Workforce Development Program Manager

Church at the Park • Salem, OR

2d • $73,306 - $73,306

About The Position

The Workforce Development Program Manager provides leadership, oversight, and operational management for Church at the Park’s (C@P) workforce development programming, with a primary focus on a commercial kitchen training environment. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and continuously improving curriculum, program structure, schedules, and participant experience while ensuring safe, compliant, and effective daily operations. The Program Manager supervises assigned program and kitchen staff and/or volunteers, coordinates with internal departments, and builds strong relationships with employers, community partners, and referral sources to support participant success and pathways to employment. This position advances C@P’s mission through equitable, participant-centered, trauma-informed programming that fosters dignity, belonging, skill-building, and long-term stability.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in workforce development, education, human services, culinary arts, hospitality, nonprofit management, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• Minimum three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in workforce development, adult education, job training, culinary training, human services, or related program operations.
• Minimum one (1) to two (2) years of experience supervising staff, interns, volunteers, or trainees.
• Experience designing, coordinating, and/or delivering training, curriculum, or skill-building programming for adult learners.
• Experience working with individuals facing barriers to employment, including homelessness, poverty, behavioral health challenges, substance use recovery, justice involvement, or limited employment history.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, participant-centered, and strength-based practices.
• Demonstrated ability to manage schedules, documentation, program data, and multiple operational priorities with a high level of organization and accuracy.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with participants, staff, employers, referral partners, and community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships and work effectively across teams and with external partners.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and use electronic databases, reporting tools, and program tracking systems.
• Valid Oregon driver’s license with at least three (3) years of licensed driving history and a driving record that meets C@P insurance requirements.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and assigned on-call shifts as needed.
• Ability to perform the physical requirements of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing workforce development, adult education, or job training programs.
• Experience working in or overseeing a commercial kitchen, culinary instruction, food service training, hospitality, or other hands-on skills training environment.
• Current SERV Safe Manager certification, food handler certification, or comparable food safety credential; or ability to obtain within a specified timeframe after hiring.
• Experience supporting job placement, employer engagement, work-based learning opportunities, and employment retention strategies.
• Experience tracking participant outcomes and contributing to grant, contract, or funder reporting.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills relevant to the communities served.

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains overall program structure, including participant pathways, expectations, policies/procedures, and program calendar.
• Designs, implements, and continuously improves workforce development curriculum, including culinary foundations, food safety, workplace readiness, customer service, employability skills, aligned with program goals and employer needs.
• Creates lesson plans, training materials, and skills assessments; ensures content is accessible, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and appropriate for adult learners.
• Builds and manages participant schedules, including classroom instruction, hands-on kitchen lab time, job readiness activities, and supportive services appointments.
• Coordinates certifications and training requirements such as food handler, ServSafe, or other applicable credentials, and supports participants in successful completion.
• Partners with internal teams to establish clear referral, enrollment, orientation, completion, and transition processes; supports retention through proactive engagement and problem-solving.
• Tracks participant enrollment, attendance, progress, skill attainment, credential completion, and outcomes such as program completion, job placement, and retention using approved systems and processes.
• Maintains accurate program documentation, including participant records, incident reports, and other compliance-required records, with appropriate confidentiality.
• Prepares regular internal updates and contributes to grant, contract, or funder reporting as assigned, ensuring data quality and timely submission.
• Use participant feedback, staff input, and outcome data to improve curriculum, scheduling, operations, and participant support strategies.
• Directly supervises assigned program and kitchen staff and/or volunteers, providing coaching, performance feedback, training, and accountability consistent with C@P expectations.
• Develops staffing plans and schedules to support program delivery, kitchen coverage, and participant supervision.
• Leads regular team meetings and supports clear communication, documentation, coordination, and follow-through across shifts and functions.
• Collaborates with Human Resources on hiring, onboarding, training plans, performance management, corrective action (as needed), and staff development.
• Models and reinforces professional norms and workplace readiness standards within the training environment, including communication, punctuality, teamwork, accountability, and respectful conduct.
• Supports safe, organized, and effective daily operations within the commercial kitchen training environment.
• Ensures training activities are carried out in accordance with applicable food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.
• Coordinates with relevant staff to ensure the kitchen environment, equipment, supplies, and training spaces are ready to support instruction and participant learning.
• Reinforces safe kitchen practices, proper equipment uses, sanitation standards, and professional kitchen behavior among staff and participants.
• Responds appropriately to operational issues, participant concerns, and incidents that arise during program delivery, documenting and communicating as required.
• Builds and maintains relationships with employers, workforce partners, community organizations, and referral sources to strengthen participant pathways to employment.
• Coordinates site visits, guest instruction, mock interviews, work-based learning opportunities, and job placement connections, as applicable.
• Represents C@P in community meetings and collaborative efforts related to workforce development, food security, and supportive services.
• Coordinates with internal teams to ensure warm handoffs to case management, shelter, outreach, and other support services that contribute to participant stability and success.
• Advances C@P’s mission by developing workforce programming that supports dignity, stability, and pathways toward employment for participants.
• Models and teaches respectful communication, healthy boundaries, and professional conduct within the kitchen and classroom training environment.
• Demonstrates a trauma-informed, participant-centered approach; maintains consistency, fairness, and clear expectations while supporting growth and accountability.
• Works collaboratively across C@P teams and community partners to create a coordinated network of support for participants.
• Promotes equity, diversity, and belonging in program design and delivery; supports an environment where each participant is treated with respect and dignity.

Benefits

• We offer medical, dental, vision, voluntary life insurance, and a generous paid time off (PTO) policy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager