POWER Project Director

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Labor Center is seeking a POWER Project Director to lead the expansion of its workforce development portfolio, advancing equity, job quality, worker power, and climate resilience through research, evaluation, coalition building, and education. You will strengthen connections with statewide workforce development and help determine priorities and fundraising opportunities.

In collaboration with staff and community partners, you will oversee grants, contracts, and administration, guide

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in public policy, labor studies, or a related field (PhD preferred).
• At least five years of experience in workforce development research, policy, program implementation, or evaluation.
• Strong knowledge of workforce development systems, labor market trends, and equity-focused strategies.
• Excellent research, analytical, project management, and writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead PI on workforce development research and evaluation projects.
• Design rigorous projects aligned with priorities and ensure ethical compliance (IRB).
• Publish accessible outputs and disseminate findings to diverse audiences.
• Build external relationships with worker organizations, government agencies, policymakers, and funders.
• Oversee budgets, grants, and contracts; supervise staff; participate in leadership meetings.

Skills

Research & evaluation design

Policy analysis

Project management

Grant writing

Communication

Education

PhD in public policy or related field

Job description

The POWER Project Director will lead the expansion of the Labor Center’s workforce development portfolio, with a focus on advancing a high-road economy and expanding prosperity through research, education, evaluation, coalition building, and movement-building strategies. The POWER Project Director will strengthen connections between the Labor Center’s work and statewide workforce development efforts. In collaboration with Labor Center staff and community partners, the POWER Project Director will help determine research priorities, expand organizational research and evaluation capacity through staff development
and fundraising, cultivate relationships with researchers and community-based partners, and guide strategic planning efforts that identify long-term priorities, projects, and fundraising opportunities aligned with the Labor Center’s mission and strategic vision. As a leading expert on the California Workforce Development Board’s High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) Initiative, the POWER Project Director will help shape and expand an innovative workforce development model centered on equity, job quality, worker power, and climate resilience. The POWER Project Director will contribute to the Labor Center’s role as a statewide leader on HRTP implementation and expansion, including developing evaluation frameworks grounded in racial equity and elevating the role of community-based organizations as critical workforce development partners that create access points for historically marginalized communities into the public workforce system. The position will also oversee the management and administration of workforce development grants and contracts, ensuring compliance with university and agency policies and guidelines. In addition, the POWER Project Director will participate in the Labor Center’s leadership team that includes oversight of budgets, personnel, external and internal relations, education and training, and research efforts. The incumbent prioritizes their own workflow. Incumbent assigns and reviews the work of supervisees, recommends hiring selections, and evaluates performance.

Research and Evaluation Design and Implementation

• a. Serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on workforce development research and evaluation projects that advance equitable systems change, strengthen worker power, and expand access and opportunity for communities historically excluded from workforce development systems.
• b. Design rigorous workforce development projects aligned with Labor Center priorities, ensuring appropriate methodological approaches, oversight, and research ethics compliance (including IRB).
• c. Publish and produce accessible research outputs (briefs, reports, infographics, podcasts, and testimony), and disseminate findings across academic, policy, labor, and community platforms.

External Relations & Community Engagement

• a. Build and sustain relationships, engage with, and advise external partners, including worker organizations, governmental agencies, policymakers, and funders to advance worker-centered workforce development strategies and systems change initiatives.
• b. Present workforce development research, evaluation findings, and policy recommendations at conferences, public hearings, convenings, and educational events, serving as a subject-matter expert on workforce equity, job quality, and worker power.
• c. Develop and oversee dissemination and communications strategies that translate workforce development research into accessible products for diverse audiences, including public testimony, policy briefs, reports, media engagement, and other public education materials.

Organizational Team Oversight

• a. Coordinate and oversee workforce development research and evaluation projects to ensure high-quality implementation and methodological rigor.
• b. Lead the identification and refinement of workforce development research and programmatic priorities in close alignment with the Labor Center’s mission, vision, values, and strategic direction, ensuring that projects reflect opportunities for advancing equitable economic mobility.

Fundraising, Grants, & Contract Management

• a. Develop fundraising efforts to sustain the Labor Center’s workforce development portfolio, including securing grants, contracts, and philanthropic support.
• b. Develop and manage multi-year budgets, timelines, and deliverables for funded research projects.
• c. Prepare and submit grant proposals and reports, working closely with the development team and executive team.

Supervision

• a. Work with supervisee in developing and implementing work plans, overseeing work assignments, and conducting performance evaluations.
• b. Make recommendations with regard to hiring, merit increases and promotions, and disciplinary actions including discharge.
• c. Participate in monthly steering committee meetings, set agenda in coordination with Labor Center director and senior staff.
• d. Develop team-building programming to strengthen positive coordination between Labor Center staff.

As a normal requirement, the candidate should have the terminal or top degree in public policy, labor studies, labor relations, workforce development, or a related field, e.g., Ph.D., or the highest degree that is commonly expected for appointment in the activity and at least five years of experience in workforce development research, policy, program implementation, evaluation, or research administration. Strong knowledge of workforce development systems, workforce policy, labor market trends, and strategies that advance job quality, worker power, and equitable economic opportunity is highly desirable. Candidates should demonstrate excellent research, analytical, project management, and writing skills.