Associate Director, Workforce

Education Strategy Group•Washington, DC

19h•Remote

About The Position

Education Strategy Group (ESG) is a mission-driven consulting firm that works with America’s education, business, and civic leaders to expand economic opportunity and mobility by increasing educational attainment. Founded in 2012, ESG supports the preparation, entry, and success of individuals from K-12 through postsecondary education to build a more equitable system, open economic doors for all, and strengthen our democracy. ESG specializes in strengthening the transition points that have the highest stakes for youth and adults and the highest benefit for states, communities, and economies. We are driven by the conviction that a robust education system aligned with workforce demand leads to a stronger, more equitable society. ESG recently adopted a five-year Greater Impact Plan, which establishes an ambitious vision and clear expectations for the work the organization will undertake and the impact it will seek to have on the nation’s education and workforce systems. Within this plan, ESG has made increasing postsecondary attainment its north star, with a specific emphasis on increasing attainment rates among students of color and those from low-income backgrounds. Building demand-driven, high-quality career pathways is essential to helping these young learners – irrespective of their race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic background - successfully transition from high school to postsecondary education to earn a credential that opens doors to economic and career success. As a firm, we bring deep experience leading policy development, advocacy, and implementation work in the K-12, postsecondary, and workforce sectors. We are a virtual firm that enables our staff to work where they have built their lives. Position Associate Directors play an integral role in designing and deploying technical assistance across a variety of policy and practice issues, working in close partnership with philanthropy and other organizations that bring complementary expertise, and supporting the firm’s impact and business growth. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in multiple K12, higher education, workforce and/or employer-facing settings—or in organizations that serve individuals in those settings—including bringing multi-sector actors together around a common vision, shaping policies and practices that support learner success, bridge opportunity gaps, and contribute to economic mobility and vitality within a community.

Requirements

Between 7-10 years’ professional experience working in a multi-state or national context from within a business, industry, or workforce organization, including but not limited to a chamber of commerce, economic development organization, intermediary organization, or postsecondary institution, developing and leading work to develop demand-driven career pathways.
Understanding of current and emerging issues in talent and workforce development, including effective strategies for building skills and pathways, talent ecosystems, and innovative approaches to enabling partnerships between businesses and educational partners.
Skills in identifying and analyzing workforce data, including labor market trends, skill gaps, and employer needs.
Experience designing and executing equity-driven solutions to ensure students and adults of color, low-income students, and first-generation college students are successful in their paths to and through postsecondary education and training and into the workforce.
Knowledge of economic and workforce development, and education policy at the federal, state, and local levels, and the ability to translate policy into actionable strategies.
Proven track record of establishing and supporting partnerships between employers, educational institutions, and community organizations.
Experience developing and growing relationships with employers and business-serving organizations, funders, partners, clients, and experts.
Experience supporting strategic planning and/or business development processes.
Excellent organizational skills and keen attention to detail, with demonstrated experience and ability to prioritize work and manage time on multiple projects and tasks to meet deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively—candidates should be self-motivated and comfortable within a largely virtual working environment, and also enthusiastic team players open to feedback and collaboration.
Well-rounded interpersonal skill set, with the presence and capacity to build relationships, work effectively in teams, and facilitate joint problem-solving with clients and within ESG.
Curiosity, eagerness, and the ability to develop new knowledge and skills.
Ability to travel to support projects as needed.
Experience managing and coaching consultants or a small team, with demonstrated experience delegating to maximize efficiency and enable staff growth.

Responsibilities

Leading multiple, high-profile projects within the talent development and workforce arena, contributing to the firm’s overall efforts to expand economic opportunity through strengthened institutions and systems.
Designing and deploying high-quality technical assistance to a range of clients, including assessment of their strengths and gaps to develop recommendations for improvement and support execution of those recommendations.
Organizing and facilitating national, state, district, and community-level convenings of partners to advance their efforts to strengthen the state and regional talent ecosystems.
Building and maintaining strong relationships with practitioners, policymakers, advocates, and philanthropy to expand ESG’s opportunities and strengthen our reputation in the field.
Expanding the firm’s visibility through presentations, written products, and partnerships.
Serving as a thought partner to ESG’s other portfolios of work and engaging in team problem-solving across the firm to help design and execute projects that help more learners earn a high-value credential and find a job with a family-sustaining wage.
Managing staff and consultants to deliver high-quality assistance.
Performing other duties as assigned.