Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO

Workforce Development Program Manager

Based in Houston, TX

 

The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation (TGCALF), AFL-CIO, a coalition of 75 unions and their 60,000 union members in the Houston region, seeks to hire a Workforce Development Program Manager (PM). The PM’s primary role is to manage the Apprenticeship Advantage program, a collaboration of the AFL-CIO and 11 union apprenticeship programs to invest in and expand access to union apprenticeships, ensuring they meeting their deliverables and managing their spending in line with approved budgets. This work is funded by a 1.5 year extension contract with Harris County from ARPA funds, with the possibility of continuing similar projects continuing depending on funding. The PM reports to the TGCALF’s Executive Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Apprenticeship Advantage Program Coordination

• Coordinate apprenticeship training subcontractors to deliver on project deliverables of:
  • expanding scale and scope of 8 existing apprenticeship and 1 pre-apprenticeship programs in construction
  • assisting two apprenticeship programs in public transportation and live entertainment in successfully applying for accreditation from Department of Labor
  • recruiting and retaining a more diverse workforce
• Maintain and improve internal project management and tracking systems to ensure apprenticeship training subcontractors are on track to achieve program deliverables
• Manage project administrative staff and assist in hiring and training this staff
• Assist in managing promotion, recruitment, and retention staff and consultants
• Prepare agendas for and facilitate bi-weekly meetings with apprenticeship subcontractors, Harris County staff, and external program evaluators
• Edit weekly updates for apprenticeship subcontractors
• Build positive, cooperative relationships with apprenticeship training subcontractors
• Hold regular office hours with subcontractors for grant-related questions

Apprenticeship Advantage Program Financial Management

• Review, finalize, and submit accurate, compliant monthly invoices linking multiple spreadsheets to Harris County on deadline
• Prepare and provide monthly spending reports to subcontractors and County; monitor TGCALF and subcontractor budgets to ensure all parties are spending according to the approved budget on time
• Work with Subcontractors to prepare and submit to Harris County well-documented budget reallocation, equipment preauthorization, and travel preauthorization requests compliant with federal regulations
• Pre-validate Subcontractor expenditures as necessary, allowable, and consistent with approved budgets and federal regulations
• Update Administrative Handbook as needed and provide ongoing technical training to subcontractors as needed
• Provide financial oversight of subcontractors to ensure compliance with Administrative Handbook, including retention of financial and non-financial records

Apprenticeship Advantage Program Reporting and Compliance

• Review data from initial two year period of the grant as well as year three grant deliverables to successful completion of the grant. Work with the Records and Retention specialist to review retention data by program and establish a monthly schedule to review program goals. This will include setting and achieving enrollment, job placement, retention, certification, and advancement/graduation goals in expanded apprenticeship programs
• Oversee administrative staff’s collection and reporting of data on program/enrollees, including verification that all participants enrolled meet the Contract’s minimum eligibility requirements and are not receiving duplicate benefits
• Provide accurate, detailed program performance reports and documentation as required by the County
• Gather documentation, draft reports, and file audits with County upon request
• Ensure all apprenticeship programs conform to Harris County ARPA Equity Framework in outreach, recruitment, retention, and placement practices
• If subcontractor performance issues are identified, document deficiencies, develop a quality improvement plan and timeline for completing corrective actions
• Retain and furnish relevant documents, correspondence, and materials to Harris County for compliance purposes
• Prepare written, graphic, and verbal reports on the project for multiple audiences, including the TGCALF’s board, interested organizations, elected officials and staff, the media, etc.
• Represent the project at events, before Harris County Commissioner’s Court, the media, etc.

Organizational Development

• Assist Executive Director with organizational, legal, and grant-writing tasks to establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to expand the role of labor-management apprenticeships in Houston’s regional workforce development system in existing and new industries

Other duties as assigned

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience managing grant-funded programs with strict compliance requirements
• Mastery of accounting/bookkeeping, spreadsheet, and database applications; fluency in Office/Google word processing, presentation, project planning and other applications
• Team player with ability to manage relationships in complex political and sensitive organizational situations.
• Ability to understand, develop, and modify complex budgets
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and complete several projects on time simultaneously, with meticulous attention to details
• Excellent oral, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, including ability to plan, facilitate, and make presentations to meetings with individuals at all levels of management and responsibility
• Commitment to advancing the role of the labor movement and labor/management apprenticeships in improving job quality, job training, and opportunity for all communities
• Ability to work long hours or weekends as required and travel out of town occasionally as required
• Valid Texas driver’s license and reliable vehicle

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with the labor movement, particularly union apprenticeships
• Familiarity with federal contracting rules and regulations or DOL’s apprenticeship registration process
• Experience coordinating among unions, employers, community-based organizations, and government agencies
• Familiarity with the regional, state, and federal workforce system

Compensation: Base salary $70,000-$80,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits include high quality, employer-paid medical, eye, and dental insurance; generous paid time off benefits; 10% employer contribution to retirement plan on top of base pay; and option of voluntary contributions to 401(k) plan.

To Apply:
The position is open as of 5/23/25. Please email cover letter explaining your interest and qualifications plus résumé with subject line “Workforce Development Program Manager Résumé” to jobs@gcaflcio.org.

The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO is an equal opportunity employer.