Program Manager IDHS Initiatives - Chicago, United States - Chicago Jobs Council

Description

Job Description

Program Manager IDHS Initiatives Job Description

Estimated Start Date: March 2024

Position Scope: The Program Manager IDHS Initiatives is a full-time, grant-funded position designed to implement and oversee the training of SNAP and other Employment & Training providers throughout Illinois. Responsibilities include project management, curriculum development, facilitation & training, and related technical assistance. This position will require travel, including occasional overnight trips. The Program Manager position reports to the Director of Capacity Building & Training.

Chicago Jobs Council (CJC) is a workforce development intermediary that keeps jobseekers at the center of all we do. CJC advocates for jobseekers, by researching current pressing matters for the field, develop recommendations and share them broadly to create systemic change. CJC builds capacity for the workforce development field, by developing curriculum that's offered through trainings, cohort learning and leadership academies based on our research of best practices. CJC influences City, State and Federal Policies related to increasing funding for our public workforce system, creating equitable pathways and eliminating barriers to employment. Our Mission: Together with community and institutional leaders, Chicago Jobs Council is re-imagining our workforce system so all people can thrive through employment.

Our Vision is to create an anti-racist workforce development system and employment equity so that everyone can realize their unique pathway out of poverty.

Duties and Responsibilities for the Program Manager

• • Project Management: Overseeing and coordinating day-to-day logistics of the IDHS initiatives training program; developing agendas, coordinating communication, preparing materials, facilitating, and following-up on trainings and various stakeholder meetings; convening and leading an Advisory Work Group; collaborating with the internal staff, Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), and external consultants
  • Curriculum Development: Revising existing curriculum to incorporate relevant updates, stakeholder feedback, and emerging best practices; designing experiential, hands-on activities for adult learners; contributing to the design and development of written resources, tools, and materials
• Facilitation: Developing expertise in workforce development best practices to facilitate trainings for frontline staff; recruiting and training guest speakers, content experts, and other external consultants to help support facilitation
• Technical Assistance: Providing ongoing technical assistance by responding to information requests from providers, administrators, funders, and other stakeholders
• Marketing: Developing and deploying a marketing plan to recruit participants with the support of the Marketing and Communications Manager
• Data Collection & Evaluation: Managing the design and implementation of evaluation tools; collecting and evaluating various forms of data to monitor training goals and outcomes
• Leadership: Supervising IDHS Initiative Program Coordinator(s) and fellows/interns, as needed.
• Administration: Coordinating travel logistics; maintaining contracts; completing grant reports and other written products; maintaining program webpage and registration; participating in funder briefings and related meetings

In addition to the above duties, the Program Manager is part of the Capacity Building team and provides content development, facilitation and other support as needed to advance its goals.

Requirements for the Program Manager

Personal Qualities

• Commitment to the advancement of CJC's organizational mission and a demonstrated commitment to racial equity
• Commitment to continuous improvement (i.e. generate or support new ideas to improve the Jobs Council's efficiency and/or effectiveness)
• Possesses self-starting work habits
• Participates well in a team, including listening to and respecting team members' ideas, willingness to provide backup on other team members' projects, display of adaptability when a change is made, and openness to incorporating team feedback on written communications
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to cultivate relationships with a diverse group of individuals participating in CJC's program activities as well as with other stakeholders
• Interest in the areas of program development, as well as supporting communities of practice and professional development for adult learners
• Possesses self-confidence, including a belief in one's ability to accomplish a task and select an effective approach to a task or problem, confidence in one's own decisions or opinions, ability to reflect on lessons learned from failures and successes
• Possesses patience and a non-judgmental attitude

Skills

• Demonstrated advanced facilitation and training skills
• Clear, concise, and persuasive communication skills (written, verbal, listening)
• Excellent organizational and time management skills that allow for the handling of multiple and competing priorities while meeting short and long term deadlines
• Strong creative problem solving skills including ability to identify new strategies to achieve goal
• Exceptional critical thinking and analytical ability; demonstrated ability to balance creativity and logic when making decisions after adequately contemplating various courses of action and collection of facts
• Ability to interpret complex data/information and explain it to multiple audiences
• Ability to think strategically, balance long term vision with daily tasks
  • Attention to detail and excellent follow through
  • Ability to collaborate and seek support when needed
  • Ability to stay on top of emerging trends in the field
• Proficiency with computer applications in G-Suite, web-based survey tools, online databases and website management (or demonstrated ability to learn quickly)

Experience

• Familiarity with public policies and programs that impact people living in poverty, particularly in the area of workforce development is strongly encouraged
• Training, teaching or facilitation experience, including train-the-trainer experience, with ability to tailor presentations to different adult audiences
• Solid experience managing workforce development programs, grants, or initiatives, including outcomes preferred
• Strong business acumen and project management skills with an ability to manage and grow industry relationships
• Curriculum development experience including writing and researching
• Successful meeting/event planning and/or project management experience
• Minimum 5-7 years of related experience
• Minimum post-secondary credential; Degrees or certifications related to education, training, counseling, and/or social work preferred.

Compensation and Application Information

The Program Manager IDHS Initiatives position is full-time, exempt with a $61,600 annual salary and excellent benefits. To apply, submit a cover letter and resume via Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

CHICAGO JOBS COUNCIL IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. CJC is committed to building an

inclusive staff and strongly encourages applications from individuals of color, people with disabilities, individuals with diverse backgrounds, and those whose life experience is underrepresented in employment programs and policies.

CJC recognizes that systemic, institutional and individual racism creates disparities in the way people of color fare in the labor market. We are continuously working to review and update our practices, policies, and procedures using a racial equity lens in order to achieve more equitable outcomes for all.

Illinois is an at-will employment state.