Director of Employment & Workforce Development

GAAMHA; Gardner (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

GAAMHA, a Massachusetts nonprofit, seeks a Director of Employment & Workforce Development to lead the Employment Services department, shape policy, and expand workforce initiatives. You will oversee staff, build partnerships with employers, and drive performance with data-driven oversight, ensuring person-centered outcomes for individuals with I/DD.

You will design training curricula, cultivate community partnerships, and align funding opportunities to sustain growth while maintaining GAAMHA's

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human services, rehabilitation, workforce development, business, education, or a related field.
• Progressively responsible experience in employment services, workforce development, vocational or human services, including supervision or program leadership.
• Experience developing programs, policies, curriculum, employer relationships, community partnerships, and measurable service outcomes.
• Understanding publicly funded human-service or workforce programs and can manage documentation, compliance, reporting, budgets, utilization, and performance expectations.
• Excellent communication, empathy, and accountability; ability to turn ideas into practical systems and results.

Responsibilities

• Redefine and strengthen GAAMHA's Employment Services policies, procedures, and outcomes for I/DD services.
• Build and lead the Competitive Integrated Employment Services (CIES) program including service delivery and contract performance.
• Create workforce training and curriculum supporting career exploration, workplace readiness, and placement.
• Lead and develop the Employment Services team through coaching and accountability.
• Expand employer and community partnerships to create meaningful employment and training opportunities.
• Drive program quality, budgeting, and fiscal stewardship with data-informed decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Program leadership

Policy development

Staff supervision

Partnership building

Budget management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in human services/related field

Job description

Join GAAMHA as Director of Employment & Workforce Development

Are you a collaborative, forward-thinking leader ready to redefine employment services and build new pathways to meaningful work? At GAAMHA, we're a non-profit organization that is breaking barriers and exploring better ways to support the communities we serve.

Your Role: Building Opportunity

As Director of Employment & Workforce Development, you'll lead GAAMHA's Employment Services department, strengthening and redefining existing I/DD employment services while developing CIES and future workforce initiatives. You'll create the policies, practices, training, curriculum, employer partnerships, and performance systems needed to deliver consistent, person-centered services and position the department for sustainable growth.

You'll oversee individual and Group Employment services, support staff development and accountability, and build practical pathways that help people prepare for, obtain, and maintain meaningful employment.

What You'll Achieve

• Redefine and Strengthen Employment Services: Establish clear policies, procedures, service expectations, documentation standards, workflows, and measurable outcomes for I/DD individual and Group Employment services.
• Build and Lead CIES: Develop and oversee GAAMHA's Competitive Integrated Employment Services (CIES) program, including service delivery, participant engagement, documentation, reporting, billing coordination, and contract performance.
• Create Workforce Training and Curriculum: Develop practical employment-readiness training, assessments, tools, and curricula that support career exploration, workplace readiness, job development, placement, and retention, including development of the Petersham culinary workforce training initiative.
• Lead and Develop the Team: Supervise, coach, and evaluate Employment Services staff; set clear expectations, support professional growth and accountability, maintain an active presence across programs, and model GAAMHA's values of Respect, Humility, Integrity, Empathy, and Persistence.
• Expand Employer and Community Partnerships: Build relationships with employers, workforce partners, training providers, state agencies, and community organizations to create meaningful employment, training, and work-based learning opportunities.
• Drive Quality, Outcomes, and Fiscal Stewardship: Monitor referrals, caseloads, utilization, documentation, placements, retention, contract requirements, budgets, revenue, and program outcomes; use data and feedback to strengthen quality and financial sustainability.
• Build for Responsible Growth: Identify sustainable funding and partnership opportunities and, as department capacity develops, explore employment and workforce pathways for individuals served through GAAMHA's treatment, recovery, housing, and other programs.

What Sets You Apart

• You hold a bachelor's degree in human services, rehabilitation, workforce development, business, education, or a related field - or have substantial relevant experience that provides equivalent preparation.
• You have progressively responsible experience in employment services, workforce development, vocational or human services, including supervision or program leadership.
• You have experience developing programs, policies, curriculum, employer relationships, community partnerships, and measurable service outcomes.
• You understand publicly funded human-service or workforce programs and can manage documentation, compliance, reporting, budgets, utilization, and performance expectations.
• You communicate clearly, build trust, lead with empathy and accountability, and can turn ideas into practical systems and results.
• You possess a current driver's license, reliable transportation, and the ability to successfully complete all required background checks and clearances.

Lived Experience & Connection to Recovery

For staff positions that involve support to residents in recovery, employees who self-identify as being in recovery are expected to maintain their sobriety while employed, in order to serve as a positive role model and uphold the integrity of the program.

Who You'll Lead and Support

• Supervise: Employment Specialists, Group Employment Coordinator, and other Employment Services or workforce staff as designated.
• Collaborate With: The Vice President, Developmental Services, treatment and recovery programs, Quality, Human Resources, Finance, Transportation, Communications & Development, DTA, DDS, employers, workforce partners, and community organizations.

Why GAAMHA?

At GAAMHA, you'll help create a world where people can get help when they ask for it, no matter who they are. You'll be part of a team that is unafraid to explore uncharted ways to better support our communities - leading with Respect, Humility, Integrity, Empathy, and Persistence while focusing on what works.