Rapid Response Workforce Transition Project Manager

About The Welcoming Center:

The Welcoming Center (TWC) is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit dedicated to immigrant integration and economic mobility. For more than 20 years, TWC has partnered with immigrants and refugees to build the skills, networks, and pathways they need to thrive professionally, economically, and civically. We envision a stronger, more vibrant nation enriched by the contributions of immigrants. Through workforce development, adult education, entrepreneurship, and community leadership programs, TWC supports individuals at every stage of their journey. TWC’s programs are grounded in a whole-person approach that connects participants to meaningful employment, community, and opportunity. Joining TWC means becoming part of a collaborative, mission-driven team committed to building a more equitable and inclusive Pennsylvania.

Work Readiness:

The Work Readiness team supports immigrants and refugees in building career pathways, professional networks, and job-search skills through coaching, training, and partnerships with employers and workforce-system organizations.

About the JBS Workforce Transition Initiative:

The Welcoming Center is launching the largest workforce transition initiative in its 20+ year history in response to the partial closure of the JBS Souderton food processing facility. Approximately 1,300 of the facility’s roughly 1,700 workers were laid off. Many affected workers are immigrants or have limited English proficiency and are navigating sudden unemployment, financial uncertainty, and significant career transitions. Over 12 months, TWC expects to provide multilingual outreach, workforce navigation, employment coaching, and rapid reemployment services to approximately 200 dislocated workers. Team members joining this initiative will have a rare opportunity to help workers and families move from disruption toward stability and meaningful employment.

Position Overview:

The Rapid Response Workforce Transition Project Manager serves as the overall leader of TWC’s JBS Workforce Transition Initiative. The Project Manager translates a complex, multi-stakeholder rapid-response effort into coordinated action, measurable outcomes, and high-quality participant services. The role oversees project operations, partnership coordination, contract deliverables, budget monitoring, data-informed improvement, and team performance. The Project Manager directly supervises the Manager of Coaching Operations and leads the project team in close collaboration with workforce boards, funders, community partners, and internal departments. The Project Manager also coordinates closely with TWC’s employer engagement staff to ensure employer opportunities and outreach are aligned with project participants’ skills, language access needs, and reemployment goals. The position does not own TWC’s overall employer engagement strategy.

Essential Functions:

• Provide overall operational leadership for the JBS Workforce Transition Initiative, establishing clear priorities, workplans, timelines, decision-making processes, and accountability across the project team.
• Directly supervise the Manager of Coaching Operations through regular 1:1s, goal setting, performance feedback, workload prioritization, professional development, and recommendations regarding hiring, performance management, corrective action, and other employment decisions.
• Lead coordination with Philadelphia Works, Montgomery County workforce partners, funders, community organizations, and other stakeholders to align roles, referral pathways, service expectations, and project deliverables.
• Serve as the central point of coordination across TWC teams, including Work Readiness, Employer Engagement, Strategy & Impact, Finance, Human Resources, Communications, and Technology.
• Coordinate with TWC employer engagement staff to align participant needs, skills, language access considerations, and job-readiness information with employer outreach and referral efforts, while maintaining clear responsibility for project-level rather than TWC-wide employer engagement strategy.
• Monitor project scope, performance measures, participant flow, expenditures, staffing capacity, risks, and deadlines; identify issues early and lead timely problem solving.
• Partner with Finance and organizational leadership to monitor the project budget, allowable costs, spending pace, projections, and documentation required by contracts or funders.
• Oversee accurate and timely program data collection and reporting in Salesforce and other required systems. Work with Strategy & Impact staff to review trends, assess progress, and strengthen service delivery.
• Ensure outreach, intake, navigation, coaching, employer referrals, and follow-up processes operate as a coordinated participant journey, supported by effective project procedures, escalation pathways, communication routines, and documentation practices.
• Lead project hiring, onboarding, team development, and change management in coordination with Human Resources and department leadership.
• Represent TWC professionally in stakeholder meetings, funder conversations, community events, and project presentations. Communicate both successes and challenges clearly and responsibly.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications & Competencies:

• Four or more years of progressively responsible experience in workforce development, program or project management, human services, nonprofit operations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success leading complex projects involving multiple teams, external stakeholders, timelines, deliverables, and competing priorities.
• At least two years of staff supervision experience, including goal setting, coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent an organization with funders, workforce-system partners, community partners, and internal leaders.
• Experience monitoring budgets, grant or contract requirements, performance indicators, and reporting obligations.
• Demonstrated ability to use data to identify operational issues, guide decisions, communicate progress, and improve participant outcomes.
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills in dynamic environments where information, priorities, or participant needs may change quickly, with the ability to balance urgency, quality, accountability, empathy, and sustainable staff practices.
• Commitment to equity-centered, culturally responsive, participant-driven practice and to recognizing participants as agents of the change they seek.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, and data-management or CRM platforms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of public workforce systems, rapid response, dislocated-worker services, WIOA programs, or regional workforce boards.
• Experience designing or managing workforce services for immigrants, refugees, English Language Learners, or workers experiencing economic disruption.
• Experience coordinating across coaching, employer engagement, training, supportive services, and data/reporting functions.
• Professional proficiency in Spanish or Haitian Creole.
• Salesforce experience.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with immigrant, refugee, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities; relevant lived experience is valued.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

Work Schedule: Full-time position expected to work 40 hours per week, typically Monday-Friday. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for participant services, events, or project needs.

Travel Requirements: Local travel throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, including Montgomery County, for partner meetings, workforce events, community outreach, and participant services.

Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer; standing or moving during events and onsite activities; and occasional lifting of 5-10 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made in accordance with applicable law.

Featured Benefits:

The Welcoming Center offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support employee well-being and work-life balance, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and personal days
• Paid holidays
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• Commuter benefits
• Hybrid work schedule

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The Welcoming Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who bring diverse perspectives and experiences relevant to the communities TWC services.

Disclaimer:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Employment at The Welcoming Center is at-will and may be terminated at any time, with or without cause or notice, by either the employee or the organization.

How to Apply:

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@welcomingcenter.org with the subject line: “Rapid Response Workforce Transition Project Manager.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No phone calls please.

The Welcoming Center offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support employee well-being and work-life balance, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and personal days
• Paid holidays
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• Commuter benefits
• Hybrid work schedule

Professional proficiency in Spanish or Haitian Creole.