Director of Work Solutions

ABOUT JOBSFIRSTNYC

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. Our innovative approach to developing new partnership models has helped shape public policy, private philanthropic investments, and the practices of employers, colleges, workforce development service providers, high schools, and others. Over the last 19 years, JobsFirstNYC has worked with more than 200 organizations and institutions across New York City and State to build innovative solutions that connect young adults to economic opportunities.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Work Solutions leads JobsFirstNYC’s dynamic portfolio of citywide sector and employer partnerships—initiatives that identify, design, and advance practices and policies that achieve better outcomes for both employers and workers. This role is an opportunity to turn cross-sector collaboration into social impact by driving solutions that respond to labor market demand, shift hiring practices, and expand access to economic opportunity for jobseekers who are out of school and out of work, underemployed, or off-track to graduate high school career-ready.

The Director develops and manages cross-sector initiatives from design through execution. This includes shaping employer mobilization strategy, stewarding institutional partnerships, overseeing project implementation, and coordinating teams, consultants, and external collaborators. The Director plays a key role in connecting labor market insights and business intelligence to JobsFirstNYC’s systems change strategies, ensuring that our initiatives remain responsive to real-time employer needs and to the growing impact of AI and automation.

The Director of Work Solutions oversees a growing portfolio of citywide partnerships focused on employer-defined skills, sector strategies, and future-of-work readiness. The ideal candidate will bring labor market fluency, coalition-building instincts, and a clear vision for how business, training systems, and policy must evolve in a changing economy.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Work Solutions Portfolio

• Lead the design, execution, and continuous improvement of JobsFirstNYC’s Work Solutions, including large-scale workforce development initiatives with hundreds of partners that advance systems-level impact.
• Guide strategic direction for employer partnerships and cross-sector alignment strategies that improve how the workforce ecosystem responds to economic and industry trends.
• Advance labor market intelligence efforts and shape systemwide approaches to aligning skills in demand with public education, training, and talent development infrastructure.
• Integrate insights on AI, automation, and digital transformation to support the workforce field to anticipate disruption and evolve readiness strategies accordingly.
• Convene and activate employer leadership councils, roundtables, and multi-stakeholder coalitions to convert labor market demand into shared practices and aligned investment.
• Supervise internal and external teams to ensure Work Solutions initiatives contribute to field learning, organizational strategy, and long-term impact.
• Identify new investments and strategic partnerships that scale solutions and impact across sectors.

Research, Writing, and Policy Influence

• Capture and document progress and lessons learned from the development and implementation of JobsFirstNYC’s Work Solutions strategies and partnerships.
• Conduct background research and analysis to inform the evolution of Work Solutions partnerships, employer strategies, and labor market alignment initiatives.
• Author and support the development of JobsFirstNYC Work Solutions blogs, research, publications, and learning products.
• Translate labor market data and employer insights into recommendations that inform institutional practice and public investment.
• Contribute to JobsFirstNYC’s policy influence by shaping practice-informed recommendations and participating in coalitions focused on workforce systems, economic development, and AI readiness.

Organizational Advancement

• Represent JobsFirstNYC’s Work Solutions portfolio at conferences, convenings, and other public forums.
• Participate in coalitions, task forces, and cross-project efforts to integrate employer partnership and economic development strategies across the organization.
• Support signature events and convenings with planning, coordination, and execution to maximize impact and visibility.
• Coordinate with internal teams to align Work Solutions with all JobsFirstNYC’s projects and broader strategy, and contribute to funding proposals, reports, and deliverables.
• Perform other duties as required to advance the mission and overall effectiveness of JobsFirstNYC’s initiatives.

COMPETENCIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Leadership and Strategic Implementation: 7+ years of experience in workforce and economic development, with a proven record of bridging real-time employer demand with broader labor market intelligence to drive systemic impact.
• Project and Team Management: Project and Team Management: Proven ability to design and execute complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives and supervise internal staff, consultants, and external collaborators to deliver high-quality results.
• Systems Alignment and Improvement: Demonstrated success in coordinating education, workforce, and economic development systems to dynamically meet labor market movements and strengthen career pathways.
• Labor Market and AI Proficiency: Deep understanding of labor market dynamics and the impact of AI, automation, and digital transformation on workforce readiness and industry evolution.
• Strategic Communication and Facilitation: Excellent writing and facilitation skills to engage business leaders and institutional partners, with the ability to translate complex data into practice-informed research and policy.
• Analytical and Insight-Driven: Ability to synthesize labor market data and employer intelligence to inform organizational strategy and large-scale public or private investment.
• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree or comparable professional experience in workforce development, economic development, or a related field.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Experience in partnership development within workforce think tanks, intermediary organizations, or economic development agencies.
• Skilled in applying Generative AI or LLMs to optimize organizational research and productivity.
• Proficiency in using Salesforce and Asana, or similar software, to manage complex workflows and track project outcomes.
• Experience with fundraising, grant reporting, and revenue development.

This position at JobsFirstNYC comes at an exciting period of growth in the organization’s history. It is an ideal fit for someone with a commitment to driving efforts of larger systems change who is interested in designing and implementing more effective employer partnerships and workforce development approaches at scale that result in increased economic opportunity for all people.

JobsFirstNYC offers a generous benefit package.