Manager, Education Partnerships & Alumni Experience

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

CityWorks DC’s mission is to dramatically improve the early career outcomes of DC youth and young adults by creating innovative programs and by mobilizing employers, educators, and city leaders to create a local, diverse talent pipeline. Our vision is that all young people in DC have the “social mobility trifecta”: 1) valuable certifications and credentials; 2) paid, relevant work experience; and 3) a supportive professional network. To provide this trifecta to all youth, especially those who are marginalized and historically overlooked, CityWorks DC focuses its work on redesigning how young people experience high school, postsecondary, and early employment into multiple pathways to high-wage, high-demand careers. To accomplish this bold vision, CityWorks DC’s theory of change has two complementary strands: 1) launch a targeted set of innovative programs that work directly with young people; and 2) lead citywide initiatives designed to create lasting change in our education and training systems for DC youth.

Run by CityWorks DC, CareerWise DC is an industry-led, youth-centered, modern youth apprenticeship program that bridges classroom and on-the-job learning to provide flexible pathways to economic mobility. CareerWise prepares youth and young adults in the DC region for competitive, high-wage careers in fields such as business operations, information technology, finance, and—most recently, in 2025—healthcare.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Manager of Education Partnerships & Alumni Experience plays a central role in developing and managing strategic partnerships with high schools, recruiting high-potential students and recent graduates into youth apprenticeships, and creating a rich apprentice experience that supports long-term success. We’re seeking an agile, collaborative, youth-centered, and partner-oriented leader who can drive apprentice recruitment strategies, deepen school partnerships, and create meaningful engagement opportunities for active apprentices and program alumni.

We are looking for someone who will champion the opportunity to participate in youth apprenticeships to young people, their schools, and local education agencies (LEAs) across DC and Northern Virginia. The Manager of Education Partnerships & Alumni Experience embodies our values (Excellence, Innovation, Equity, Youth-Centered, and Collaboration) and embeds them into their work. The Manager will thrive in a dynamic and highly collaborative team—we communicate regularly, pivot quickly based on real-time learning, and jump in wherever our skills are needed.

This full-time position reports to the Director of Programs and Partnerships and collaborates closely across the CityWorks DC team. CityWorks DC operates in a hybrid working environment, with in-person attendance at our Washington, DC office required one day/week and additional in-person days regularly required across DC and Northern Virginia for programmatic activities, team planning and retreats, and other organizational events. No relocation funding will be provided. In general, ~50% of this role will require being onsite, in-person, depending on the program cycle. No relocation funding will be provided. Strongly preferred start date is August 4, 2025.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Recruitment & School Relationships – 60%

• Design and implement a full-cycle apprentice recruitment and applicant support strategy aligned with school partners, program goals, and hiring timelines.
• Facilitate in-person and virtual school-based information sessions, family engagement events, application support workshops, and interview prep sessions.
• Provide regular recruitment and hiring updates to school partners, train school point of contact to use our applicant tracking system (the CareerWise Hub), and maintain a regular check-in cadence for collaboration and support.
• Participate in check-in calls with school or local education agency (LEA) leaders, CTE academy directors, and other K-12 stakeholders.
• Outside of peak recruitment season, conduct in-person and virtual awareness-building activities for K-12 students, families, and school staff to prepare for the next recruitment season. This includes meeting with school stakeholders, participating in college & career fairs, and engaging in other awareness-building strategies.
• Manage day-to-day operations related to apprenticeship recruitment and placement, including scheduling, meeting coordination, providing programmatic updates, and responding to inquiries by phone and email.

Alumni Engagement, Youth Advisory Council, and Special Projects – 20%

• Design and launch a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy, including events, mentorship opportunities, and post-program data collection and evaluation practices.
• Create and manage an Apprentice Speakers Bureau, preparing program alumni and current apprentices to represent the program at public events.
• Liaise with our communications team to organize speaking events.
• Continue the development of our Youth Apprentice Council, producing and monitoring an annual application process, objectives, and schedule of Council meetings, ensuring the Council’s input helps shape program practices.
• Support the design and facilitation of apprentice onboarding training, year-round professional development activities, and other program workshops.

Data Tracking, Technology Management, and Program Administration – 20%

• Maintain accurate and timely data in Salesforce, Monday.com, and other tracking systems, and ensure tech is working smoothly for CityWorks DC staff and other stakeholders.
• Analyze recruitment data and adjust strategies in real-time to meet targets and ensure equitable participation.
• Draft and distribute communications, including newsletters, updates, and event promotions.
• Support data reporting for annual KPIs, program goals, grants, and organizational learning.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Deep commitment to achieving racial equity and the belief in the promise inherent in all people
• 3-5 years of relevant work experience creating and implementing youth recruiting and engagement processes and/or managing youth-centered or similar programs
• Experience working directly with youth and a track record of building rapport with and influencing youth in the secondary and/or post-secondary education age group (ages 16-25), strongly preferred
• Ability to cultivate trust and build/manage strong, authentic relationships with a variety of people in order to maximize outcomes
• Experience building and managing strong external partnerships; experience liaising to schools and LEAs is a plus
• Work experience in or knowledge of DC high schools and/or career and technical education, preferred
• Exceptional organizational skills, detail orientation, and project management skills; able to juggle multiple, competing tasks and deadlines
• Track record of developing and executing project/work plans with clear objectives and benchmarks
• Strong verbal and written communication skills on email, phone, and in-person
• Highly empathy-driven and human-centered approach
• Demonstrated experience in meeting and exceeding ambitious targets
• Passion for youth development and desire to learn about education and workforce-related topics
• Excellent skills in Google Suite and Microsoft Office
• Comfort using client relationship management (CRM) and data collection platforms such as Salesforce and project management platforms such as Monday.com; comfort using or quickly learning other administrative/operational systems
• Initiative and proactive problem-solving skills; willingness to take on unexpected tasks and responsibilities
• Reliable transportation to travel to in-person activities across DC and Northern Virginia, required

It is the policy of CityWorks DC to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by applicable law.