Workforce Planning Manager

Goodwill Industries of Dallas, Inc. exists to help persons with disabilities and other barriers to employment get jobs so that each can experience dignity, purpose, and self-sufficiency. Goodwill does this by helping people find and keep meaningful employment through a donated goods business, workforce development and other social enterprise models. At Goodwill, we have the following core beliefs:

• We believe each person has unique abilities and can make a meaningful contribution in life.

• We believe jobs are transformational to individual lives and communities.

• We believe in a hand up, not a handout.

Goodwill prides itself on an engaging and welcoming work environment, where we demonstrate our core values of respect, commitment, improvement, integrity, and service daily.

Position Summary:

Goodwill is seeking a passionate and results-driven Manager of Workforce Pathways to lead Goodwill’s third and final phase of Goodwill’s service delivery model, the Opportunity Accelerator:
Launch & Elevate, which focuses on guiding clients into meaningful employment and ensuring their success in the workplace.

This role will report to the Director of Workforce Development and oversee a team of Business Engagement Specialists and Digital Skills Instructors who assess client job readiness, assist with job applications and interview preparation, and connect clients to industry-specific jobs and careers aligned with their interests and skills. The Manager of Workforce Pathways must be an inspiring leader, a strategic thinker, and a relationship builder.

They will drive employer partnerships, map training to workforce needs, and orchestrate the team’s objectives of placement and retention of clients through their first 90 days of employment.

• Lead, coach, and inspire a team of Business Engagement Specialists and Digital Skills Instructors.
• Ensure the team provides individualized job search support, resume and application assistance, interview preparation, and digital job-readiness training.
• Oversee the process of matching clients with industry-specific opportunities that align with their skills and career interests.
• Monitor client outcomes to ensure successful placement and retention through at least 90 days of employment.
• Build and sustain strategic employer partnerships across specific industries to create strong pipelines for client job placement.
• Engage employers to identify talent needs, workplace trends, and skills gaps.
• Collaborate with internal and external training partners to align client preparation with employer workforce requirements.
• Serve as a thought partner to employers on developing inclusive hiring practices and career pathway strategies.
• Identify and manage 3rd party partnerships to leverage access to funding, training, and employer relationships that will support client job readiness and placement.

• Direct and coordinate the Launch & Elevate phase of the Opportunity Accelerator Model.
• Establish service delivery standards that ensure exceptional client and employer experiences.
• Use data to track outcomes such as job placements, retention rates, and employer satisfaction, and implement continuous improvement strategies.

• Produce timely reports on placements, retention, and partnership activity.
• Ensure compliance with grants, contracts, and workforce development regulations.

• Preferred Bachelor’s degree in workforce development, business, nonprofit management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of experience in workforce development, business development, sales, employer relations, talent placement, or related roles.
• Experience in industries of logistics, healthcare, hospitality, or construction preferred.
• Proven success managing teams and motivating staff to achieve measurable outcomes.
• Excellent communication, relationship management, and strategic thinking skills.
• Passion for advancing equitable employment opportunities and ensuring client and employer success.

• Inspiring Leadership:
  Energizes and motivates teams to reach ambitious goals.
• Employer-Centered Strategy:
  Builds strong, trust-based relationships with hiring partners.
• Talent Pipeline Builder:
  Connects client training and readiness to real-world workforce demand.
• Results Orientation:
  Focuses on measurable impact, particularly in job placement and retention.
• Innovation & Adaptability:
  Anticipates workforce trends and adapts programming accordingly.