Job Summary:
The Associate Director of Program Relationship Management serves as a leader within the Relationship Management division, responsible for strengthening employer engagement strategy and ensuring consolidated funder-level reporting across the organization.
This role directly supervises the Business Relationship Team and leads the strategic alignment of talent pipeline initiatives, apprenticeships, and sector partnerships with grant commitments and performance outcomes. The Associate Director collaborates closely with the Director, the Manager of Program Relationship Management, and the Government Relationship Liaison to ensure unified external engagement and reporting integrity.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee consolidated funder reporting to ensure accuracy, timeliness, performance alignment, and cross-vertical consistency.
- Align employer outcomes, talent pipeline metrics, and grant commitments to mitigate performance risk and proactively escalate concerns.
- Directly supervise and develop the Business Relationship Team (4 staff), strengthening accountability, strategy, and results.
- Lead and modernize employer engagement strategy in alignment with LWIA 7 priorities and regional workforce demands.
- Establish and monitor KPIs across hiring events, apprenticeships, work-based learning, and sector partnerships.
- Strengthen apprenticeship frameworks and work-based learning models to support sustainable, employer-driven talent pipelines.
- Develop and cultivate sector partnership strategies aligned with real-time employer demand and placement outcomes.
- Collaborate with the Government Relationship Liaison and PRM Manager to ensure public alignment and integration with subrecipient capacity.
- Partner closely with the Associate Directors of Budgets & Guidelines and Performance to align employer strategy, fiscal oversight, compliance, and program execution.
- Support department-wide planning and serve as backup to the Director, ensuring continuity, cross-team coordination, and data integrity across reporting systems.
Required Skills:
- Demonstrated experience managing and advancing workforce development programs, including employer engagement, funder compliance, and performance outcomes.
- Executive-level verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate strategy and data to senior leadership, boards, funders, and external stakeholders.
- Proven leadership and supervisory experience, including staff development, accountability management, and cross-functional coordination.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to interpret performance data, identify risks, and implement corrective strategies.
- Experience aligning business services and talent pipeline initiatives with grant requirements, sector priorities, and organizational goals.
- Ability to manage multiple high-level priorities in a fast-paced environment while exercising sound judgment and discretion.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with demonstrated ability to collaborate across government entities, subrecipients, fiscal teams, and employer partners.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience working with data systems, CRM platforms, or performance dashboards.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Public Administration, Human Services, Organizational Leadership, or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred. Relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
- Minimum 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in workforce systems, talent development, public-sector program administration, or employer engagement strategy, including oversight of performance outcomes and funder compliance.
- At least 5 years of supervisory or leadership experience managing professional staff and/or cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrated experience operating within publicly funded environments with accountability for performance metrics, reporting, and compliance requirements.
- Familiarity with WIOA regulations, workforce performance indicators, and sector-based strategies are strongly preferred.
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods of sitting, standing, and working at a computer.
- Regular use of computers, keyboards, and standard office technology.
- Ability to communicate effectively in person, virtually, and via telephone.
- Occasional lifting and carrying of materials up to 25 pounds in support of meetings or events.
- Ability to travel throughout Cook County to Partnership network sites, sub-grantees, partners, and funders, with occasional regional or national travel as required.
- Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
