Senior Partnerships Manager (Central Texas)

Job description:

ABOUT SKILLPOINT ALLIANCE:

Skillpoint Alliance is a non-profit workforce education agency that provides training in high-demand occupations and industries. Skillpoint Alliance is at the intersection of industry, education, and the community. We provide pathways to career success for Central Texans while meeting employers’ needs for a qualified workforce. Our vision is that every citizen has access to a successful career pathway.

SUMMARY:

The Senior Partnerships Manager (Central Texas) plays a pivotal and highly visible role in fostering relationships with local employers and the broader public across Central Texas, which includes the Williamson County, Travis County, and Bell County (Killeen) region. This position is tasked with establishing Skillpoint Alliance's presence in Central Texas, promoting the organization's mission, and cultivating collaborative partnerships that drive its success. The role involves building strong industry connections to link Skillpoint students with meaningful employment opportunities.

Additionally, the Partnerships Manager will contribute to resource development efforts by securing sustainable funding to support Skillpoint’s training programs and special initiatives.

This position also oversees Skillpoint's marketing and social media strategies to engage potential applicants, community partners, and employers effectively.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Oversee Student Success & Student Employment

• Directly supervise the Student Success Coordinator and Student Employment Coordinator who serve the North Austin training site, as well as the Del Valle Student Success/Student Employment Coordinator.
• Oversee the accurate management and reporting of student employment outcomes data.
• Provide student accountability support to Student Success and Student Success/Student Employment Coordinators (ex: issuing warning letters, navigating student obstacles to success).
• Collaborate closely with Student Employment Coordinators to achieve a target of 90% employment rate for graduates in their respective fields, overseeing graduate follow-ups, data management, and reporting.

Employer and Partner Engagement, Central Texas

• Initiate, develop, and manage partnerships with employers in the electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and manufacturing industries to promote student employment opportunities.
• Schedule industry mentor visits, site tours, job walks, and financial literacy presentations for all of Skillpoint’s Central Texas programs and add them to the cohort calendars. Student Employment and Student Success/Student Employment Coordinators will attend the financial literacy presentations, mentor visits, and site tours with the students.
• Maintain relationships with local financial institutions and schedule financial literacy presentations for Skillpoint classes.
• Gather regular feedback from employers hiring Skillpoint graduates through initiatives such as industry advisory committee meetings to incorporate employer and apprenticeship program input and strengthen Skillpoint’s programs.
• Maintain an up-to-date database of employer contacts through Monday.com , Skillpoint’s CRM tool.
• Represent Skillpoint at partner events, including those that may be held on weekends and evenings.

Event Planning & Fundraising

• Lead the planning and execution of Skillpoint Alliance's Annual Employer Partner Luncheon & Fundraiser, including securing sponsorships, auction items, and other necessary resources.
• Develop and implement fundraising initiatives to secure unrestricted funding, including Online Giving Campaigns and special events such as Amplify Austin, Giving Tuesday, End of Year Giving, and third-party fundraising events (e.g., Give-back events, Kendra Scott, Consuela).
• Schedule, plan, and facilitate employer advisory committee meetings.
• Prepare letters of interest and other sponsorship-related correspondence.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities from individuals and businesses to support Skillpoint Alliance’s programs.
• Maintain professional communication with donors and stakeholders.
• Assist in grant writing by coordinating letters of support from employer partners.
• Create invitations for all graduation events and ensure employers are invited to attend and engage with graduates.

Social Media Outreach

• Work with the COO, social media contractor, and PR firm to develop, execute, and oversee the organization’s social media and online communication strategies across platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Instagram, which requires frequent weekly posting, while staying up-to-date on the latest technologies and best practices in social media management.
• Attend weekly meetings with the PR firm to align on strategy and initiatives.
• Provide direction to the social media contractor in creating graphics for social media and print, as well as developing marketing materials.
• Develop and distribute mass communications, graduation registration, and marketing content using a marketing automation platform.
• Ensure all posts are made frequently across social media channels and are timely and relevant (ex: posting on social media to celebrate class graduations).

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

Qualified applicants will possess:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Education, Administration, Human Services, or a related field with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• 3-5 years of Management experience.
• 3-5 years of employer partnership, and/or recruiting and/or career counseling
• Outgoing, proactive, and collaborative attitude with the ability to work independently and support team members.
• Strong organization, time management, and customer service skills.
• Excellent communication skills with all organizational levels, from senior leadership to students.

HIGHLY PREFERRED:

• Existing connections and/or knowledge of electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and manufacturing industries.
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Must be able to proactively manage a high volume of work requiring minimal supervision.
• Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills, including public speaking, meeting facilitation, and e-communications.
• Frequent, local travel is required for this position. After-hours or weekend travel may be required.
• Existing connections and/or knowledge of electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and manufacturing industries.
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Characterized as primarily sedentary work requiring exertion up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amounts of force, frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects
• Significant computer work and a heavy volume of phone work are required
• Able to work a flexible schedule, including occasional weekends and evenings
• Local travel is required for this position; reliable transportation is required.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Management: 5 years (Required)
• Relationship management: 5 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

• Simple IRA 3% match ● AD&D insurance ● Dental insurance ● Employee assistance program ● Health insurance ● Life insurance ● Paid sick time ● Paid time off ● Professional development assistance ● Vision insurance