Senior Program Manager, Apprenticeships

Blue Origin•Southgate, WA

About The Position

The Senior Program Manager, Apprenticeships will own the end-to-end development of Blue Origin’s apprenticeship strategy and partner relationships. The role will create pathways into aerospace careers by working with high schools, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, community and technical colleges, workforce boards, and Blue Origin’s apprenticeship intermediary. The goal is to help meet hiring needs in manufacturing, technical, and operational roles with skilled talent trained to Blue Origin’s standards. This is a build role focused on launching programs and apprenticeship pathways from inception. The successful candidate will define the strategy, design programs, develop relationships with community and business partners, and deliver measurable hiring outcomes. The role partners with Talent Acquisition, Early Career, Learning and Development, Manufacturing and Operations leaders, HR Business Partners, Finance, and Legal to align pathways with workforce plans across Blue Origin sites.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience, including military experience.
8+ years of progressive experience in workforce development, economic development, community outreach, talent development, or related fields.
Experience in community outreach and building partnerships with schools, colleges, workforce boards, employers, or community organizations.
Working knowledge of economic and workforce development principles, including regional labor markets, public workforce systems, and funding mechanisms.
Proven ability to establish program goals and metrics, evaluate results, and use data to drive decisions.
Experience influencing and partnering with senior business leaders and external stakeholders.
Strong project management, communication, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to travel as much as 40% to support partners, sites, and program activities.

Nice To Haves

Experience creating registered apprenticeships or other earn-and-learn programs from inception.
Experience working with an apprenticeship intermediary or sponsor organization.
Knowledge of Department of Labor and state apprenticeship requirements.
Experience in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, defense, engineering, or other highly technical industries.
Ability to manage multiple workstreams, lead through ambiguity, and deliver in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
Experience securing grants or public funding for workforce programs.
Experience building relationships with CTE programs and community or technical colleges in multiple regions.
Experience managing program budgets and vendor relationships.
Master’s degree in Education, Workforce Development, Public Administration, Business, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end strategy, design, launch, and growth of apprenticeship programs, from initial concept through participants’ first day.
Partner with Blue Origin’s apprenticeship intermediary to register, structure, and scale pathways, including occupational standards, related instruction, and on-the-job learning plans.
Work with business leaders and hiring managers to identify roles suited to apprenticeship pathways and translate workforce plans into program designs and cohort targets.
Design training programs combining classroom instruction and hands-on learning, including competencies, curriculum alignment, mentor expectations, and completion milestones.
Lead community outreach and engagement with schools, local governments, workforce boards, economic development organizations, and community groups to build awareness of aerospace careers.
Identify and pursue public and private funding opportunities, grants, and workforce development incentives.
Navigate federal and state apprenticeship requirements, including Department of Labor registration and compliance, in partnership with Legal and the apprenticeship intermediary.
Establish and track metrics such as enrollment, completion, retention, conversion to full-time employment, time to productivity, and program cost, and use data to improve outcomes.
Manage program budgets, vendor and partner agreements, and resource plans.
Collaborate with employer brand and communications partners to tell the story of the apprenticeship programs and their participants.
Provide senior leadership with regular updates and recommendations on program progress, risks, and opportunities.
Champion safety, accountability, and continuous improvement in support of Blue Origin’s Leadership Principles.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Basic and supplemental life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Short- and long-term disability.
401(k) with company match of up to 5%.
Education Support Program.
Stock options for regular employees working at least 20 hours per week.
Paid time off of up to four weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours.
Up to 14 company-paid holidays.
Depending on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions and company results or other factors.