Workforce Development Manager, Temporary

Socket.dev; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 49,000 - 70,000; Part time

Job summary

GRID Alternatives' Mid Atlantic office is seeking a dedicated Workforce Development Manager to lead a Planning Grant focused on building an inclusive local solar workforce development ecosystem.

This role emphasizes stakeholder engagement, data analysis, and delivering a Solar Workforce Development Rollout Plan by February 2027, with responsibilities across outreach, advisory committees, and grant administration.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in workforce development or community engagement.
• Experience managing grant deliverables and reporting.
• Commitment to equity and serving underrepresented communities.
• Strong facilitation and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Teams, Zoom, and Salesforce.

Responsibilities

• Build staff capacity and establish project workflows.
• Lead community outreach and education activities for solar careers.
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings and advisory committee sessions.
• Coordinate data collection and qualitative analysis of feedback.
• Draft and finalize the Solar Workforce Development Rollout Plan.

Skills

Workforce development

Community engagement

Grant management

Access focus

Facilitation

Public speaking

Tech literacy

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft Teams

Zoom

Salesforce

Job description

Description

About GRID Alternatives

GRID Alternatives is a national leader in making clean, affordable solar power and solar jobs accessible to low-income communities and communities of color. GRID is an entrepreneurial, high-growth non-profit organization that provides direct solar installation and project development; clean mobility options; workforce training and service-learning opportunities; and low-income solar policy advocacy.

Our Vision: a rapid, equitable transition to a world powered by renewable energy that benefits everyone.

Our Mission: to build community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy.

What it's like to work at GRID…

At GRID, we care about each other and know that each employee has a whole self that includes life outside of work. Our culture supports learning, growth and well-being of all of our team members.

Summary of the role:

GRID Alternatives' Mid Atlantic office is seeking a dedicated, highly organized, Workforce Development Manager to lead the implementation of a Planning Grant focused on building an inclusive local solar workforce development ecosystem. This position is directly responsible for executing all core grant deliverables—including community outreach, stakeholder engagement, Advisory Committee facilitation, data collection, and co-creating a sustainable Solar Workforce Development Rollout Plan. This role is not a training program delivery role. It is focused on stakeholder engagement and data analysis leading to the development of recommendations for workforce development programming.

NOTE: Working 32 hours per week during the 5-month performance period (October 2026 – February 2027)

What you will be doing (essential responsibilities):

• Build Staff Capacity & Set-Up Internal Infrastructure: Work collaboratively with the Executive Director and internal team at the onset of the performance period to establish and/or learn operational workflows, data tracking tools, and project management infrastructure necessary for seamless project implementation.
• Community Outreach & Education Activities: Execute community outreach campaigns (including tabling at events, conducting informational presentations, social media, and direct mailers) to raise and gauge awareness of solar and related career pathways. Conduct focused interviews and gather direct community feedback regarding job seekers' unique aspirations, barriers, and needs (such as access to childcare, transportation, and training resources).
• Stakeholder Meetings & Workshops: Convene and facilitate a series of meetings with key regional stakeholders, including workforce development organizations, clean energy employers, and wraparound service providers. Lead discussions aimed at identifying workforce gaps, mapping existing supportive services, aligning training content with industry demand, and addressing key barriers faced by disadvantaged job seekers.
• Advisory Committee Formation & Facilitation: Finalize the recruitment and lead the onboarding of a diverse Advisory Committee comprising community residents, program trainees, community partners, and solar employers. Schedule, prepare, and facilitate regular Advisory Committee meetings to integrate community voices, refine program priorities, and co-create an inclusive workforce strategy.
• Data Collection & Qualitative Analysis: Collect and analyze information gained from, but not limited to, focused interviews, community conversations, focus groups, and meeting feedback to systematically evaluate personal and structural challenges to employment, workforce trends, employer requirements, and needed supportive services.
• Solar Workforce Development Rollout Plan Delivery: Lead the drafting and finalization of the comprehensive Solar Workforce Development Rollout Plan by February 2027. Synthesize project data into actionable sections covering trainee recruitment strategies, curriculum recommendations, supportive service integration and partners, job placement partners, and long-term funding sources for program sustainability.
• Grant Administration: Manage grant deliverables to meet deadlines, quality, and budget requirements. Lead grant tracking, reporting, budgeting, invoicing, and funder relationship.

Requirements

Your areas of knowledge and expertise...

• Workforce & Community Engagement Experience: 3+ years of experience in workforce development,
• community organizing, stakeholder engagement, or program planning.
• Grant Execution & Compliance: Proven track record of managing grant deliverables, adhering to strict
• project timelines, and gathering qualitative/quantitative data for grant reporting.
• Access Focus: Deep commitment to opening doors to opportunities, with demonstrated experience
• working effectively with underrepresented communities and disadvantaged job seekers.
• Facilitation & Communication: Strong public speaking, workshop facilitation, and written communication
• skills; ability to build rapport with community members, executive leadership, and industry partners.
• Systems & Technical Skills: Proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Salesforce.

It would be great if you also had...

• Prior experience in the solar energy, green building, or clean technology sector.
• Existing networks with Mid-Atlantic workforce system and organizations, renewable energy and construction trades employers, or community-based organizations, especially in DC Wards 5, 7, and 8, and PG County Maryland.

Compensation:

The compensation range for this temporary nonexempt role is $43.26 per hour.

Where you will sit & the places you may go…

This is a Hybrid work setting with travel required for local community events, stakeholder workshops, and team meetings across mainly DC Wards 5, 7, and 8, and Prince Georges County, Maryland. Flexibility in scheduling will be required to accommodate occasional evening or weekend community outreach events.

This position may require up to 25% out-of-town travel to regional offices and special projects such as org-wide celebrations, team building exercises, etc. Availability to work nights and weekends may very rarely be required. GRID Alternatives may provide vehicles for work travel and/or travel reimbursement for personal vehicle use. In this instance, applicants must hold a valid driver’s license and have a good driving record.

Reasonable Accommodation for Job Seekers with a Disability:

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to: [e-mail]

GRID Alternatives provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Because we value EID at GRID Alternatives, we encourage folks from all backgrounds to apply, even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications.

Every member of GRID Alternatives must be dedicated to participating in the organization's equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID) work.