Workforce & Community Partnerships Manager

KBR; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Flexible schedule

Professional training

Job summary

KBR is seeking a Workforce & Community Partnerships Manager in Newark, DE to develop stakeholder engagement strategies and build sustainable pipelines for skilled crafts, technicians, and engineers. You will partner with local colleges, trade schools, apprenticeship programs, and workforce agencies to align talent with project staffing needs.

Responsibilities include coordinating university and community partnerships, leading local hiring initiatives, and reporting on workforce KPIs and outcomes

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 10+ years in community relations, government affairs, or stakeholder management.
• Experience supporting large capital projects (over $500M) and understanding of government processes are preferred.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholder groups including elected officials and community leaders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive workforce development strategy for construction, commissioning, startup, and operations staffing.
• Establish and manage partnerships with universities, colleges, apprenticeship programs, and workforce organizations to create talent pipelines.
• Build relationships with community organizations, economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, and public-sector partners.
• Coordinate initiatives for local workforce participation, internships, apprenticeships, co-op programs, and targeted recruitment.
• Monitor labor market conditions, forecast demand, and provide staffing recommendations to leadership.
• Manage community outreach, STEM engagement, and workforce readiness programs.
• Support diversity objectives by expanding access to employment and training opportunities.
• Coordinate transitions from construction to operations including onboarding and skills development.
• Establish KPIs and reporting for workforce development and local hiring outcomes.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Public relations

Community development

Project management

Communication skills

Labor market analysis

Diversity and inclusion

Strategic planning

Partnership development

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration/HR/Communications or related field

Job description

Title:

Workforce & Community Partnerships Manager

KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) provides holistic and value-added solutions across the entire asset life cycle. These include world-class licensed process technologies, differentiated advisory services, deep technical domain expertise, energy transition solutions, high-end design capabilities, and smart solutions to optimize planned and operating assets.

KBR is seeking a Workforce & Community Partnerships Manager to develop and execute stakeholder engagement strategies that foster positive relationships between the project, local communities, elected officials, government agencies, economic development organizations, educational institutions, and other key stakeholders. The Workforce Development Manager is responsible for establishing and managing a regional workforce development program that supports both project execution and the client’s long-term operational staffing objectives. This role develops partnerships with local colleges and universities, local trade schools, apprenticeship programs, workforce development agencies, VEDP, and community organizations to create sustainable pipelines of skilled craft professionals, technicians, engineers, and future operations personnel. Responsibilities include workforce forecasting, labor market analysis, recruitment coordination, local workforce participation initiatives, apprenticeship integration, diversity and inclusion programs, workforce performance reporting, and coordination of training and workforce readiness programs that support project labor requirements throughout execution.

Functional job responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive workforce development strategy to support project construction, commissioning, startup, and operational staffing requirements, aligning talent needs with project growth and business objectives.
• Establish and manage partnerships with universities, community colleges, technical schools, apprenticeship programs, and workforce development organizations to create talent pipelines for skilled trades, technical, engineering, manufacturing, and operational roles.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with local community organizations, economic development agencies, workforce boards, non-profit organizations, chambers of commerce, and public‑sector partners to support project objectives and community engagement goals.
• Coordinate initiatives that promote local workforce participation, workforce readiness, internships, apprenticeships, co‑op programs, and targeted recruitment efforts designed to meet project staffing demands and maximize local economic benefits.
• Monitor labor market conditions, workforce availability, demographic trends, training capacity, and competitive hiring risks. Provide workforce forecasts and recommendations to project leadership to support resource planning and workforce sustainability.
• Develop and manage community outreach initiatives, educational programs, workforce awareness campaigns, STEM engagement activities, and community investment programs that strengthen the project’s reputation and long‑term community impact.
• Support workforce diversity objectives by collaborating with educational institutions, professional organizations, community groups, and recruitment partners to expand access to employment and training opportunities for underrepresented populations.
• Coordinate workforce readiness activities that support the transition from construction to operations, including training coordination, onboarding support, skills development initiatives, and workforce mobilization programs.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and reporting mechanisms to track workforce development outcomes, recruitment effectiveness, local hiring participation, community engagement activities, partnership performance, and workforce readiness metrics.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Human Resources, Communications, Political Science, Public Relations, Community Development, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in community relations, government affairs, public engagement, external affairs, corporate communications, or stakeholder management.
• Demonstrated experience supporting large capital projects exceeding $500 million in total installed cost.
• Strong understanding of government processes, public engagement practices, and stakeholder management principles.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholder groups, including elected officials, community leaders, regulatory agencies, and business organizations.
• Experience managing complex public issues and stakeholder concerns in highly visible project environments.
• Strong organizational, planning, and project management capabilities.
• Familiarity with EPC/EPCM project delivery models and large construction programs.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills:

• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or other GMP-regulated facilities.
• Prior experience in an Owner’s Representative or PMC role for major capital projects in excess of $1B TIC.
• Economic development, workforce development, and community investment initiatives.
• Public consultation programs, permitting support, and regulatory stakeholder engagement.
• Experience working with EPC/EPCM project delivery organizations and owner‑led capital programs.

Decarbonization – Energy Transition – Sustainability

KBR Benefits

KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development.

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR

At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together.

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.