Program Manager, Workforce & Industry Initiatives
About The Position
The SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF), established in 1943, supports San Diego State University's research objectives by assisting faculty and staff in securing and managing research funding. SDSU's aspiration to become an R1 premier public research university by early 2025 drives SDSURF's commitment to providing comprehensive grant services. SDSURF envisions a culture of creativity, collaboration, integrity, and respect, aiming for superior service delivery to support the university's strategic goals. Their core values include Service (professional competence, high standards, continuous improvement), Collaboration (stakeholder engagement, trust, openness, inclusion), Innovation (inspired solutions, streamlined services, proactive problem-solving), Respect (valuing individuals, open-mindedness, appreciation for diversity), and Integrity (highest ethical standards, honesty, transparency, accuracy). San Diego State University Career Services is an innovative, outcomes-focused career center recognized for its strategic partnerships and forward-thinking approach to student success and workforce development. As a significant career center, it operates at a scale reflecting the university's ambition and the regions it serves. SDSU Career Services functions at the intersection of higher education, workforce development, employer engagement, and economic mobility, managing programs funded by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) resources. The department emphasizes industry-driven strategies, workforce alignment, accountability, employment outcomes, and pathways to livable-wage careers, utilizing data-informed practices and strong partnerships to measure impact and prioritize employment outcomes.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training and administration work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs.
- Five years of progressively responsible experience in office or administrative environment
- Workforce development program coordination
- Case management practices
- Job development, business services, and employer relations
- Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
- Satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary representative, spokesperson, and lead point of contact for the grant, funding partners, stakeholders, and assigned programs.
- Provide leadership, oversight, and direction to the program team.
- Maintain accountability for the overall success of the project, including performance outcomes, contractual deliverables, compliance requirements, risk management, operational effectiveness, and participant success.
- Oversee program operations, service delivery, and workforce development activities across assigned locations, populations, and teams.
- Provide leadership, supervision, guidance, and workflow coordination for Program Managers and assigned staff.
- Assign, prioritize, adjust, and reallocate responsibilities, resources, and project activities to support program goals and operational needs.
- Ensure compliance with funding requirements, policies, regulations, reporting standards, documentation requirements, and quality assurance expectations.
- Identify, assess, mitigate, and resolve operational, programmatic, compliance, fiscal, and participant-related risks and challenges.
- Monitor project performance, participant outcomes, budgets, data integrity, and contractual requirements, implementing corrective actions and continuous improvement strategies as needed.
- Represent the project in meetings, presentations, audits, monitoring reviews, compliance reviews, and stakeholder engagements.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
- Oversee and support participant-facing service delivery, including eligibility, enrollment, case management, career development, workforce readiness, training, work-based learning, employment, and supportive service activities.
- Ensure participant services are aligned with program goals, contractual outcomes, funding requirements, and individual participant needs.
- Monitor participant progress, service quality, engagement, retention, outcomes, and barriers to success, implementing corrective actions or service adjustments as needed.
- Coordinate workforce development activities across assigned locations, populations, and teams to support participant success and program performance.
- Build and maintain relationships with participants, educational institutions, community organizations, workforce development stakeholders, and other partners that support participant access, success, and outcomes.
- Support employer engagement, job development, industry partnerships, and workforce learning opportunities aligned with participant and labor market needs.
- Build and maintain relationships with employers, industry partners, business associations, workforce boards, chambers, funders, and other workforce development stakeholders.
- Identify and cultivate employment, internship, work-based learning, training, and industry-aligned opportunities for participants.
- Represent the project in employer, industry, partner, and stakeholder engagements to promote program goals and expand opportunities for participants.
- Ensure industry relations activities are aligned with labor market needs, participant goals, employer expectations, and grant outcomes.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
