Manager Workforce Development & Strategic Partnerships

The Salvation Army Southern California; Carson (CA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career growth

Paid time off

Medical, Dental and Vision

Wellness Program Incentives

Retirement Plan

Pre-Paid Legal Service

AFLAC

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Employee Store Discounts

Great Work Perks Discounts

Employee Referral Bonuses

Job summary

The Salvation Army Southern California is seeking a Manager of Workforce Development & Strategic Partnerships to lead transformative workforce initiatives across ARC locations. The role focuses on creating sustainable career pathways, building strong employer partnerships, and securing funding to support training and placement of graduates.

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Projects, you will develop scalable workforce programs, collaborate with education providers, and drive long-term

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; proven work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum 3 years of professional related work experience.
• Proficient in MS Office and donor database software.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

Responsibilities

• Develop employer engagement strategy to create sustainable career opportunities for ARC graduates.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with employers, industry associations, chambers of commerce, workforce boards, educational institutions, and foundations.
• Lead funding strategy, including grant proposals, budgets, and reporting requirements.
• Oversee program implementation across participating ARC locations.
• Monitor outcomes, reporting, and compliance with grant requirements.
• Coordinate participant referrals into workforce training, certifications, and job placements.

Skills

Partnership development

Employer engagement

Leadership

Strategic communication

Grant planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

3+ years of related work experience

Tools

MS Office

Donor database software

Job description

JOB TITLE: MANAGER OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

DEPARTMENT: ARC COMMAND

STATUS: FULL-TIME, EXEMPT

SUPERVISOR: DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS

SALARY: $70,304 Per Year

General Statement

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Benefits Offered

• Opportunity for career growth
• Paid time off
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Wellness Program Incentives
• Retirement Plan
• Optional benefits, including Pre-Paid Legal Service, AFLAC, Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Store Discounts
• Great Work Perks Discounts (Amusement Parks, Museums, Services, Travel and more)
• Employee Referral Bonuses

Job Summary

The Manager of Workforce Development will lead one of the most transformative initiatives in the history of The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers by creating sustainable career pathways that extend our ministry beyond graduation and into lifelong success. For decades, the Adult Rehabilitation Centers have helped thousands of individuals achieve sobriety and rebuild their lives. This position exists to ensure that recovery does not end at graduation by developing meaningful employment opportunities, workforce training partnerships, and career pathways that provide graduates with the financial stability, purpose, and long-term support necessary to sustain their recovery and become productive members of their communities. Working collaboratively with local Officers, designated workforce staff, and Territorial leadership across all 18 Adult Rehabilitation Centers in the Western Territory, this position will establish strategic partnerships with employers, workforce agencies, educational institutions, government organizations, foundations, and corporate partners to build a comprehensive network of employment and training opportunities that can be adapted to meet the unique needs of each local ARC. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Projects, this role will provide leadership in developing workforce initiatives, securing grant and partnership funding, supporting implementation across participating ARC locations, and ensuring the successful execution and long-term sustainability of workforce development programs. Success will be measured not only by partnerships created or grants secured, but by the number of graduates who obtain meaningful careers, achieve financial independence, and continue thriving in recovery.

