Youth Workforce & Education Manager
Job Title: Youth Workforce & Education Manager
Department: Youth Services
Reports To: Director of Youth Services
FLSA Status: Exempt (Salary)
Location: Springfield, MA
Employment Type: Grant Funded Full-Time
Salary: Dependent on experience
About New North Citizens’ Council (NNCC)
New North Citizens’ Council is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents through education, workforce development, family support, and community services. NNCC is committed to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive service delivery.
Position Summary
The Youth Workforce & Education Manager oversees NNCC's youth and young adult workforce development and education programs, including WIOA-funded services. Reporting to the Director of Youth Services, the Manager is responsible for daily program operations, staff supervision, grant compliance, and achieving measurable outcomes in education, employment, career readiness, and credential attainment. This position requires strong leadership, independent judgment, and the ability to manage multiple programs while expanding educational and career opportunities for participants.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
(Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.)
Program Management & Performance
- Oversee daily operations of youth workforce development and education programs, ensuring effective service delivery, staffing, scheduling, and participant engagement.
- Manage systems for enrollment, eligibility, assessment, individualized service planning, case management, completion, and follow-up.
- Monitor enrollment, caseloads, attendance, retention, credential attainment, education and employment outcomes, and other contractual performance measures.
- Review program data, identify performance gaps, and implement corrective strategies to improve outcomes.
- Ensure timely and accurate documentation, reporting, and completion of program deliverables.
Workforce Development & Education
- Oversee career exploration, job readiness, work-based learning, occupational training, and employment placement services.
- Develop opportunities for internships, work experiences, apprenticeships, subsidized employment, and industry-recognized credentials.
- Support educational pathways, including high school completion, HiSET/GED preparation, postsecondary education, and career training.
- Ensure individualized education and career plans address participant goals, strengths, and barriers to success.
- Promote positive youth development, culturally responsive services, and effective case management practices.
Staff Supervision & Leadership
- Supervise assigned workforce and education coordinators and program staff, establishing clear expectations and accountability for performance.
- Conduct regular supervision, coaching, performance evaluations, and professional development activities.
- Monitor staff workloads, documentation quality, participant engagement, and service delivery.
- Address staffing and performance concerns in collaboration with the Director of Youth Services and Human Resources.
- Promote teamwork, professionalism, sound judgment, and continuous improvement.
Grant Compliance & Fiscal Accountability
- Ensure compliance with WIOA Youth and other applicable grant and contractual requirements, including eligibility, documentation, service delivery, performance, and follow-up.
- Conduct regular participant file reviews and quality assurance activities to maintain accurate and complete records.
- Prepare for monitoring visits, audits, and contract reviews, and ensure timely resolution of identified deficiencies.
- Collaborate with the Director of Youth Services and Finance to monitor program expenditures, allowable costs, and resource utilization.
- Identify compliance, fiscal, or operational concerns and implement or recommend appropriate corrective actions.
Partnerships & Program Development
- Develop and maintain relationships with employers, educational institutions, workforce agencies, training providers, and community organizations.
- Coordinate career exploration opportunities, employer engagement activities, college visits, and work-based learning partnerships.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen education-to-employment pathways and expand services for participating youth.
- Support the development and implementation of new workforce and education initiatives, grants, and program improvements.
- Represent NNCC professionally at workforce, education, and community meetings.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Workforce Development, Education, Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, Business, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
- Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in workforce development, youth development, education, human services, or a related field.
- Minimum two years of supervisory, program management, or team leadership experience.
- Experience working with youth and young adults, including individuals facing barriers to education and employment.
- Experience administering publicly funded or grant-funded programs, including documentation, reporting, performance measures, and compliance.
- Demonstrated ability to supervise staff, manage competing priorities, and independently resolve operational challenges.
- Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Proficiency with standard office technology and ability to use funder-specific data and reporting systems.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in a related field.
- Experience administering WIOA Youth programs and working with workforce development boards or career centers.
- Experience developing employer partnerships, internships, work experiences, apprenticeships, or occupational training opportunities.
- Knowledge of HiSET/GED, alternative education, postsecondary transition, and college and career readiness programs.
- Experience with program monitoring, quality assurance, and workforce or education program expansion.
- Familiarity with workforce and educational resources in Greater Springfield and Western Massachusetts.
Core Competencies
- Program Leadership & Accountability
- Staff Supervision & Development
- Workforce & Education Program Management
- Grant Compliance & Quality Assurance
- Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
- Communication & Collaboration
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- This is a full-time supervisory position requiring flexibility based on program needs. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required for participant activities, employer events, community programming, and meetings.
- Work is performed in office, program, educational, employer, and community settings. Travel between program and partner locations may be required.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
New North Citizens’ Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.
ADA & Reasonable Accommodation Statement
NNCC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
At-Will Employment Disclaimer
Employment with NNCC is at-will and may be terminated by either the employee or the organization at any time, with or without cause or notice, in accordance with applicable law.