Director of Workforce Development
About The Position
St. Francis House (SFH), the Commonwealth’s largest day shelter for adults experiencing homelessness and poverty, seeks a Director of Workforce Development to lead its $1.4 million department and 11-member team. The department includes the Sullivan Family Moving Ahead Program (MAP), a structured 14-week employment readiness and life-skills program, and Employment Services, which offers individualized job search, training, education, wellness, and life-skills support. An on-site boutique provides professional attire to guests. Reporting to the Vice President of Programs & Services, the Director will guide workforce strategy across MAP and Employment Services, strengthen coordination and accountability, and help the department respond to a changing job market. The role is hands-on and highly visible, with responsibility for public contracts and partnerships across Boston’s workforce, recovery, and human-services networks. The Director will establish goals and measures of success, deepen employer and community relationships, and help shape potential program growth as SFH awaits decisions on new funding. Programs are guided by SFH’s person-centered, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed Philosophy of Care.
Requirements
- At least five years of progressive leadership experience in workforce development, including success leading established programs, managing multidisciplinary teams, and driving measurable outcomes in a complex direct-service environment.
- Strong knowledge of employment readiness, training, placement, and retention.
- Strong people leadership skills, including coaching and developing staff, encouraging teamwork, setting clear expectations, building trust, and fostering accountability.
- Experience working with people facing homelessness or other significant barriers to employment and integrating supportive services such as behavioral health, recovery, and housing into employment programs.
- Experience with budget management, public contracts, funders, data, and performance measurement.
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, public health, public administration, vocational rehabilitation, or a related field.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with WIOA, MassHire, career centers, and related workforce systems.
- Master’s degree preferred.
- Lived experience or experience facing historic barriers to competitive employment is welcomed.
Responsibilities
- Lead workforce development strategy across MAP and Employment Services, aligning programs around shared goals and ensuring coordination and accountability.
- Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary team, including direct supervision of the MAP and Employment Services Managers, Wellness and Life Skills Coach, and Program Assistant.
- Oversee a $1.4 million budget combining federal, state, city, and philanthropic funding; manage compliance, reporting, renewals, and quality assurance in coordination with finance and contracts teams.
- Serve on SFH’s leadership team, contribute to organization-wide planning and decision-making, and maintain a visible, hands-on presence in program operations.
- Establish performance goals and measures for employment, income, retention, program quality, and participant outcomes, and use data to drive continuous improvement.
- Build and sustain relationships with training providers, recovery and housing nonprofits, funders, and community partners; identify opportunities for collaboration, funding, and program models.
- Deepen employer engagement and develop workforce pathways responsive to labor market demand and leading to sustainable employment and career advancement.
- Ensure programs reflect SFH’s person-centered, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed Philosophy of Care.
Benefits
- Competitive benefits package
- Generous paid time off
- Retirement benefits
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