Essential Job Duties

• Employer Partnership Development
• Develop and execute a comprehensive employer engagement strategy that creates sustainable career opportunities for ARC graduates across the Western Territory.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with employers, industry associations, chambers of commerce, workforce boards, educational institutions, apprenticeship programs, labor unions, and community organizations.
• Build long-term hiring pipelines with employers that value second-chance employment and are committed to providing meaningful career opportunities.
• Collaborate with employer partners to understand workforce needs and align training pathways with current and emerging labor market demands.
• Identify opportunities to expand partnerships beyond hiring, including internships, apprenticeships, on-the job training, industry certifications, mentorship opportunities, and employer-sponsored workforce initiatives.
• Cultivate executive-level relationships that lead to expanded workforce partnerships, funding opportunities, and long-term collaboration.
• Evaluate employer satisfaction and partnership outcomes, using feedback to continuously strengthen relationships and improve employment results for graduates.
• Training & Career Pathway Execution
• Design workforce training and career pathways aligned with labor market demand, employer needs, and the capabilities of participating ARC locations.
• Coordinate the delivery of training partnerships established with community colleges, trade schools, workforce agencies, apprenticeship programs, and other educational partners.
• Develop adaptable program models that allow each ARC to select and implement training resources suited to its local labor market and graduate population.
• Define participant eligibility, referral pathways, program expectations, and completion requirements for each training initiative.
• Evaluate training quality, completion results, and alignment with employment opportunities, and recommend changes that improve program effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to replicate successful training pathways across additional ARC locations while preserving flexibility for local needs.
• 3. Strategic Funding & Resource Development Develop and execute a comprehensive funding strategy to support the long-term growth and sustainability of workforce development initiatives across the Western Territory.
• Research, identify, and pursue funding opportunities aligned with workforce development priorities,
• Government workforce grants (e.g., WIOA and related opportunities)
• Private and family foundations
• Corporate philanthropy and workforce development initiatives
• Employer-sponsored training and apprenticeship programs
• Workforce boards and public-private partnerships.
• Lead the development of compelling grant proposals, funding requests, budgets, and supporting documentation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with grantors, foundations, corporate sponsors, and public funding agencies.
• Collaborate with Finance, Development, and Territorial leadership to ensure funding strategies align with organizational priorities and compliance requirements.
• Establish systems to monitor grant performance, reporting deadlines, budgets, and compliance with all funding requirements
• Identify innovative funding models and strategic partnerships that expand workforce opportunities beyond traditional grant funding.
• Program Implementation, Partnership Management & Accountability
• Lead the implementation of workforce development initiatives across participating ARC locations.
• Develop standardized implementation plans, operating procedures, timelines, and training materials for local ARC teams.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between workforce partners, employers, educational institutions, funding organizations, and participating ARC locations.
• Monitor implementation milestones and ensure commitments made to partners and funders are fulfilled.
• Troubleshoot operational challenges and facilitate collaborative solutions with local leadership.
• Graduate Career Placement & Success
• Collaborate with local ARC Officers and designated staff to identify graduates who are prepared for workforce development, training, and employment opportunities.
• Coordinate participant referrals into workforce training, certification programs, apprenticeships, and employer hiring pipelines.
• Partner with employers and training providers to facilitate interviews, hiring events, job shadowing opportunities, and direct placements.
• Support local ARC teams in preparing participants for successful employment through interview readiness, workplace expectations, professional communication, and career planning.
• Monitor participant progress throughout training and the early stages of employment, identifying barriers to success and coordinating appropriate support when needed.
• Work collaboratively with employers, workforce partners, and ARC leadership to promote strong employment retention and long-term career advancement.
• Gather feedback from graduates, employers, and workforce partners to continuously improve participant preparation and workforce programming.
• Champion employment as a key component of long-term recovery by helping graduates build careers that promote financial stability, personal responsibility, dignity, and independence.
• Data Tracking, Outcomes & Partner Reporting
• Develop and maintain standardized reporting processes for all workforce development initiatives.
• Establish clear data collection requirements for participating ARC locations to ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Work collaboratively with local Officers and designated staff to ensure timely submission of all required participant and program data.
• Follow up with ARC locations to ensure reporting deadlines established by workforce partners, grantors, and funding organizations are consistently met.
• Monitor program performance through key performance indicators including:
• Job placements
• Training enrollment
• Training completion
• Employment retention (30/60/90 days)
• Wage progression
• Credential attainment
• Prepare reports required by employers, educational institutions, grantors, foundations, and internal leadership.
• Translate workforce outcomes into compelling impact reports that strengthen existing partnerships and support future funding opportunities.
• Conduct periodic reviews of workforce development implementation, documentation, and reporting at participating ARC locations to ensure compliance with partner expectations, grant requirements, and established program standards.
• Internal Leadership & Collaboration
• Build strong collaborative relationships with local Officers and designated workforce staff throughout the Western Territory.
• Provide ongoing training, coaching, follow-up, and operational support to local Officers and designated staff to ensure successful implementation of workforce initiatives and fulfillment of partnership requirements.
• Serve as a trusted resource to local leadership while fostering accountability for participation, implementation milestones, data collection, and required reporting.
• Ensure consistent execution of workforce initiatives across all participating ARC locations.
• Promote alignment between workforce development, recovery programming, employment outcomes, and organizational strategic priorities.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Relationship Development Builds and sustains trusted partnerships with employers, workforce boards, educational institutions, foundations, government agencies, corporate partners, and internal stakeholders to advance organizational objectives.
• Workforce Development Leadership Understands workforce development ecosystems and designs scalable employment, training, and career pathway initiatives that create meaningful opportunities for graduates.
• Strategic Execution & Project Leadership Develops long-term strategies while effectively managing complex projects, competing priorities, timelines, budgets, and stakeholder relationships from concept through implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Partnership Implementation & Change Management Successfully leads cross-functional implementation efforts by collaborating with local ARC leadership, building organizational buy-in, and ensuring consistent execution across multiple locations.
• Funding Strategy & Resource Development Identifies, pursues, and secures diverse funding opportunities through grants, foundations, corporate partnerships, public funding, and innovative resource development strategies.
• Communication & Influencing Skills Communicates effectively with executives, Officers, employers, funders, educators, government agencies, and community partners through exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Analytical & Data-Driven Decision Making Uses performance metrics, outcome data, and program analytics to evaluate effectiveness, demonstrate impact, improve decision-making, and satisfy partner reporting requirements.
• Collaboration & Leadership Builds strong working relationships across all levels of the organization while influencing without direct authority and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Mission Alignment & Servant Leadership Demonstrates a passion for The Salvation Army's mission by promoting recovery, restoring dignity, and creating opportunities that help graduates achieve long-term independence and success.

Education/Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related field preferred; Proven work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum 3 years of professional related work experience.
• Proficient in MS Office and donor database software.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Professional demeanor and strong initiative to build new relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment with skills to set priorities, establish objectives and goals.
• Ability to lead and be part of a department which requires effective collaboration and teamwork.
• Possess a valid Driver’s license and maintain a clean driving record.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel or twist on an intermittent or continuous basis.
• Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinet drawers, and other office equipment.
• Ability to communicate via written and verbal means.
• Ability to perform repetitive motion tasks.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.