Senior Specialist, Workforce Development

We are seeking a Senior Specialist, Apprenticeships to join FoundationCCC in its mission of benefitting, supporting, and enhancing the California Community Colleges—the largest and most diverse system of higher education in the nation. Together, we are building stronger communities by getting students and colleges the resources they need to succeed and expanding pathways to economic and social mobility across California. Join us as we continue this important work to uphold the value of community colleges in building a brighter future.

The Foundation’s Workforce Development Department (WDD) aims to ensure that all learners in California obtain the knowledge, skills, experiences, and networks needed to connect with meaningful work, expand career options, and increase economic and social mobility. WDD works in four primary areas (1) building capacity within K-12, college, apprenticeship, and workforce development systems to effectively serve learners and businesses; (2) serving as employer-of-record for paid work experience; (3) providing wraparound services resource development support; and (4) developing work-based learning models, tools, and technologies. This work is grounded in a commitment to strengthening systems connectivity, promoting career-relevant, learner-centric education and workforce solutions, and eliminating equity gaps in California.

The Senior Specialist,  Apprenticeships, Workforce Development will provide critical support for the technical assistance strategy, coordination, and implementation, ensuring that educational institutions, employers, state agencies, and community-based organizations receive high-quality guidance to enhance and scale apprenticeship programs and initiatives, including the Grow Apprenticeship California Initiative, the Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project, and the California Apprenticeship Initiative.

• Lead all aspects of the development and implementation of the community of practice and related technical assistance activities (convenings, informational calls, conference presentations, etc.,) for the Grow Apprenticeship California Initiative, the Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project, and the California Apprenticeship Initiative, ensuring high quality guidance and support for stakeholders. 

  • Responsible for tracking grant deliverables. 

  • Work collaboratively with the project teams to plan, design, staff, and facilitate various in-person and virtual learning convenings and meetings.

• Provide guidance on registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships to internal and external stakeholders. Guidance includes but is not limited to: 

  • Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI) and Full-Time Equivalent Student (FTES) funding support

  • Program design and implementation

  • Fund braiding and sustainability

  • Pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship pathway development 

• Work collaboratively with the team to conduct research, data collection, impact analysis, toolkits, and resources to inform technical assistance strategies and enhance program effectiveness.

• Maintain strong working relationships with entities such as the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO), the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, Workforce Development Boards, LAUNCH, the James Irvine Foundation, and other internal and external stakeholders.

• Minimum of five (5) + years of related work experience in workforce development, apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship, career education, job training, or higher education. 

• Demonstrates a growth mindset and a commitment to quickly developing subject matter expertise in apprenticeship and related workforce strategies.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports, presentations, and technical guidance documents.

• A self-starter and quick learner with a bias for action who is highly motivated and outcome-oriented, always seeking innovative approaches to project execution

• Working knowledge of New & Innovative apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and enhanced OJT concepts. Candidates with limited apprenticeship experience must demonstrate a strong interest and capacity to become a subject matter expert in this space within their first few months on the team.

• Innovation, creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship are encouraged as employees work to achieve organizational goals

• Team members are hired for their expertise in niche areas across our areas of impact and higher education overall, and for their knowledge of business, philanthropy, technology, communications, and more

FoundationCCC is fully committed to a “remote-first” philosophy, and recruits and hires talent across the state in fully remote positions, where virtual work is possible. Our headquarters are located in Downtown Sacramento, just blocks from California’s State Capitol.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, generous PTO, holidays

• Medical, dental, and vision plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Wellness offerings

• CalPERS retirement program and optional 403(b) and 457 Retirement plans

• Tuition reimbursement

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer

This role requires a cover letter.

This posting is a condensed version of the full job description. To request the full job description, please email us at [email protected].

Budgeted Annual Salary Pay Range:

Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.