Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation; Tgcalf), Afl-Cio: Workforce Development Programs Director

Workforce Development Programs Director

The Apprenticeship Advantage Program (AAP) is an initiative of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation (TGCALF), AFL-CIO, to expand Harris County residents' access to good jobs and career training through Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeships. Funded by the largest local government investment in union apprenticeships in the U.S., the program partners with 11 joint labor-management apprenticeship programs in the construction, live entertainment, and public transportation industries.

AAP places apprentices in earn-while-you-learn jobs that offer fair pay, quality benefits, free career training, and a voice on the job. Visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). for additional background on the program.

Position Summary

The Programs Director (PD) serves as the operational and strategic lead of the AAP, responsible for coordinating apprenticeship partners, managing project staff, developing recruitment pipelines into pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, and ensuring successful delivery of grant-funded program outcomes.

This role oversees the full lifecycle of program implementation — from program development to outreach and recruitment through enrollment, retention, and reporting — and ensures that all program activities align with funding requirements, timelines, and performance goals.

The Programs Director serves as a central point of coordination between unions, government agencies, community partners, employers, and program participants.

Responsibilities

• Program Coordination & Partner Management
• Coordinate staff, apprenticeship training subcontractors, and consultants, and monitor performance to ensure all stakeholders meet program deliverables and timelines
• Manage project administrative, outreach, and retention staff, including providing training and mentoring
• Serve as the primary liaison between AAP and subcontracted apprenticeship programs and external partners, including government officials, external program evaluators, and media
• Manage partner relationships
• Facilitate regular partner meetings, maintain clear communication, and support alignment across stakeholders
• Maintain and improve internal systems for tracking spending, program activities, beneficiary data, and participant progress
• Pre-Apprenticeship Expansion & Apprenticeship Pipeline Development
• Work with apprenticeship partners to strengthen existing pre-apprenticeship programs and launch new ones, with a focus on Disaster Response and Recovery Skills
• Develop formal partnerships with targeted school districts, government, and nonprofit agencies to pilot innovative pathways to apprenticeships
• Establish, nurture, and manage candidate pipelines from initial inquiry through enrollment, ensuring consistent engagement and follow-up
• Financial Management
• Prepare project budgets, monitor TGCALF and partner spending, and obtain approval for budget reallocations to ensure alignment with approved funding and timeline requirements
• Oversee preparation and submission of accurate monthly invoices, financial reports, expenditure preauthorization requests, and required documentation to the County
• Community Outreach & Partnership Development
• Collaborate on designing public-facing communications, including reports, presentations, social media, marketing materials, and messaging
• Build and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, workforce development agencies, schools, and referral partners
• Represent AAP before Harris County Commissioners Court, in the media, workforce boards, funders, and partner organizations
• Plan, coordinate, and execute outreach and recruitment events, including program tours and informational sessions
• Maintain outreach materials, contact lists, and engagement strategies, including use of CRM systems
• Identify and cultivate new partnership opportunities to expand program reach and impact
• Reporting & Compliance
• Track and report on key program metrics to ensure program goals and key performance indicators are met
• Provide accurate, detailed program performance reports and documentation as required by the County
• Support data collection, documentation, and reporting processes to ensure…