Workforce Development Manager – Downtown Women’s Center – Los Angeles, CA

The mission of the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) is to provide permanent supportive housing and a safe and healthy community fostering dignity, respect, and personal stability, and to advocate ending homelessness for women. Founded in 1978, DWC was the first organization to exclusively serve mentally ill and elderly homeless women on Los Angeles’ Skid Row. At the end of 2012, DWC expanded its housing and supportive services by opening a second home serving 48 additional women. Through both Residences, DWC provides permanent supportive housing to 119 women with special needs who were once without a home, along with a wide range of drop-in support resources. The DWC staff is a talented and dedicated team that works together to fulfill DWC’s mission and support personal career goals. Find out more at www.downtownwomenscenter.org.

Position Summary

Challenge barriers to employment and increase access to growth opportunities that create pathways to personal stability for women! The Workforce Development Manager understands the unique and complex barriers that homeless and low-income women face, yet has the determination and creativity to identify and grow opportunities through partnerships and community support. Overseeing DWC’s vocational education and employment team, the ideal candidate is a relationship builder and strategic thinker, able to design, evaluate and adapt programmatic offerings to best connect women with professional development opportunities. An integral part of DWC’s Vocational Education & Social Enterprise department, this position works closely with partner organizations and funders, oversees the Vocational Education Coordinator, Job Developer and Social Enterprise Program Manager, and reports directly to the Director of Vocational Education & Social Enterprise.

Essential Functions

Lead and facilitate the collaboration of vocational education and employment staff to identify and strategically meet the programming needs of women who are ready to pursue professional development opportunities, through workshops/classes, job development, vocational education programming and employment counseling
Build and cultivate community partnerships with potential employers and other social service organizations
Train and mentor staff, interns, volunteers, and program participants in executing successful programming; research and develop training curriculum as necessary
Oversee the coordination of enrichment events, workshops, classes and activities offered to DWC participants and residents
Oversee product development programming offered through a series of tiered skill-building workshops
Participate in the development of measureable outcomes and the implementation of on-going data collection and evaluation
In collaboration with Development staff, support workforce development funding process, including donor cultivation and grant writing assistance; ensure grant requirements are met
Provide bi-monthly progress and evaluation reports to the department Director; additional reports as assigned
Other duties as assigned to support the mission of the organization

Necessary Skills/Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and minimum of two years of experience in employment programming or workforce development at a non-profit organization required
Experience supervising others preferred
Knowledge of the complexity of women’s homelessness, including poverty, mental illness, and chronic health issues
Experience in group facilitation, teaching, or curriculum, as well as program development and evaluation
Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills and ability to engage & lead a diverse group of individuals
Ability to exercise and model good judgment, poise, and solution-oriented problem solving under pressure
Detail-oriented, highly organized, able to manage multiple tasks and priorities, and set and meet goals and deadlines
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) required
Oral and written fluency in Spanish and English a plus

Schedule & Salary: This is a full-time, exempt position, scheduled Monday – Friday, and is eligible for DWC’s comprehensive benefits package that includes training, paid time off, medical, vision, dental, parking and transportation benefits; flexible daytime hours with some evenings, weekends and holidays required. Salary range $40,000-45,000 annually DOE.

To Apply: Submit cover letter and resume to HR@downtownwomenscenter.org. Please include “Workforce Development Manager” in the subject line of your email.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or medical condition.

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