Trades Programs Director

JCI Empresarios La Paz; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Working Partnerships USA in Santa Clara, CA is seeking a strategic Trades Programs Director to lead the Apprenticeship Readiness programs TOP and TIP, coordinating program design, funding, and external partnerships to advance the organization’s mission.

The role requires strong leadership, staff development, and a proven ability to manage grants and relationships with unions, educational partners, and local government. Hybrid work arrangements support collaboration and impact.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years in a program leadership role directing a team.
• Commitment to social, racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice.
• Experience in worker or community organizing, economic justice, or related movements.
• Exceptional communication, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with diverse individuals from many backgrounds.
• Proven ability to meet mission-driven goals and funder deliverables.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to oversee multiple workstreams.
• Ability to work nights and weekends regularly as needed.
• Strong work ethic and commitment to excellence.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: set goals, develop plans, and align programs with WPUSA’s mission and campaigns.
• Staff & Team Management: hire, train, mentor, and support staff; coordinate leadership team meetings.
• Community Engagement & Partnerships: build relationships with unions, councils, contractors, and funders.
• Operational Management: direct daily operations, coaching, course delivery, and placement efforts; ensure grant compliance.
• Financial & Grant Oversight: develop budgets and report grant progress; support fundraising efforts.
• Strategic Communications: lead communications for outreach, donor relations, and narrative shifts.
• Performance Monitoring: track outcomes like placement rates, wage increases, and program impact.

Skills

Program leadership

Communication

Project management

Time management

Stakeholder relations

Social justice

Night/weekend availability

Bilingual (Spanish or Vietnamese)

Job description

Nonprofit
New
Published 1 day ago
Trades Programs Director
Working Partnerships USA
Hybrid, Work must be performed in or near Santa Clara, CA

Job Type: Full Time

Start Date: August 27, 2026

Salary: USD $120,000 - $150,000 / year

Description

Overview

Working Partnerships USA is looking for a strategic leader to direct our Trades Programs. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Trades Programs Director is responsible for the operational success of the Santa Clara County Trades Orientation Program (TOP) and the San Mateo County Trades Introduction Program (TIP). Both TIP and TOP are apprenticeship readiness programs designed to educate participants from under-represented communities about careers in the construction industry and coach them to succeed in a construction trades apprenticeship. This position focuses on building strong strategic coordination between internal and external partners to ensure program delivery, funding, and outcomes that support the organization's larger vision and mission.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Work with the team and organizational leadership to set strategic goals and objectives for programs. Engage in long-term strategic planning linking programmatic work to WPUSA’s broader mission and campaigns, including community organizing and building power for working people. Create and execute work plans to meet program deliverables.
• Staff & Team Management: Hire, train, and mentor staff, fostering a culture of accountability and professional growth. Convene the Trades Leadership Team, planning effective team meetings and retreats communicating the vision and goals of the program to staff. Working with team members to set individual and team goals, create and track workplans, balance workloads, and manage vacancies or extended absences.
• Community Engagement & Partnerships: Act as an external face of the organization, building relationships with building trades unions, Central Labor Councils, construction trades contractors, workforce and educational agencies, State and local government agencies, CBOs and other community partners.
• Operational Management: Direct daily operations, including outreach and assessment, intensive job coaching and case management, training courses, and placement in family-supporting, skilled construction careers. Resolve problems between program teams and other internal stakeholders. Ensure compliance with grant requirements and legal standards.
• Financial & Grant Oversight: Alongside WPUSA’s finance team, develop or approve budgets and operations ensuring resources are allocated efficiently and grant deliverables are strictly met. Alongside WPUSA’s fundraising team, building relationships with funders and supporting fundraising efforts; reviewing grant submissions and reporting for an average of 5-6 government and/or foundation grants.
• Strategic Communications: Alongside WPUSA’s communications team, develop and lead Trades Programs communications strategies for a variety of audiences and outcomes, including outreach and recruitment, funder and donor relations, and narrative shift work.
• Performance Monitoring: Track, analyze, and report on key program outcomes, such as priority populations served, placement rates, retention, and wage increases.

In addition to their Trades Programs leadership, the Trades Program Director will participate in Working Partnerships USA’s all-staff activities and in the Directors Team, supporting and developing strategy for major organizational campaigns and projects.

Required Experience And Qualifications

• 5-7 years as a program director, program manager, or project manager leading a team.
• Commitment to social, racial, economic, environmental, and gender justice.
• Experience in worker or community organizing, economic justice, and social justice movements.
• Exceptional communication, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Experience in building trusting relationships with diverse individuals from many different backgrounds.
• Proven ability to meet mission-driven goals and funder deliverables.
• Outstanding organizational and time management skills and the ability to guide a team to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Ability to work nights and weekends regularly as needed.
• Strong work ethic, project management skills, and personal commitment to excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with the building and construction trades.
• Experience working in low-income communities of color.
• Experience in social services, workforce development, career technical education, job development, or related fields.
• Experience in funder relations and attracting donor support.
• Bilingual in Spanish or Vietnamese.

Location

Hybrid

Work must be performed in or near Santa Clara, CA

Associated Location: Santa Clara, CA, USA