Director, Field Implementation Team, Maryland Strategies & Partnerships (Apply By: November 22, 2024)

About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: By 2033, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.  

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.   

We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.  

DEIBW at JFF  

Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and well-being (DEIBW) are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We employ and build diverse teams across race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, age, and lived experiences and are constantly working toward ensuring these differences are celebrated and included. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and equitable career advancement opportunities. Learn more about what DEIBW looks like in practice at JFF. 

 We seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve, particularly individuals from populations who have been explicitly or implicitly excluded from the workforce. Knowing its importance to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members, we aspire to attract and retain a diverse team and welcome people of all backgrounds to apply to our open roles. JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply. 

About the Team 

As a part of JFF’s Solutions Design and Delivery unit, the Field Implementation Team (FIT) plays a central role in advancing JFF’s mission by applying capabilities, expertise, and talent to implement field-facing programs, initiatives, and strategic solutions.  As the largest functional team at JFF with more than 150 members, the Field Implementation Team consists of key project personnel who design and deliver technical assistance, coaching, asset mapping, community of practice facilitation, design of convenings or events, and other key lines of service. FIT members may be largely dedicated to projects and programs sponsored or led by a specific Center or Practice, or  JFFLabs team. 

About the Position:
JFF is seeking a Director to lead JFF’s State of Maryland Strategies & Partnerships initiative, driving efforts to transform the state’s workforce system and promote economic advancement. This role will help address critical workforce gaps in key sectors like IT, healthcare, and education, where many positions remain unfilled. Reporting to a FIT Cluster Director on the Field Implementation Team and working closely with the Senior Director, Workforce and Regional Economies Practice, the Director will manage and lead multiple project teams and delegate work across various projects. The Director will foster collaborative partnerships with colleagues within FIT and across different Practices and Centers at JFF and will direct project teams across multiple workstreams in addition to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across these initiatives. As a strategic, equity-oriented project leader, you will set ambitious and achievable goals to drive JFF’s influence in the state of Maryland and will advance JFF’s Workforce and Regional Economies (WRE) strategy by leading project teams and aligning workstreams with JFF’s mission. As a Director on the Field Implementation Team, you could be assigned to other portfolios of project work sponsored by different Practices and Centers at JFF, based on the organization’s evolving needs and your skill sets and interests. 

The Director will oversee JFF’s efforts across Maryland through these workstreams with potential for portfolio growth: 

1. Sector Strategies & Apprenticeship – Expanding registered apprenticeship programs in IT, healthcare, and education, while strengthening talent pipelines through industry partnerships. 

1. Career Coaching – Implementation of statewide framework for career and apprenticeship counseling in high schools, enhancing access to career-connected learning experiences. 

This position represents an exciting opportunity for an experienced project and program leader who is deeply knowledgeable of Maryland’s workforce development landscape, including apprenticeships, career coaching, and sector strategies. This Director will be energized by helping deepen our reach and impact in the region with their knowledge, skills and expertise. We encourage applicants who are eager to drive visionary, impactful contributions and are comfortable leading multiple cross-functional, complex projects with different workstreams to apply.  

Because of the region-specific nature of this work, this role is completely remote for candidates based in Maryland or those in the surrounding areas with depth of experience in sector strategies, apprenticeships, and related programs within the state of Maryland.  

What You’ll Do 

Lead impactful project and program efforts:  

• Develop and lead multiple complex projects from concept through implementation around funded workstreams in the state of Maryland  

• Serve as the primary liaison between JFF and stakeholders across Maryland, including state agency representatives, local workforce boards, and local education agencies (LEAs) 

• Leverage your domain knowledge and expertise to provide guidance and strategic support to partners, and maximize JFF’s impact and success in the field    

• Direct project workstreams and ensure on-time completion of deliverables overseeing timelines, budgets, work plans, project teams, and partners   

• Facilitate and lead communities of practice and small to large group meetings, trainings, and presentations for diverse stakeholders   

• Contribute to, and shape the development of frameworks, models, and repeatable solutions   

• Identify, and recommend creative solutions to mitigate risks and ensure projects are on track and driving toward meaningful impact   

Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion and results:  

• Proactively build relationships and trust with internal and external stakeholders, including but not limited to, workforce boards, employers, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship partners and community-based organizations (mainly within the state of Maryland) encouraging them to share their collective expertise and knowledge  

• Understand and respond to the challenges that leaders and systems face in building sector-specific strategies, work-based learning opportunities, career-connected learning experiences, and developing and driving technical assistance strategies across the state of Maryland 

• Conceptualize and develop tools, resources, and strategies to effectively solve problems and eliminate barriers to progress for our partners   

• Give and receive feedback related to project work, and elevate situations as needed, to ensure effective and consistent delivery of JFF’s programs and services  

• Center diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at all stages of designing and executing programmatic initiatives and projects    

• Lead and support staff on project teams to develop subject matter and functional expertise (e.g., ensuring that people have project work aligned with their desire to develop expertise.)   

Contribute to JFF's programmatic strategy:  

• Collaborate with various teams across JFF to shape and implement bodies of work that support JFF strategic goals/mission and respond to and influence developments in the field   

• Contribute to the identification and selection of business partners, define scopes of work, make staffing recommendations, and contribute to business development activities aligned with JFF’s strategic goals and priorities 

• Synthesize insights and patterns from engagements to identify and cultivate solutions and innovations into practice   

• Develop operational and impact plans for future work based on learnings over time   

• Design, launch, and scale work rooted in closing equity gaps and driving systemic change in partnership with Practices, Centers, or JFF Labs   

Who You Are   

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work.  

• You bring deep expertise in Maryland’s workforce development landscape, with strong command of strategies to build sector partnerships, expand apprenticeship opportunities, and deliver technical assistance to disconnected populations (Director II roles at JFF typically requires 12+ years of professional experience across full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance work.) 

• You have experience leading state or regional workforce initiatives and have knowledge of sector strategies, coupled with extensive experience consulting with workforce development boards and partners 

• You excel at developing and implementing technical assistance strategies that address both business needs and social impact goals  

• As an engaging communicator, you tailor your messaging to different audiences and model effective relationship-building across internal teams and external stakeholders 

• You are adept at leveraging collective knowledge to enhance outcomes and can build relationships with and proactively include people whose identities and backgrounds differ from your own 

• You have exceptional organizational skills and a keen attention to detail, with the ability to direct and lead multiple complex projects simultaneously and delegate work across various projects to support team and organizational priorities   

• You are a strategic thinker with the ability to identify competency and performance gaps across teams and identify and implement professional development opportunities to build the capacities of your direct or indirect reports 

• You propose creative ideas and innovative solutions to advance current thinking for your team while also ensuring that decisions, teams and processes respect individual differences and support diversity across the team 

• You set ambitious and achievable goals to deliver high-quality outputs and results for multiple initiatives while empowering, inspiring and holding self and others accountable for delivering on commitments consistently 

• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work    

• You are energized by stewarding JFF’s DEIBW values and practices within your day-to-day work, including embracing the differences and celebrating the diversity that each individual brings to JFF  

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.   

 The hiring range for this role is $120,000 - $150,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Director II salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands. 

To Apply  

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Jen Horton, Senior Director, Workforce and Regional Economies Practice, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. 

We are accepting applications through Friday, November 22nd. Applications submitted by that date will be reviewed and candidates will receive updates on their candidacy by the end of the week of December 2, 2024.  

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at [email protected].