Solutions Manager

ABOUT JOBSFIRST NEPA

JobsFirst NEPA is a neutral regional workforce intermediary serving Northeastern Pennsylvania. Our mission is to create and advance solutions that break down barriers and transform the systems supporting young adults and their communities in the pursuit of economic opportunities. Through our work, we align partners across Northeastern Pennsylvania industry, education, community, and policy around shared regional workforce priorities. Our innovative approach to developing new partnership models helps to shape public policy, private philanthropic investments, and the practices of employers, colleges, workforce development service providers, high schools, and others.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Solutions Manager is a critical inaugural hire for JobsFirst NEPA, serving as a key implementation lead for our work, education, and community solutions portfolios. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role manages partnerships between businesses, education institutions, and community organizations to solve regional workforce challenges.

Key responsibilities include: developing and maintaining a project management plan, ensuring timely communication with partners and stakeholders, providing or seeking out technical assistance, and coordinating relationships with consultants and other critical stakeholders. The Solutions Manager also oversees partner development and engagement to build long-standing, trust-based relationships that advance JobsFirst NEPA’s model of standing up partnership infrastructure in the local workforce ecosystem. The Manager will support convening planning and management. This role requires strategic, forward-thinking management to advance JobsFirst NEPA’s goals and objectives.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Regional Partnership Coordination and Convening:

• Act as the operational and facilitation lead for JobsFirst NEPA’s sector networks, including Healthcare and Skilled Trades, Energy, and Advanced Manufacturing
• Convene and manage the day-to-day operations of collaborative partnerships
• Act as a liaison between industry partners, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and local workforce boards
• Analyze local industry needs and skills gaps to inform partnership solutions, such as customized training pipelines, apprenticeship programs, cross-county referral systems, etc.
• Assist in prospecting locales for place-based community partnership solutions across the NEPA coverage area
• Coordinate and support NEPA Thrives meetings and action-oriented working groups.
• Assist in coordinating and executing community convenings

Project Management and Technical Assistance:

• Support partnerships through the five-step JobsFirst framework
• Provide technical assistance, implementation planning, and facilitation to key partnerships
  • Schedule meetings with stakeholders to gather their input
  • Lead logistical coordination and scheduling of convenings
  • Conduct research of field practices and data insights to inform partnership priorities
  • Thoroughly track, document, and report on partnership progress and successes in accordance with grant execution
• Assist partnerships in developing projects with aligned use of the collaborative
• Present regular reports on partnership operations and outcomes to Executive Director

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Specific requirements include:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, project management, communications, public policy, or related fields (or equivalent field experience)
• Minimum 4-5 years experience in the nonprofit, public, and/or private sector
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and LinkedIn
• Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills, including writing, editing and interpersonal relations.
• Strong background in partnership development and relationship-building skills to manage diverse partnerships
• Strong organizational, planning, and project management capabilities to manage a variety of key initiatives concurrently
• Ability to adapt, problem-solve, and think strategically within changing environments
• Highly collaborative style and sincere commitment to working with diverse constituents.
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives.
• High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position one-on-one to large-group discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels.
• Effective leadership experience garnered by routinely developing and implementing successful strategic initiatives or other nonprofit projects.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience or training in facilitation is strongly preferred
• Strong knowledge of the Northeast PA workforce and economic development systems, notably as it pertains to young adult employment, industry partnerships, and neighborhood development is recommended.
• Experience with project management systems and platforms such as Asana is preferred
• Knowledge of evaluation methodologies and data management (i.e.: surveys, interviewing, focus groups)
• Experience in program development and logistical coordination is recommended
• Experience in grant writing is recommended

JobsFirst NEPA offers a comprhensive benefit package.