Program Manager Career Action Team, Skills Initiative

Job Description

Job Description

University City District (UCD) is a non-profit, special services district that leverages a unique partnership of universities, health systems, large and small businesses, and community groups to invest in public spaces, address public maintenance and public safety issues, bring life to commercial corridors, promote job growth and innovation, and connect residents to career opportunities; by way of The Skills Initiative.

The Skills Initiative is a nationally recognized workforce intermediary. We implement custom talent solutions focused on connecting the City's talent to opportunities within prestigious companies, organizations, and institutions. Through partnerships with local organizations and anchor organizations, the Skills Initiative creates pathways to employment and fosters economic mobility.

Position Overview

The Program Manager at the Skills Initiative is a vital role that ensures the smooth and efficient operation of our nationally recognized workforce programs. This position involves managing administrative program operations, supporting program facilitation, and most importantly, serving as the main Skills Initiative contact for active participants during programming. The Program Manager is responsible for creating a supportive, professional, and focused environment to enable program participants to excel. The Program Manager will report to the Senior Director of Workforce Programs. The Program Manager will work closely with the programming team to maintain the Skills Initiative's high standards and will collaborate across the entire team to ensure excellence in service delivery.

Focus: Administrative and operational management to ensure smooth, high-quality delivery of a select set of workforce training programs.

Program Administration

• Manage all administrative and logistical aspects of assigned programs, including scheduling facilitators, training providers, and employer representatives.
• Prepare and distribute program materials, maintain program calendars, and ensure training sessions and externship rotations (when required) run efficiently.
• Actively manage program data in Salesforce and other platforms, ensuring accurate tracking of participant progress, credential attainment, attendance, and externship completion.
• Coordinate onboarding logistics for participants and employer partners, including documentation, scheduling, and communications.
• Provide classroom technical and logistical support as needed, ensuring a seamless participant and facilitator experience.

Facilitation and Participant Engagement

• Lead Participant Agreement Meetings and Orientation sessions for assigned programs, ensuring all participants understand program goals, expectations, and available resources.
• Conduct daily participant check-ins and check-outs using a trauma-informed approach.
• Facilitate key Skills Initiative-designed curriculum content in both virtual and in-person programming as needed.
• Facilitate participant feedback sessions, such as closing focus groups, to gather valuable insights for program improvement.

Externship & Job Placement Coordination for Select Programs

• Serve as the primary liaison with employer partner hiring managers and technical training providers to coordinate externship assignments and placements.
• Track externship progress, manage issue resolution, and document placement outcomes to ensure participants are well-matched and supported.
• Monitor transitions between externship and employment, ensuring stipends, documentation, and communication are managed effectively.

Facilitator and Partner Coordination

• Coordinate all logistics for facilitators, training providers, and vendors, ensuring materials, curriculum, and space are ready and expectations are clear.
• Maintain consistent communication with technical training providers to ensure alignment on scheduling, program execution, and participant readiness.
• Support the planning and hosting of program-related events, workshops, and employer site visits.
• Be present on-site at technical training provider locations to ensure continuity in training, participant access, and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Alumni Support

• Assist the team in organizing alumni events and activities, ensuring a seamless transition from participant to alum and providing opportunities for continued growth.

• Assist in resume support and mock interviews for Skills Initiative alumni.

• Participate in the management of alumni focused social media content across relevant platforms to foster engagement and community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in workforce development, healthcare, education, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in program management, workforce partnerships, or training operations.
• Strong project management and relationship-building skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Experience facilitating adult learning in both in-person and virtual settings.
• Proficiency with Salesforce, Microsoft Office Suite, and Zoom (training available).
• Demonstrated commitment to The Skills Initiative's mission of advancing economic mobility through employer-driven workforce strategies.

Work Environment

This is a fast-paced, collaborative role that operates across office and training environments. The position is primarily in-person, with flexibility as appropriate, and requires occasional early morning or evening availability to support program delivery and employer engagement.

Team members regularly manage multiple priorities and shifting timelines, particularly during active program cycles. Success in this role requires comfort with ambiguity, strong communication across internal teams and external partners, and the ability to move between planning and in-the-classroom execution.

Salary $70,000

As part of your cover letter, please also include a brief response (2–3 sentences) addressing the following questions. Please keep in mind that there are no wrong answers! We ask this to better understand your work style and how to create an environment that allows you to do your best work.

1. How do you best process information? (For example, do you prefer to brainstorm aloud, or read and reflect before responding?)
2. How do you best receive feedback? (For example, written, verbal, or through collaborative discussion?)

Finally, a real person will be reading every application, so please bring your humanity to your cover letter. No need to game the word choice algorithm, just let us know why you think you would be a great addition to our growing team!