Apprenticeship Program Quality Associate

Position Title: Apprenticeship Program Quality Associate

Reports To: Chief Apprenticeship Expansion Officer

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Employment Status: Full-time, exempt

Starting Salary Range: $60,000-70,000/year

About the Opportunity: Building Futures seeks a detail-oriented and mission-driven Apprenticeship Program Quality Associate to help ensure Rhode Island’s registered apprenticeship system delivers high-quality training and career pathways. This role plays a key part in upholding quality and compliance standards across apprenticeship programs, maintaining accurate data, and providing technical assistance to sponsors and apprentices. Working closely with the Apprenticeship Office, the Associate helps strengthen program outcomes and ensure apprentices have the support they need to succeed.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives on improving systems, ensuring accountability, and supporting workforce programs that change lives. The successful candidate will combine strong analytical and organizational skills with a commitment to public service and continuous improvement within a dynamic, collaborative environment.

About Building Futures: Building Futures was founded in 2007 as a construction industry partnership, focused on leveraging the Registered Apprenticeship model of workforce development. For over 100 years, unions and employers have jointly operated quality Registered Apprenticeships in the construction occupations to train individuals as highly skilled tradespeople. Our work spans three distinct but highly aligned areas.

For the benefit of low-income Rhode Islanders, Building Futures developed and operates a comprehensive pre-apprenticeship program to prepare diverse, low-income men and women for success in employment as registered apprentices in the building trades. In addition, we work in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure construction projects provide employment opportunities for apprentices at the appropriate level to meet future demand for skilled labor through our Apprentice Utilization Program. Our pre-apprenticeship and apprentice utilization program together provide an effective system for workforce development in Rhode Island’s construction sector.

From this foundation, we have established Apprenticeship Rhode Island, an initiative to expand the use of Registered Apprenticeship beyond the construction sector. Now, we are helping develop new registered apprenticeship programs in multiple sectors, which include healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and marine trades, among others. Working with employers, industry partnerships, government, and community-based organizations, we are spreading the proven model of Registered Apprenticeship to benefit the state’s workforce and economy.

Responsibilities:

1. Quality Assessment

• Under the guidance of the Chief Apprenticeship Expansion Officer and the Apprenticeship Office, develop and apply processes and tools to ensure programs consistently meet state and federal standards for quality.
• Assist with regulatory reviews of registered apprenticeship programs. Document findings and recommendations, collaborating with team members to create plans to address deficiencies and improve program quality.

• Help translate quality findings into recommendations for policy or systems improvements.

1. Data Quality & Reporting

• Enter and maintain accurate sponsor and program data, with a focus on data integrity.
• Provide training around data systems to relevant stakeholders.
• Conduct regular sponsor follow-up to ensure timely and accurate information is reported.
• With Apprenticeship Data Manager, identify and address data quality issues.

1. Technical Assistance

• Provide direct technical assistance to sponsors on registration, program standards updates, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Serve as a point of contact for sponsors and apprentices regarding program requirements, data needs, and available resources.
• Ensure sponsors and apprentices understand and can access available resources to enhance program sustainability and ensure apprentice success.

1. Operations

• Manage projects such as system-wide wage updates.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, documentation, and communication between Building Futures, the Apprenticeship Office, and sponsors.
• Assist in developing and maintaining standard operating procedures for program quality assessment and data integrity.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Experience in quality assurance, program compliance and administration, or continuous improvement in education, workforce development, or government-regulated programs preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to review and maintain accurate data.
• Strong customer service orientation with the ability to build relationships and provide technical assistance to diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to clearly interpret and communicate about regulations, data, and program requirements in both written and verbal form.
• Familiarity with trade occupations and/or workforce training programs preferred; direct experience as a registered apprentice a plus.
• Knowledge of apprenticeship law, regulations, and best practices preferred; training available for the right candidate.
• Competency with computer programs including Excel, Word, Outlook, project management software, and databases.

Additional Information

Building Futures is located in the Valley neighborhood of Providence, RI. This role requires local and state-wide travel. A valid driver’s license is required.

Building Futures is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming candidates, people with disabilities, and people of other diverse backgrounds and experiences are strongly encouraged to apply.

Apply today!

Please submit your cover letter and resume to Shelby Mack, Chief Apprenticeship Expansion Officer, at hiring@bfri.org.