomes, maintain data integrity, and adjust program delivery when performance falls below established targets.
- Manage accreditation compliance, applications, renewals, audits, corrective actions, and required reporting.
- Direct curriculum development, implementation, review, and revision across all workforce programs.
- Manage credential eligibility, test administration, proctoring coordination, exam records, and certification records.
- Manage program budgets, training-center operations, materials, tools, equipment, purchasing, and vendors.
- Lead continuing education, WIOA provider readiness, and Registered Apprenticeship development to expand training and career pathways.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Knowledge of workforce development programs, talent pipeline strategy, and employment readiness practices
- Experience managing grants, program compliance, budgets, and performance outcomes
- Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams and holding staff accountable to measurable outcomes
- Experience building and maintaining partnerships with employers, educational institutions, and workforce agencies that result in placements or enrollments
- Experience designing, implementing, and scaling workforce programs, including new certification tracks, in response to employer and industry demand
- Ability to use participant and program data to drive curriculum and operational decisions
- Experience communicating program performance to funders, boards, or other external stakeholders
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Organizational Development, Human Resources, Workforce Development, or Education preferred
- Professional certifications related to workforce planning, project management, or similar disciplines preferred
- 7+ years of experience in workforce development, program management, or a related field
- Experience with workforce grant management, labor market strategy, and compliance requirements
- Experience developing or scaling curriculum and certification programs
- Experience navigating accreditation or credentialing requirements
- Experience working in a nonprofit or grant-funded organization
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift 50 pounds
Job Classification and Specifications
- Full time
- Exempt
- Salary: $110,000 – $140,000 annually
- Incentive bonuses available
- Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (subject to change), occasional weekends as needed for outreach or graduation activities
- Work Location: In person, Chicago, IL 60607
Benefits:
- Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)
- Life Insurance
- 403(b) Available with match contributions
- 80 hours of paid time off
- 11 Federal Holidays
- 2 Remote Days per month* (after successful completion of 90-day probation period)
Pay: $110,000.00 – $140,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Title: Director of Workforce Programs
Company: JIREH Workforce Foundation
Location: Chicago, IL
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