Workforce & Community Partnerships Manager

KBR•Newark, DE

About The Position

KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions is seeking a Workforce & Community Partnerships Manager to develop and execute stakeholder engagement strategies that foster positive relationships among the project, local communities, elected officials, government agencies, economic development organizations, educational institutions, and other key stakeholders. The role is also responsible for establishing and managing a regional workforce development program that supports project execution and the client’s long-term operational staffing objectives. The manager develops partnerships with local colleges and universities, trade schools, apprenticeship programs, workforce development agencies, and community organizations to create sustainable pipelines of skilled craft professionals, technicians, engineers, and future operations personnel. The program includes workforce forecasting, labor market analysis, recruitment coordination, local workforce participation initiatives, apprenticeship integration, diversity and inclusion programs, performance reporting, and training and workforce-readiness coordination throughout project execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Human Resources, Communications, Political Science, Public Relations, Community Development, Business Administration, or a related field.
At least 10 years of experience in community relations, government affairs, public engagement, external affairs, corporate communications, or stakeholder management.
Demonstrated experience supporting large capital projects exceeding $500 million in total installed cost.
Strong understanding of government processes, public engagement practices, and stakeholder management principles.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholder groups, including elected officials, community leaders, regulatory agencies, and business organizations.
Experience managing complex public issues and stakeholder concerns in highly visible project environments.
Strong organizational, planning, and project management capabilities.
Familiarity with EPC/EPCM project delivery models and large construction programs.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or other GMP-regulated facilities.
Prior experience in an Owner’s Representative or PMC role for major capital projects exceeding $1 billion TIC.
Experience with economic development, workforce development, and community investment initiatives.
Experience with public consultation programs, permitting support, and regulatory stakeholder engagement.
Experience working with EPC/EPCM project delivery organizations and owner-led capital programs.
Experience or familiarity with decarbonization, energy transition, or sustainability.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive workforce development strategy for project construction, commissioning, startup, and operational staffing requirements, aligned with project growth and business objectives.
Establish and manage partnerships with universities, community colleges, technical schools, apprenticeship programs, and workforce development organizations to create talent pipelines for skilled trades, technical, engineering, manufacturing, and operational roles.
Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, economic development agencies, workforce boards, nonprofit organizations, chambers of commerce, and public-sector partners.
Coordinate local workforce participation, workforce readiness, internships, apprenticeships, co-op programs, and targeted recruitment initiatives to meet staffing needs and maximize local economic benefits.
Monitor labor market conditions, workforce availability, demographic trends, training capacity, and competitive hiring risks; provide workforce forecasts and recommendations to project leadership.
Develop and manage community outreach initiatives, educational programs, workforce awareness campaigns, STEM engagement activities, and community investment programs.
Support workforce diversity objectives by working with educational institutions, professional organizations, community groups, and recruitment partners to expand access to employment and training for underrepresented populations.
Coordinate workforce readiness activities for the transition from construction to operations, including training, onboarding, skills development, and workforce mobilization.
Establish key performance indicators and reporting mechanisms for workforce development outcomes, recruitment effectiveness, local hiring participation, community engagement, partnership performance, and workforce readiness.