Lead Program Specialist

Socket.dev; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 77,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

PTO sell-back program

platinum employer-paid benefits

learning and professional development

pension plan

457 retirement plan

employee wellness

Job summary

The San Diego Workforce Partnership seeks a Lead Program Specialist to manage workforce development programs, recruit participants, provide career counseling, and coordinate with partners. You will oversee enrollments, subsidized wage placements, and ensure timely data entry while driving performance against funder targets.

The role requires collaboration with government agencies, strong writing and presentation skills, and a focus on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in public administration or related field.
• 3–5 years’ experience in program coordination or workforce development.
• Experience supporting public assistance, case management or program implementation.
• 2+ years with federal, state, or local workforce initiatives (e.g., WIOA).
• Experience with grant and contract management, compliance and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support workforce development programming and participant referrals.
• Monitor progress towards goals, enrollments, subsidized placements and data entry.
• Provide fiduciary representation and safeguard the organization’s assets.
• Develop program-specific operations and informational issuances.
• Coordinate training, technical assistance, and partnership meetings.
• Prepare reports on dashboards (CalJOBS, Salesforce) and program performance.
• Ensure program operations are cohesive, efficient, and within budget.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Presentation skills

Relationship building

Initiative

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, social services or related field

Master’s degree in public administration or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The San Diego Workforce Partnership is the leader for innovative workforce solutions in San Diego County. We fund and deliver job training programs that enable all job seekers to develop the skills and knowledge needed for in-demand careers. Our vision is that every business in our region has access to a skilled workforce, and every job seeker has access to meaningful employment. We seek to earn trust and inspire growth in every action we take.

Position Summary

Under the general supervision of the Program Manager, the Lead Program Specialist works closely with the Program Manager to manage and support workforce development programming for participants in public assistance programs. The Lead Program Specialist is responsible for implementing public assistance and workforce development services, including recruiting eligible participants, completing enrollment procedures, providing career counseling, offering job search support, facilitating placements in both subsidized and non-subsidized employment, conducting job development activities, and coordinating access to childcare assistance and other financial resources. This role requires strong collaboration with governmental agencies and community partners serving shared participants, as well as close coordination with interdepartmental teams to execute agreements and compile program performance reports. The Lead Program Specialist is expected to exceed performance goals and foster continuous improvement in customer satisfaction.

Essential Functions

1. Lead direct and highly supportive initiatives that support management.
2. Meet with Program Manager weekly and report on progress towards goals and program activities including participant referrals, enrollments, subsidized wage placements, timely data entry, customer satisfaction and other funder committed targets and performance.
3. Assist with fiduciary representation of the organization and its systems and operations.
4. Entrusted responsibility of prioritizing and safeguarding the best interests and assets of the organization, its reputation, and its integrity.
5. Ensure compliance with workforce development policy and procedures, conducting monthly file reviews to ensure program compliance.
6. Collaborate with the Program Manager to develop program-specific Operations Issuances and Informational Issuances.
7. Expedite strategic planning and continuous improvement of programmatic and intervention services.
8. Review team effectiveness and workflow(s) with Program Manager to improve service efficiency.
9. Coordinate with workforce development team members in person and virtually utilize various communications systems, and portals.
10. Coordinate and facilitate training, technical assistance, and partnership meetings.
11. Research and provide staff updates on Expanded Subsidized Employment, CalFresh Employment & Training, Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act, and other federal, state, and local legislation.
12. Represent the Workforce Partnership at federal, state, local and other grant audits.
13. Provide technical assistance and recommend process improvement of system designs.
14. Provide administrative support for the execution of accurate subsidized employment, On the Job Training and wage invoices.
15. Create and maintain reports on web-based dashboards such as CalJOBS, Salesforce and specialized county dashboards.
16. Utilize a personalized and service-oriented approach to case management, ensuring responsiveness to client needs.
17. Work closely with internal teams to ensure program operations are cohesive and efficient.
18. Monitor performance within budget, ensuring all spending goals are met appropriately.
19. Identify creative ways to be cost-effective and streamline operations to maximize the use of resources.
20. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Fundamental Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, social services or related field or equivalent work experience.
• Three to five (3-5) years’ experience in program coordination, workforce development, or case management.
• Three to five (3-5) years’ experience supporting public assistance, case management, and program implementation.
• Minimum two years prior work experience with federal, state, or local workforce initiatives (e.g., WIOA programs).
• Displayed experience working with populations facing systemic barriers to employment.
• Grant and contract management experience including compliance and reporting.
• Ability to develop and deliver employment or training programs.
• Strong writing, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and proven track record of taking initiative and delivering results.
• Ability to build effective relationships with teammates and partner organizations.
• Computer proficiency, particularly with the Microsoft Office suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desired Requirements

• Master’s degree in public administration, social services or related field.
• Knowledge of Social Security Benefits, County and State Employment Services.
• Knowledge of trauma informed program design.
• Administrative support and oversight of service agreements experience.

Our Values

Compassion. Collaboration. Opportunity.

We Love to Take Care of Our Workforce Associates

We offer a great work environment, a culture that values individuality and inclusion, collaborative and innovative teams, and a competitive pay and benefits package. Our benefits include: PTO, PTO sell-back program, generous employer-paid benefits (platinum plans), company-paid learning and professionaldevelopment program, pension plan and 457 retirement plan additional employee wellness.Compensation for this position ranges from $37.32-$54.65.

In the spirit of pay transparency, we are excited to share the base salary range for this position. If you are hired at San Diego Workforce Partnership, your final base salary (within the pay range), will be determined based on factors such as education, knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members when determining any final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the full base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical in order to allow for future and continued salary growth. We also offer generous benefits and retirement plans.

At the Workforce Partnership, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, and the work that we do in the communities we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace for all. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

San Diego Workforce Partnership is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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