Director of Partnerships

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 18 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 Partnerships spearheads JobsFirstNYC’s strategy to cultivate and deepen employer and industry leadership partnerships across multiple sectors. Collaborating closely with the Senior Vice President, the Director will design and implement a comprehensive citywide approach to assessing hiring needs, developing robust talent pipelines, and advancing strategies that increase access to employment and career pathways. This strategic leadership role plays a critical part in shaping JobsFirstNYC’s cross-sector initiatives and dynamic employment strategies. The Director will also build and steward multi-stakeholder relationships to ensure alignment between workforce training programs and labor market demand, ultimately enhancing employment outcomes for young adults and their communities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead JobsFirstNYC’s Strategy for Employer Partnership

• Provide strategic leadership in the design and implementation of workforce development strategy to strengthen partnerships with employers, industry associations, labor unions, and business leaders
• Cultivate and manage high-impact, sector-based partnerships that strengthen industry talent pipelines, support the implementation of demand-driven training models, and promote advancement opportunities—focusing on JobsFirstNYC’s Green Economy, Healthcare, and Technology Sector Networks, with the capacity to respond to emerging growth sectors to drive inclusive economic development.
• Collaborate with employers and workforce partners to co-design responsive, demand-driven training solutions that align with real-time labor market needs and strengthen job placement and retention outcomes
• Lead the design and facilitation of Business Leadership Councils and employer-led Task Forces across JobsFirstNYC’s Sector Networks to align employer insights with Sector Network goals, forming employer-training provider partnerships that create career pathways and increase access to employment across all JobsFirstNYC’s efforts.
• Conceptualize and deliver Industry Forums as cross-sector convenings of industry leaders, workforce partners, and other key stakeholders to inform and guide JobsFirstNYC’s broader workforce development strategies and priorities.
• Collaborate with JobsFirstNYC staff and consultants to develop and execute employer partnership strategies—providing leadership in project planning, capacity building, and the delivery of technical assistance to ensure consistent, high-impact implementation. .
• Oversee the Employer Partnership Task Force, ensuring shared tools, frameworks, and practices are developed and used across Networks to deepen collaboration between business and workforce stakeholders.
• Track and analyze labor market trends, employer insight, and employment data to support decision-making, strategy development, and continuous learning across all areas of JobsFirstNYC’s workforce portfolio.

Influencing Systems Change

• Contribute to the development and execution of strategies to expand JobsFirstNYC’s constituency, cultivate public will, and deepen public understanding of critical workforce issues through research-informed communications and narrative change tactics.
• Support a comprehensive, evidence-based effort to advance a system-wide approach to partnering with employers and promote a broader systems change agenda—leveraging JobsFirstNYC’s proven models, research, and institutional expertise—while fostering collaboration across public agencies and workforce & community partners.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to influence workforce development practice and policy at the local and regional levels, incorporating rigorous evaluation to measure impact and inform continuous improvement.

Research & Writing

• Document and analyze progress and lessons learned throughout the development and implementation of work solutions to inform the field, and for ongoing improvements.
• Conduct comprehensive background research and data analysis to support both new initiatives and existing Work Solutions efforts.
• Co-author and contribute to the creation of JobsFirstNYCwork-focused blogs, research papers, and other thought leadership materials.

Organizational-Wide Support

• Elevate awareness of JobsFirstNYC’s mission and initiatives by delivering presentations at national conferences and other public forums.
• Engage actively in coalitions and collaborative networks to advance JobsFirstNYC’s strategic objectives.
• Support the planning and coordination of JobsFirstNYC’s signature events and convenings, both new and ongoing, to foster stakeholder engagement and organizational visibility.

Work Requirements

• Willingness and ability to travel within New York City frequently.
• Work in a hybrid environment with an in-office presence three days each week.

COMPETENCIES & QUALIFICATIONS

• Personal Ethos - Deep commitment and passion for workforce equity and economic mobility.
• Professional Experience - Knowledge of and experience working in economic and workforce development in New York City. Candidates who are most likely to be successful in this position will have at least 5 years of experience in building and deepening corporate partnerships, with a track record of increasing leadership and responsibility over time.
• Content Knowledge – Strong background in industry-based workforce development, building internship, apprenticeships, and other work-based learning models, and the workforce development ecosystem.
• Communication and Adult Learning – The ability to clearly and persuasively communicate, listen and seek clarifications. Strong background in adult learning, comfortable with public speaking. Strong facilitation and writing skills.
• Professionalism – Work well in a fast-paced environment; treat others with respect and consideration. Understand business implications of decisions, align work with strategic goals, and develop strategies to achieve organizational goals.
• Teamwork – Demonstrated ability to balance team and individual responsibilities; exhibit objectivity and openness to others’ views; give and welcome feedback; and contribute to building a positive team spirit. Displays passion and optimism.
• Data Literacy – Demonstrated experience leveraging data to understand and communicate trends, inform decision-making and drive measurable impact.
• Technical Competencies – Competency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel/Sheets and PPT/Slides, and quick learner of technology systems.
• Education Background – Master’s or Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience. Candidates with a record of progressive advancement and increasing responsibility in workforce, economic development, or related fields will be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of NYC Labor Market, Economic Development, and Workforce Development systems
• Employer partnership development experience, with a record of measurable impact.
• Experience leading multi-stakeholder engagements.
• Background and experience supporting workforce development partnerships and innovation.
• Experience using Salesforce and LLMs such as ChatGPT and Claude.