Workforce & Economic Mobility Director

Job Details

Job Location:

Multi-Site - IA
Position Type:
Full Time
Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Travel Percentage :
Up to 25%
Job Shift: Day

At YSS, we believe a job can be more than a paycheck. Meaningful employment can build confidence, create stability, strengthen connections, and open the door to a future a young person may not have imagined for themselves.

The Director of Workforce & Economic Mobility will lead the development of that future.

• Develop and lead an organization-wide workforce and economic mobility strategy aligned with YSS’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Build a continuum of workforce opportunities that supports participants from career exploration and workforce readiness through education, training, credential attainment, employment, and career advancement.
• Integrate workforce development into existing YSS programs and service models.
• Develop innovative approaches that address barriers to employment, including housing instability, homelessness, recovery, mental health, and system involvement.
• Identify emerging workforce trends, industries, and opportunities that can expand career options for YSS participants.

• Develop career pathways that promote long-term employment, financial stability, and economic independence.
• Connect participants to internships, apprenticeships, work-based learning, job shadowing, training, credentialing, and employment opportunities.
• Help participants build the skills, confidence, professional relationships, and experience needed to enter and advance in the workforce.
• Partner with YSS programs to connect participants with education, training, employment, and economic mobility resources.
• Ensure workforce initiatives are strengths-based, trauma-informed, accessible, and responsive to participant needs.

• Collaborate with YSS program leaders to identify workforce needs, opportunities, and gaps across the organization.
• Provide leadership, coaching, accountability, and professional development to build a strong workforce development team.
• Supervise workforce development staff, coordinators, peer mentors, interns, and future program personnel.
• Serve as a strategic resource to leadership on workforce development and economic mobility.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with employers, workforce boards, educational institutions, training providers, community organizations, and philanthropic partners.
• Create employer engagement strategies that expand access to internships, apprenticeships, work-based learning, career exploration, and employment pipelines.
• Coordinate across programs and departments to create a cohesive, organization-wide approach to workforce development.
• Represent YSS in community and regional workforce initiatives.

• Develop and oversee pathways that support former YSS participants in pursuing employment within YSS and related human service fields.
• Create opportunities for individuals to progress from participant to peer mentor, workforce participant, staff member, and future leader.
• Establish training, mentoring, supervision, and professional development supports for individuals entering the workforce through lived experience pathways.
• Partner with YSS programs to meaningfully incorporate youth voice and lived experience into program development and service delivery.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen YSS’s workforce and organizational culture through lived experience.

• Establish measurable goals, outcomes, and performance indicators for workforce and economic mobility initiatives.
• Develop systems to track…