Associate Director of Workforce Development

Institute for Nonviolence Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 78,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Life insurance

401K

Job summary

The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago is seeking an Associate Director of Workforce Development to guide the workforce team across Austin, West Garfield Park, and Back of the Yards. You will refine curricula, coordinate referrals, monitor participant progress, and use data to drive program improvements and demonstrate impact.

As a member of the leadership team, you will manage budgets, build partnerships, and support innovative initiatives like SC2 and Cara Collective, while ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.
• At least three years of management experience.
• At least five years in workforce development/joining prevention setting preferred.
• Familiarity with Chicago neighborhoods and violence drivers.
• Strong commitment to professional development and nonviolence principles.
• Ability to take initiative and lead by example.
• Inclusive leadership style with confidentiality.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between neighborhoods.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight and direction for all workforce development programming.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the workforce team and coordinate with Street Outreach.
• Monitor grant spending and participate in budgeting processes.
• Collaborate with Finance to support participant stipends and payments.
• Develop partnerships and manage external stakeholder relationships.
• Ensure data capture and reporting to demonstrate program impact.
• Support onboarding, staff development, and performance management.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic planning

Team management

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Associate Director of Workforce Development

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Associate Director of Workforce Development will oversee the day-to-day operations of the workforce team which provides classroom-based instruction to more than 200 high-risk participants annually across three neighborhoods (Austin, West Garfield Park and Back of the Yards). This position will support curriculum refinement, work closely with the street outreach department to help facilitate seamless referrals, monitor participant progress in order to facilitate job placements/referrals to transitional jobs, and use data to inform program improvements and demonstrate impact. A member of the leadership team, the Associate Director is capable of implementing large-scale projects, is a natural problem solver and is committed to the mission and long-term goals of the organization.

The Associate Director will also support several innovative initiatives and partnerships. This position will play a critical role in the Scaling CVI for a Safer Chicago (SC2) initiative – an unprecedented effort to achieve community-level violence reduction by scaling up CVI services to individuals at highest risk of violence. The position will also serve as the main point of contact a first-of-its-kind partnership between INVC and Cara Collective, which provides programming onsite at INVC’s Austin office, as well as attend public events and speak on behalf of the organization.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Collaboration

• Participate in leadership team meetings, collaborate on the implementation of strategic initiatives, and communicate daily with supervisor
• Provide strategic oversight and direction for all workforce development programming
• Implement organization-wide and departmental policies and procedures (e.g. personnel, financial, client eligibility, etc.) and strive to improve operational efficiencies
• Respond to inquiries from the INVC leadership team, community outreach partners, and other stakeholders
• Work with colleagues at all levels and in all departments to support collaboration across teams, information sharing, communication, and transparency
• Represent the organization at external stakeholder/partner meetings
• Assist with pressing matters as they arise and perform other duties as required

Management & Administration

• Manage the workforce development team and provide coaching, professional development, and performance management
• Work with the department’s supervisor to maintain consistency on team meetings, one-on-one supervisions, training for staff and additional professional development activities
• Monitor grant spending, attend monthly budget meetings, and play an active role in the annual budgeting process
• Collaborate with the Finance Department to support the participant stipend payment process
• Monitor program quality and participant outcomes, and make recommendations for improvement
• Participate in the hiring process for new departmental staff

Partnerships

• Play a critical role in the Scaling CVI for a Safer Chicago (SC2) initiative in Austin, specifically overseeing INVC’s role as a workforce partner in the Austin Collaborative
• Oversee the implementation of SC2 workforce development in additional neighborhoods
• Serve as the main point of contact a first-of-its-kind partnership between INVC and Cara Collective, which provides programming onsite at INVC’s Austin office
• Develop and maintain relationships with workforce programs that support high-risk individuals and offer transitional job placement and communicate those opportunities to the workforce team
• Cultivate relationships with employer partners to support seamless referrals for participants
• Attend meetings with other CVI organizations and stakeholders committed to solidifying the pathway for CVI participants to meaningful long-term employment
• Participate in meetings with internal data team as well as external evaluation partners to make sure appropriate data is captured

Departmental Operations

• Support the day-to-day operations of the workforce team in all three neighborhoods served
• Work closely with the workforce supervisor and Street Outreach Department to help facilitate seamless and meaningful referrals to programming
• In partnership with the workforce supervisor, monitor participant progress in order to help facilitate job placements/referrals to transitional jobs
• Communicate the workforce department program schedule to colleagues and external partners
• Make sure the appropriate data is being captured and entered into internal data system, and use data to inform program improvements and demonstrate impact
• Monitor operations daily to make sure programming is consistent across all participants and neighborhoods
• Continuously improve upon the internal standardization of processes and procedures within the workforce department
• Partner with the Behavioral Health Department to make sure that Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CBI) and Trauma Education are provided consistently to workforce participants
• Support the daily operations around INVC’s safety protocols related to participants entering INVC locations and enrolled in programming

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS :

• Bachelor’s degree in related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• At least three (3) years of management experience, preferably individuals with a history of justice system involvement
• At least five (5) years of experience in workforce development and job readiness programming, preferably in a community-based organization or the government sector
• Familiarity with Chicago neighborhoods and the fundamental drivers of violence
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development and to bettering yourself
• Ability to take initiative, work as a self-starter and lead by example
• Possess an inclusive leadership style based in empathy, patience, equity, consistent support, accountability, and the ability to relate well to a variety of individuals and groups
• Abilityandcommitmenttomaintainhighlevelofconfidentiality
• Demonstrated experience serving as a problem-solver in a complex environment
• Excellent verbal communication skills, and ability to communicate effectively in writing
• Willingness to learn and commit to the principles of nonviolence, restorative justice and trauma-informed practices
• No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse or domestic violence
• Driving is required for this position. Candidates must have a valid driver’s license, consistent access to a reliable vehicle, and current vehicle insurance.
• The ability to travel between neighborhoods and community sites served by the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago is essential.

Salary & Benefits

Compensation is commensurate with years of related experience, position requirements, and candidate qualifications. The average salary for the position is up to $78,000-$85,000.

• Institute for Nonviolence Chicago puts our people first with a top-of-the-line benefits package.
• Competitive benefits package available, including Health, Life, and 401K.

About Institute for Nonviolence Chicago

The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago’s mission is to end the cycle of gun violence in Chicago using Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s principles and teachings of nonviolence. Informed by a philosophy of nonviolence, Nonviolence Chicago will establish caring and sustained relationships with participants engaged in the cycle of violence. We will emphasize partnerships with community members, leaders, social service providers, and local law enforcement to reduce community levels of violence. We will help create a safer, healthier environment for young adults, youth, and their families. These general approaches will be specifically addressed using five major methods: Community Violence Intervention (CVI) / Street Outreach, Individualized Service Provision, Victim Support Services, Behavioral Health and Nonviolence Training.

Institute for Nonviolence Chicago -- EEO Statement
Institute for Nonviolence Chicago provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the organization has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, and training.