PROGRAM MANAGER (ACES PATHWAYS PROGRAM)

PROGRAM MANAGER (ACES PATHWAYS PROGRAM)

(San Bernardino, Riverside & Imperial Counties)

EMERALD CITIES COLLABORATIVE BACKGROUND

The Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) is a national non-profit organization that partners with labor unions, community organizations, social justice advocates, development intermediaries, research and technical assistance providers, and socially responsible businesses dedicated to building high road – sustainable, just and inclusive – regional economies. ECC envisions a future in which American cities are the greenest and most equitable in the world, leading the way to head off global climate change while creating a vital new economic sector with low-income and historically underrepresented communities as central actors and beneficiaries in this new economy. Visit our website for more information: http://www.emeraldcities.org/

ECC-Southern California (ECC SoCal)

ECC Southern California advances equitable workforce education and training, clean-energy career pathways, contractor development, and related regional initiatives throughout the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN) service area. Through the Architecture, Construction, Engineering, and Sustainability (ACES) Pathway Program, ECC SoCal partners with K–12 schools and districts, colleges and universities, workforce agencies, employers, community-based organizations, and public-sector partners to expand access to career-connected learning, dual enrollment, technical training and certifications, work-based learning, and paid internship opportunities.

OVERVIEW OF POSITION

The Program Manager will support the development, implementation, and management of workforce development and educational pathway initiatives that promote equitable economic opportunities and organizational impact. This role is responsible for coordinating program operations, managing partnerships, supporting participant engagement, and providing technical assistance, implementation and capacity-building support to program participants and stakeholders.

The Program Manager will collaborate with internal teams, community partners, and external stakeholders to support program goals, strengthen partnerships, and advance workforce development and career-connected learning initiatives.

The Program Manager reports directly to the ACES Pathway Program Director and has primary responsibility for ACES expansion and implementation in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties, while supporting cross-regional initiatives and other Southern California program needs as assigned. The role independently manages routine outreach, partnership, planning, and implementation decisions within established ACES priorities, while major new programs, projects, agreements, or commitments require Program Director approval.

Location: Hybrid; preferably based in the Inland Empire, with regular travel throughout San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial counties and occasional travel to other ACES service areas in Southern California as needed.

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Salary: $80,000 per year

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development and Management

· Provide leadership in the planning, implementation and management of workforce development and educational pathway programs, including program design, participant recruitment, stakeholder coordination, facilitation, administration, and relationship management.

· Build ACES regional capacity by identifying prospective school districts, K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions, workforce partners, employers, and community organizations to expand implementation.

· Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with nonprofit organizations, community-based groups, educational institutions, financial institutions, labor organizations, employers, industry partners, government agencies, and other key stakeholders.

Identify opportunities to expand and enhance program offerings in alignment with organizational goals and community needs; assess feasibility, partner readiness, and resource requirements and recommend program enhancements to the ACES Pathway Program Director.

· Monitor program performance and outcomes, maintain accurate program data and reporting, and support grant administration and compliance activities; ensure regional program information is timely and accurate and contribute to ACES and SoCalREN reporting, evaluation, and continuous-improvement processes.

· Recommend allocation of approved regional program funds and resources across assigned ACES initiatives; monitor expenditures and utilization against approved budgets; identify variances or resource needs; and recommend adjustments to the ACES Pathway Program Director.

· Oversee regional program operations and coordinate schedules, materials, equipment, vendors, facilities, transportation, and other resources needed for effective program delivery.

· Collaborate with the ACES Pathway Program Director and other ACES staff on cross-regional initiatives, special projects, events and program implementation needs.

Educational Pathways and Participant Support

• Support educational pathways and workforce readiness initiatives focused on dual and concurrent enrollment, technical training and industry certifications, internships and work-based learning, hands-on STEM/CTE programming, career exploration, and professional expectations.
• Develop, adapt, and coordinate curriculum, instructional modules, hands-on learning activities, presentations, and other educational resources when needed to support regional implementation and partner needs.
• Coordinate with school and college personnel, instructors, training providers, workforce agencies, and employers to resolve participation barriers and improve access to educational and career opportunities.
• Provide and oversee participant guidance, mentoring, and implementation support to program participants to support participation, readiness, and successful completion of program activities.
• Share relevant resources, events, and professional development opportunities to strengthen participant engagement and advancement

Outreach, Collaboration, and Partnership Engagement

Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to share best practices, strengthen cross-functional initiatives, and support organizational learning.

Support coalition-building, community engagement, and strategic partnerships through meeting facilitation, stakeholder communication, and collaborative planning efforts.

Contribute to organizational outreach and communications efforts through presentations, events, workshops, and community engagement activities.

Serve as a primary ACES regional contact for current and prospective partners, facilitating discussions, communicating program opportunities, and coordinating next steps to advance partnerships.

· Engage employers and industry professionals to expand internships, work-based learning, mentorship, career exploration, field experiences, guest presentations, and other career-connected opportunities for participants.

Policy and Strategic Initiatives

• Collaborate with community partners, stakeholders, and public agencies to support workforce, economic development, and community advancement initiatives.
• Monitor emerging trends, policies, and funding opportunities relevant to organizational priorities and program goals.
• Support advocacy, education, and strategic initiatives that promote equitable access to economic and workforce opportunities.

Team Leadership & Coordination

• Provide day-to-day programmatic leadership to Program Coordinators and interns assigned to the region; including establishing program priorities, coordinating responsibilities, monitoring progress, and aligning workloads across the regional portfolio.
• Monitor project timelines; review implementation plans and key program deliverables for assigned initiatives; provide programmatic feedback and direction; and help ensure consistent and effective implementation.
• Participate in recruitment and onboarding of staff as appropriate and provide programmatic input to the ACES Pathway Program Director regarding staffing and implementation needs.

Perform other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Required

· Bachelor’s degree required.

· Minimum of 4-7 years of relevant professional experience in K–12 education, CTE, workforce development, youth programming, college and career pathways, program management, sustainability, or related fields, including experience managing projects, partnerships, or multi-site initiatives.

· Knowledge of K–12 educational systems, Career Technical Education, work-based learning, dual or concurrent enrollment, workforce-development systems, and college and career pathway strategies.

· Strong leadership and coordination skills, including experience providing programmatic guidance, feedback, and workload coordination.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience with presentations, stakeholder communications, and professional writing.

· Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams, partners, and community stakeholders.

· Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, make sound implementation decisions, solve problems, and move complex projects from planning through execution while recognizing when Director-level approval is required.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, project-management, communications, and data-tracking systems to manage work, monitor participation, and support reporting.

· Commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, community-centered program delivery, and expanding access to education and career opportunities for historically underserved students and communities.

Preferred

· Experience working directly with K–12 schools, districts, educators, and students to develop, adapt, coordinate, or implement CTE programs, college and career pathways, youth workforce initiatives, or other career-connected educational programming.

· Experience coordinating internships, employer partnerships, or other work-based learning opportunities.

· Experience in construction or building trades, energy efficiency, sustainability, or renewable energy initiatives.

· Established knowledge of professional experience in the Inland Empire and/or Imperial County, including familiarity with regional education, workforce, employer, or community networks.

Emerald Cities Collaborative strongly encourages candidates from communities that have been historically underrepresented in the environmental and energy efficiency sectors to apply. We are committed to expanding access to opportunity and fostering an inclusive workplace environment.

Emerald Cities Collaborative is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, veteran status, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Inland Empire, CA 92501