Human Services Program Administrator

Hiring Range: $72,597.46 to $97,246.50

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

The City of Alexandria is bordered by Washington D.C. and the Potomac River, Arlington and Fairfax counties, and Maryland. The small city has a cosmopolitan feel with 150,000 people living within its 15.75 square miles. At the Department of Community and Human Services, we provide essential safety net services to help city residents enjoy a sense of well-being, safety and self-sufficiency. Our behavioral health programs provide compassionate services that support self-determination and recovery. The beauty of our diverse and resilient people and our commitment to race and social equity, coupled with a historic district dating to 1749, charming waterfront, vibrant arts community and unique places for foodies and shopping, make the City of Alexandria a uniquely wonderful place to live, work and play. We invite all qualified candidates to learn more and apply for our Human Services Program Administrator position.

General Statement of Duties:

The City of Alexandria's Workforce Development Center (WDC), a proud partner of the American Job Center (AJC) network, offers employment and training services to job seekers and staffing solutions to businesses. We support Alexandria’s businesses by providing labor market information consultation as well as sourcing candidates who are skilled and ready to work. Job seeker services at WDC include access to a Career Center, career readiness workshops, career assessments and customized hiring events as well as eligibility based financial assistance for vocational training to earn industry recognized credentials in high demand occupations.

The Human Services Program Administrator is a highly visible position responsible for establishing and maintaining WDC as a strong and trusted partner of workforce development to Alexandria’s business community. Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Director of the Center, the incumbent plays a vital role in strengthening and enhancing strategic workforce development partnerships across public, private, and community-based organizations. The incumbent also oversees a team of seven Employment and Training Specialists, including staff supporting the 50+ Seasoned Worker Program, a Job Developer, a Workshop Facilitator, an Employment Navigator, and three specialists dedicated to the Virginia Initiative for Employment and Work (VIEW) program.

The incumbent is responsible for the achievement of annual and monthly goals of the center related to business and community engagement as well as job placement and work readiness services to unemployed and underemployed residents of Alexandria. The incumbent provides overall management and supervision to the Business and Community Partnership team and works with other program managers to facilitate effective coordination of work readiness workshops, career pathway training, job placement, work-based learning, and related activities.

Illustrative Examples of Work:

• Establish, and nurture strong partnerships with business organizations, regional economic development organizations, industry associations, chambers of commerce and education and training institutions;
• Plan and execute effective services to meet the needs of businesses by planning and holding hiring events, job fairs, meet the industry opportunities, sharing job leads, expanding the utilization of WDC job board, and other platforms;
• Compile and analyze data from labor market surveys and WDC business transactions to identify trends in the local economy and proactively determine appropriate solutions to businesses;
• Compile and analyze data from labor market surveys and WDC business transactions to identify trends in the local economy and proactively determine appropriate solutions to businesses;
• Establish and track key performance indicators related to employer engagement, job placement, and partnership development.
• Ensure team members maintain expert level knowledge in industry specific topics and overall emerging trends and best practices in workforce development and business services;
• Develop subsidized and unsubsidized employment opportunities for job seekers across the spectrum of skills and education, individuals with significant barriers to employment including those with disabilities, limited English language proficiency, youth, seasoned workers, and returning citizens; 
• Create, develop, and expand volunteer and internship opportunities to help with employment and career development interests of City residents; 
• Expand corporate sponsored and other opportunities for experienced professionals who would like to give back to the community through networking, mentoring, and other engagements 
• Establish and maintain a list of viable sources and placement sites for volunteer work experience;
• Continuously update the menu of career readiness workshops and information sessions offered through the traditional brick and mortar model and virtual platforms and ensure they are continuously informed by the most current labor market information;   
• Plan, coordinate and facilitate manager level and worker level regular partnership meetings to ensure there is meaningful and value adding engagement with all AJC and community based partners; 
• Develop marketing strategies that address WDC’s need for greater visibility and usage of services among local and regional businesses;
• Research and pursue grants and corporate sponsorships opportunities for targeted operational and targeted programmatic activities;
• Provide leadership, ensure accountability, and facilitate team integration, of business service specialists on the team;
• Implement strengths-based approach to supervision and provide guidance and direction to business service specialists; 
• Serve as part of the WDC leadership team actively participating in office-wide initiatives to advance the overall missions of the center sustaining a healthy work environment and high performing organizational culture;
• Represents the Director of WDC as designee and attends and lead meetings with high-level community leaders to provide public awareness regarding available programs and services;
• Performs related work as required and assigned.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of public-private partnership, business development, community engagement, and workforce development. Good knowledge of business and management principles in strategic planning. Demonstrated ability to engage and support diverse populations, including individuals facing systematic barriers to employment, with a focus on inclusive and equitable access to workforce services. Ability to develop and implement management methods, operational policies and procedures. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. Ability to provide supervision, direction and guidance to staff. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other managers and departmental staff, City officials, and citizens. Proficiency in computer software applications, including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and other data analysis and visualization tools. High personal and professional ethical standards.

Minimum Qualifications:

Four Year College Degree; Considerable professional experience in employment training and computerized, management-information systems for the positions in the Office of Employment and Training; considerable professional experience with human service programs; supervisory experience required; and completion of college-level courses in social work, sociology, planning, history, economics, and any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities; a Virginia Workforce Development Professional certification is preferred for positions working in the Centers for Economic Support and Adult Services.

Preferred Qualifications: 

A Virginia Workforce Development Professional certification is preferred for positions working in the Centers for Economic Support and Adult Services.