Director, Field Implementation Team, California Strategies & Partnerships (apply By: Thursday August 1, 2024)

Position Location: California based (Remote) 

About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: In 10 years, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.  

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.   

We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.  

 

DEIBW at JFF  

Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and well-being (DEIBW) are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We employ and build diverse teams across race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, age, and lived experiences and are constantly working toward ensuring these differences are celebrated and included. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and equitable career advancement opportunities. Learn more about what DEIBW looks like in practice at JFF. 

We seek to invest and learn from those who represent the communities we serve, particularly individuals from populations who have been explicitly or implicitly excluded from the workforce. Knowing its importance to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members, we aspire to attract and retain a diverse team and welcome people of all backgrounds to apply to our open roles. JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply. 

 

About the Team 

As a part of JFF’s Solutions Design and Delivery unit, the Field Implementation Team (FIT) plays a central role in advancing JFF’s mission by applying capabilities, expertise, and talent to implement field-facing programs, initiatives, and strategic solutions.  As the largest functional team at JFF with more than 150 members, the Field Implementation Team consists of key project personnel who design and deliver technical assistance, coaching, asset mapping, community of practice facilitation, design of convenings or events, and other key lines of service. FIT members may be largely dedicated to projects and programs sponsored or led by a specific Center or Practice, or  JFFLabs team. 

About the Position 

In this role, you will be a key project leader supporting JFF’s strategy for the Workforce and Regional Economies (WRE) Practice portfolio of work and the Center for Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning (CAWBL) portfolio of work. As a strategic, equity-oriented project leader, you will support the advancement of JFF’s influence in the field through strong stakeholder engagement by building collaborative partnerships and driving innovative and impactful programs and initiatives related to workforce development programming across the state of California. You will be a leader of and contributor to JFF projects and initiatives, including leading project teams, and defining workstreams and projects that align with team priorities and JFF’s mission and vision. You’ll work closely with a team of California-based project leaders and other members of WRE, CAWBL and FIT. Additionally, you’ll steward and champion DEI across JFF by ensuring that individual differences are respected, decisions, teams, and processes within our programs and initiatives have centered equity at all stages, and that our mission, values, and DEI commitments are connected and reflected in our field work.  As a Director on the Field Implementation Team, you could be assigned to other portfolios of project work sponsored by different Practices and Centers at JFF, based on the organization’s evolving needs and your skill sets and interests. 

This position represents an exciting opportunity for an experienced project and program leader who is fluent in the California (CA) apprenticeship landscape and related relationships across the state to deepen our reach and impact in the region with their knowledge, skills and expertise. We encourage applicants who are eager to drive visionary, impactful contributions and project leadership in support of WRE, CAWBL and our California-based initiatives. Because of the region-specific nature of this work, this role is completely remote for candidates based in California. 

 

What you'll do 

Lead impactful project and program efforts: 

• Develop and lead complex projects from concept through implementation around workforce development programming within the state of California 

• Leverage your domain knowledge and expertise to provide guidance and strategic support to partners, and maximize JFF’s impact and success in the field   

• Direct project workstreams and ensure on-time completion of deliverables including managing timelines, budgets, work plans, program staff, and partners  

• Facilitate and lead small and large group meetings, trainings, and presentations for diverse stakeholders  

• Contribute to, and shape the development of frameworks, models, and repeatable solutions  

• Partner with Program unit and development staff to develop proposals and support with grant writing and grants management activities 

• Identify, and recommend creative solutions to mitigate risks and ensure projects are on track and driving toward meaningful impact  

Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion and results: 

• Proactively build relationships and trust with internal and external stakeholders, including but not limited to, workforce boards, employers, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship partners, encouraging them to share their collective expertise and knowledge 

• Understand and respond to the challenges that leaders and systems face in building apprenticeship programs across the state of California by developing and driving technical assistance strategies; conceptualize and develop tools, resources, and strategies to effectively solve problems and eliminate barriers to progress for our partners  

• Give and receive feedback related to project work, and elevate situations as needed, to ensure effective and consistent delivery of JFF’s programs and services 

• Center diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at all stages of designing and executing programmatic initiatives and projects   
• Support staff on project teams to develop subject matter and functional expertise (e.g., ensuring that people have project work aligned with their desire to develop expertise.)  

Contribute to JFF's programmatic strategy: 

• Collaborate with various teams across JFF to shape and implement bodies of work that support JFF strategic goals/mission and respond to and influence developments in the field  

• Synthesize insights and patterns from engagements to identify and cultivate solutions and innovations into practice  

• Develop operational and impact plans for future work based on learnings over time  

• Design, launch, and scale work rooted in closing equity gaps and driving systemic change in partnership with Practices, Centers, or JFF Labs  

  

Who You Are  

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work. 

• You bring a deep understanding of and expertise in the California apprenticeship landscape and related relationships across the state and have strong command of WIOA principles  (New hires at the Director I level at JFF typically bring 10+ years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions)  

• You bring an awareness and knowledge of building and executing on sector strategies within the California region and possess extensive experience working within or consulting workforce development boards within the state of California and/or have a deep understanding of workforce board operations and board governance 

• You have a track record of developing and driving technical assistance strategies and supporting partners in solving challenges, with the ability to help them build solutions that both meet business needs as well as social impact goals   

• You have experience supporting partners in braiding public and private funding, and related compliance implications and have experience participating in business development activities, like grant writing and proposal development, aligned with organizational goals and priorities 

• You bring experience leading projects or multiple workstreams within larger projects and execute initiatives in a way that aligns with your organization’s strategic goals and priorities 

• You are an engaging communicator and know the importance of tailoring both your written and verbal communications to your audience  

• You communicate with groups and individuals effectively and model how to build effective relationships with colleagues and teams across the organization as well as external stakeholders; You engage stakeholders in sharing their collective knowledge and expertise to deliver valuable contributions  

• You are a strategic thinker with the ability to identify competency and performance gaps across teams and identify and implement professional development opportunities to build the capacities of your direct or indirect reports.   

• You recognize creative ideas and adopt innovative solutions to advance team goals 

• You model inclusive leadership, working effectively with colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds, and ensure that decisions, teams and processes respect individual differences  

• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work    

• You are energized by stewarding DEIBW values and practices within your day-to-day work, including embracing the differences and celebrating the diversity that each individual brings to a team and organization 

 

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.   

The hiring range for this role is $100,000-$120,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Director I salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.  

 

To Apply  

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President, Workforce and Regional Economies Practice, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. 

We are accepting applications now through Thursday, August 1st. Applications submitted by that date will be reviewed and we anticipate that candidates will receive updates on their candidacy by the week of August 12, 2024.  

 

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process.  

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at hiringaccommodations@jff.org. 

 

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.