Senior Program Manager, Apprenticeships

Blue Origin; Washington; On-site; USD 134,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Education Support Program

Stock Options

Paid Time Off and holidays

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a Senior Program Manager, Apprenticeships, to own end-to-end development of its apprenticeship strategy. You will partner with schools, colleges, and workforce boards to create pathways into aerospace careers and align programs with workforce plans across sites.

You will design blended learning programs, measure outcomes, and collaborate with Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, and Legal to ensure growth and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 8+ years in workforce development, economic development, community outreach, talent development, or related fields.
• Experience in community outreach and building partnerships with schools, colleges, workforce boards, employers, or community organizations.
• Strong project management, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to travel as much as 40% to support partners, sites, and program activities.
• Experience creating registered apprenticeships or earn‑and‑learn programs from inception is preferred.
• Knowledge of Department of Labor and state apprenticeship requirements is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end strategy, design, launch, and growth of Blue Origin's apprenticeship programs, from concept to first day.
• Partner with the apprenticeship intermediary to register, structure, and scale new pathways, including standards and on-the-job learning plans.
• Work with leaders to identify roles for apprenticeship pathways and translate workforce plans into program designs and targets.
• Design and build training programs combining classroom instruction with hands-on learning, defining competencies and milestones.
• Lead outreach with schools, governments, workforce boards, and community groups to raise awareness of aerospace careers.
• Identify and pursue public and private funding to support program growth and sustainability.
• Navigate DoL and state requirements in partnership with Legal and the intermediary.
• Establish and track metrics like enrollment, completion, retention, and time to productivity to improve outcomes.
• Manage budgets, vendor agreements, and resource plans to deliver at scale.
• Collaborate with branding to tell the story of Blue Origin's apprenticeship programs.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Relationship-building

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Travel readiness

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience

Master's degree in Education, Workforce Development, Public Administration, Business, or related field

Job description

About Blue Origin

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!

Position Overview

As Senior Program Manager, Apprenticeships, you will own the end-to-end development of Blue Origin's apprenticeship strategy and the relationships that power it. You will create new pathways into aerospace careers by partnering with high schools, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, community and technical colleges, workforce boards, and Blue Origin's apprenticeship intermediary. Your work will help us meet our growing hiring needs in manufacturing, technical, and operational roles with skilled talent trained to our standards. This is a build role. We are looking for a leader who has launched training programs and apprenticeship pathways from a blank page, not someone who has maintained programs created by others. You will define the vision, design the programs, earn the trust of community and business partners, and deliver measurable hiring outcomes. You will partner closely with Talent Acquisition, Early Career, Learning and Development, Manufacturing and Operations leaders, HR Business Partners, Finance, and Legal to align new apprenticeship pathways to workforce plans across our sites.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end strategy, design, launch, and growth of Blue Origin's apprenticeship programs, from first concept through to their first day.
• Partner with Blue Origin's apprenticeship intermediary to register, structure, and scale new apprenticeship pathways, including occupational standards, related instruction, and on-the-job learning plans.
• Work with business leaders and hiring managers to identify roles best suited to apprenticeship pathways and translate workforce plans into program designs and cohort targets.
• Design and build training programs that combine classroom instruction with hands‑on learning, defining competencies, curriculum alignment, mentor expectations, and completion milestones.
• Lead community outreach and engagement with schools, local governments, workforce boards, economic development organizations, and community groups to build awareness of aerospace careers.
• Identify and pursue public and private funding opportunities, grants, and workforce development incentives that support program growth and sustainability.
• Navigate federal and state apprenticeship requirements, including Department of Labor registration and compliance, in partnership with Legal and the intermediary.
• Establish and track key metrics, including enrollment, completion, retention, conversion to full‑time employment, time to productivity, and program cost, and use data to improve outcomes.
• Manage program budgets, vendor and partner agreements, and resource plans to deliver at scale.
• Collaborate with employer brand and communications partners to tell the story of Blue Origin's apprenticeship programs and the people in them.
• Provide regular updates and recommendations to senior leadership on program progress, risks, and opportunities.
• Champion a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement in support of Blue Origin's Leadership Principles.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience (including military).
• 8+ years of progressive experience in workforce development, economic development, community outreach, talent development, or related fields.
• Experience in community outreach and building partnerships with schools, colleges, workforce boards, employers, or community organizations.
• Working knowledge of economic and workforce development principles, including regional labor markets, public workforce systems, and funding mechanisms.
• Proven ability to establish program goals and metrics, evaluate results, and use data to drive decisions.
• Experience influencing and partnering with senior business leaders and external stakeholders.
• Strong project management, communication, and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to travel as much as 40% to support partners, sites, and program activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience creating registered apprenticeships or other earn‑and‑learn programs from inception.
• Experience working with an apprenticeship intermediary or sponsor organization.
• Knowledge of Department of Labor and state apprenticeship requirements.
• Experience in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, defense, engineering, or other highly technical industries.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams, lead through ambiguity, and deliver in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Experience securing grants or public funding for workforce programs.
• Experience building relationships with CTE programs and community or technical colleges in multiple regions.
• Experience managing program budgets and vendor relationships.
• Master's degree in Education, Workforce Development, Public Administration, Business, or a related field.

Base Pay Range

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $134,434.00 - $188,207.25. Other site ranges may differ.

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Background Check Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation. Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training. Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre‑employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long‑term disability.
• 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%.
• Education Support Program.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week).
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company‑paid holidays.
• Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated workforce. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Aff. Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request. We’re committed to building the road to space so our children can build the future. We are a mission‑driven company focused on ideas and innovation, and encourage fresh perspectives from bold voices. At Blue, our team is building the future as their unique selves. Thank you for your interest in working at Blue Origin! Blue Origin was founded with a vision to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space to benefit Earth. In order to preserve Earth, Blue Origin believes in the need to enable humanity to expand, explore, find new energy and material resources, and move industries that stress Earth into space. Blue Origin believes it has an important role in building a road to space and lowering the cost of getting there. At Blue Origin, we’re working on this today by developing fully reusable launch vehicles and systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. Every launch vehicle is designed for human spaceflight from the beginning and able to ferry payloads to space.