The Next Program Director will provide visionary leadership and play a central role in cultivating a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team. This leader will implement and sustain core values, set clear organizational direction, establish performance expectations, and maintain a strong customer focus, all while aligning the Next Success team around a shared vision. In addition to driving continuous improvement, the Next Program Director will focus on building a strong team culture, ensuring that all staff are supported and accountable for their roles in achieving program goals. This role will work closely with Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW), system leadership and stakeholders to create alignment, foster partnerships, and build relationships that drive regional success.

The Next Program Director will be responsible for designing and implementing strategies that reduce duplication in service delivery, enhance collaboration, and maximize the use of regional resources. They will partner with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that Next services meet the evolving needs of youth and young adults in the community. Additionally, the Next Program Director will guide team members in adhering to internal policies and procedures while fostering an environment of open communication, shared learning, and collective problem-solving. By maintaining a strong focus on performance support, the Director will ensure that all NEXT programs operate effectively across the region and consistently meets key outcomes.

Staff Supervision, Training and Evaluation 

• Lead, guide, and supervise Next program staff (via root cause analysis and day-to-day feedback) in the areas of service delivery, programmatic and fiscal goal accomplishments and contract compliance.
• Oversee service delivery activities including program model implementation, individual and team budget management, programmatic process and procedures, and individual and team goal achievement.
• Manage staff recruiting, screening and interviewing in assigned area in conjunction with HR.
• Conduct monthly check-ins and performance appraisals, seeking feedback and input from partners, host sites and customers to ensure high quality customer service.

Policy Review and Accountability 

• Ensure unit, global, fund source and state policies are current and reviewed annually with staff.  
• Evaluate processes and procedures and consult with other assigned staff to develop and implement appropriate modifications, with Director level approval. 

Strategic Partnerships 

• Lead co-location responsibilities within Next, such as serving on Leadership Team and subcommittees, attend staff meetings and training opportunities, and adhere to WSW policies and procedures.  
• Coordinate with partner leadership to foster collaboration on Center-based staffing responsibilities. May assist in writing a proposal in response to a Request for Proposal from a fund source. 
• Collaborate with Next Careers Consortium (NCC) agency leadership and fiscal team on budget development. Monitor approved budgets and expenditures.
• Lead team through preparation of monitoring, hosting monitors, and responding to monitoring reports. Ensure satisfactory results from monitoring visits for contract compliance. 

Program Model/Budget/Implementation, Performance and Reporting 

• Lead team in attaining contracted and internal program goals on a daily, monthly, quarterly and annual basis.  
• Oversee implementation for program staff, including direct individual practitioner and team caseload activities, according to a contract’s scope of work.  
• Approve applicant registration packets for program participation and coordinate outreach activities.
• Create an environment that values and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion among staff, partners, and customers and ensure EEO requirements are met.
• Manage office needs such as office scheduling, communication, safety and maintenance.

• Ability to manage staff from various agencies, and the ability to make decisions on behalf of the team with guidance from Directors and Partners.
• Be an inspirational, goal-driven and highly professional leader who strives to lead transformation, flex with changes and partnership within an organization. 
• Demonstrate commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment. 
• Hold highly defined conflict management skills with proven examples of navigating resolution, negotiating and coaching techniques which foster understanding and compromise. 
• Knowledge of targeted recruitment strategies and social media/email campaigns related to recruiting. 
• Ability to lead and work remotely, managing hybrid teams 
• Engage customers from various virtual, and social media platforms.  
• Understanding of the change management process, and the ability to guide staff through change effectively. 
• Ability to establish accountability through clearly defined expectations while creating room for innovation and creativity to take place within the team. 

• Integrity: Stay true to our mission, purpose, and vision; act in harmony with our beliefs and values; gain trust while respecting boundaries; keep commitments, hold ourselves and others accountable. 
• Courage: Take smart risks and challenge status quo; challenge actions inconsistent with organization’s values; speak up, even when uncomfortable; perform heroic actions advocating for those the organization serves. 
• Generosity: Extend hospitality, appreciation, and have dedication to serve others; seek what is best for the organization rather than self; act humbly; treat everyone with kindness and dignity. 
• Visionary: Embrace an entrepreneurial spirit; pioneer new ideas and demonstrate curiosity; embrace failure to break boundaries and learn rapidly; be willing to do things differently; adapt and stay nimble by finding time to simplify.
• Leadership: Humbly guide and lead others to make a positive difference; contribute to the larger good; share knowledge; commit self and others to professional growth; be a life-long learner; engage in open, honest communication. 
• Excellence: Perform with integrity to ensure accurate and competent results with a positive impact; extend beyond minimum expectations; consider other points of view; think critically and problem solve by identifying root causes; show unity through teamwork.

• High School Diploma or equivalent 
• Experience in Workforce Development, Business Administration, Human Resources, Public Administration, Social Services, or related field.  
• Supervisory experience in sales, recruitment, human resources, employment training, education or other related business fields.  
• Requires use of: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, LinkedIn, Facebook, Constant Contact and other business-related networking applications, as appropriate. 
• Requires flexibility in working some evening and/or weekend hours. 
• Must be able to work in a culturally diverse and fast-paced environment and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and cultural competency. 

• A degree in Public Administration, Organizational Development, Organizational Leadership, Human Resources, Management, Business Administration. 
• Over 2 years of experience in workforce development 
• Over 2 years of supervisory experience in employment training, education or other related business.   
• A proven ability to develop a network of employment training and job placement resources with the private sector. 
• Project Management and Program Implementation experience.  

• Leading health care package, including medical with both F.S.A. and H.S.A. options, dental, and vision
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance, Short Term Disability, and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary/supplemental group term life insurance, group AD&D insurance, hospital indemnity coverage, accident coverage, critical illness coverage, legal coverage, and identity theft coverage
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with a leading employer discretionary contribution
• Paid Vacation (accrue 12 hours/month), Sick (accrue 8 hours/month), Bereavement (1 week), Jury Duty and Military Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays, including Floating Holiday and Birthday Holiday
• Cell Phone Reimbursement Allowance, Home Internet Reimbursement Allowance and Personal Development Reimbursement Allowances
• Tuition Reimbursement program and a qualified employer for the Federal Loan Forgiveness Program

Job: Next Program Director
Primary Location: Vancouver, WA
Salary: Salary range for new hires: $80,000-90,000 annually, DOE, plus full benefits. Full salary range for the lifetime of the position is: $80,000 to $120,000.
Recruitment Closing Date: Open until filled - The hiring authority reserves the right to make hiring decisions and/or close this posting at any time. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply early.