Executive Director (JobsFirstNEPA)

About JobsFirstNYC and JobsFirstNEPA

JobsFirstNYC creates and advances solutions that break down barriers and transform the systems supporting young adults and their communities in the pursuit of economic opportunities. Since 2006, we’ve worked with more than 200 partners across government, philanthropy, employers, and education to design scalable models that shape policy and practice. In 2024, JobsFirstNYC launched CommunityINC, an initiative (under the umbrella of JobsFirstUSA) to incubate and accelerate workforce intermediaries outside of New York City with trusted local anchor partners. JobsFirstNEPA is the first regional organization to be launched through this effort, in partnership with the Scranton Area Community Foundation, aligned with their NEPA Thrives initiative.

JobsFirstNEPA will serve as a workforce intermediary focused on working with partners across Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, and Wayne counties—helping local partners build coordinated, community-driven workforce solutions that expand economic mobility for young adults and strengthen the overall region’s economy.

The Opportunity: This is a founding Executive Director role. The person hired will launch and grow a new nonprofit organization with national backing, local partnerships, and a clear mandate: to expand economic mobility for young adults and their communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

You will be both builder and leader: setting the vision, raising resources, building partnerships, hiring staff, and representing JobsFirstNEPA across the region. While this is a start-up, you won’t be alone—you will work closely with JobsFirstNYC and USA for technical assistance, strategy support, and accountability, and with the Scranton Area Community Foundation and NEPA Thrives for local partnership and alignment.

Key Responsibilities

Vision & Strategy

• Shape and execute JobsFirstNEPA’s founding vision, aligned with the vision of JobsFirstNYC/USA expanding economic mobility for all young adults.
• Identify regional priorities and design innovative, collaborative workforce solutions.
• Position JobsFirstNEPA as a thought leader in workforce and economic development.

Organizational Leadership & Management

• Launch and lead a new nonprofit, including operations, compliance, and budgeting with support.
• Hire, supervise, and support a small but growing staff team.
• Partner with and support a founding Board of Directors to set direction and ensure strong governance.
• Build an organizational culture grounded in collaboration, trust, and accountability.

Fundraising & Sustainability

• Develop and implement a fundraising strategy with diversified revenue streams (e.g. grants, corporate, philanthropy, government, fee for service).
• Cultivate and steward funders and donors to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
• Work closely with JobsFirstUSA/NYC to align funding strategy with national network and goals.

Partnerships & External Engagement

• Serve as the primary ambassador for JobsFirstNEPA, representing the organization in community, regional, and national forums.
• Build strong partnerships with local employers, schools, colleges, workforce organizations, government, and philanthropy.
• Strengthen NEPA Thrives network collaboration and leverage JobsFirstUSA’s broader CommunityINC network for shared learning and impact.

Qualifications

We recognize that there are many paths to strong leadership. The ideal candidate will bring a mix of the following:

• 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience (nonprofit, public, or private sector).
• Entrepreneurial spirit with experience building or growing an organization, initiative, or major project.
• Strong track record in fundraising, partnership development, or revenue generation.
• Knowledge of workforce development, economic mobility, or related fields (preferred but not required).
• Experience working in or deep familiarity with Northeastern Pennsylvania is a strong plus.
• Excellent communicator and relationship builder across diverse stakeholders (business, government, community, philanthropy).
• Ability to thrive in a start-up environment—strategic yet hands-on, comfortable wearing many hats.

JobsFirstNYC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, JobsFirstNYC complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

JobsFirstNYC offers a generous benefits package.