Program Manager Employment and Career Pathways

Program Manager Employment and Career Pathways

Nov 2024

Location: Twin Cities (Minnesota); non-remote position (expected to work 80%-90% in office).

Role: Full-time, benefits eligible

40 hours/week, weekday/daytime hours, some evenings and weekends required

Reports to Program Director

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States

Languages: Seeking applicants with language fluency in English and in Somali, Oromo, Amharic, Spanish, Swahili, or other languages represented by individuals new to Minnesota and the United States.

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Hello Hello! So you’re interested in joining us? Welcome, we’re happy you’re here. 

When you Join Alight, you’ll find…

A team with deep experience in co-designing solutions that create new value around the world. We know we need to always be better, and we believe in the power and abundance of everyday people, everywhere, to change the world with us.

A culture of radical accountability to our customers –as we help build a meaningful life for and with the displaced, we ask them what they want and then deliver on it. 

An organization that refuses to settle for anything less than delivering human-worthy services.

If you are looking to be part of a living, breathing, ever-changing organization full of disrupters and doers, then read on!

The Role:

Join Alight’s United States Enterprise as Program Manager Employment and Career Pathways. As the Program Manager, you will manage a team (2) in guiding individuals new to the Twin Cities Metro area in employment and career pathways, as partners in the Resettlement Network Collaborative and ORR’s Refugee Career Pathways. It is expected that this role will also provide direct service to individuals, up to 40% of your time.

You will be supported by the Program Director, as well as other leadership and team members.

Below are descriptions of the program areas where the Program Manager will lead and manage a team.

Employment and Career Supports

“Employment and Career Supports provides services for employment placement across a range of employment needs. Services include employment skills assessment and goal planning, initial employment placement, employment upgrades that increase economic stability, and bridges to career pathway program and opportunities for economic mobility.” MN Resettlement Network Services

Refugee Career Pathways

In partnership with a Career Guide, lead this project that guides ORR-eligible, job-seeking refugees to access the resources and services that enable them to develop and implement personalized career development plans that align their own skills and aspirations with opportunities for professional advancement and employment opportunities in the local economy.

Support New Americans in the Long-Term Care Workforce

As part of the leadership team for this project, collaborate with team members on listening sessions with New Americans and long-term care (LTC) employers to develop innovative and culturally relevant tools and training to support New Americans navigating LTC careers and develop connections for New Americans to pursue careers and connect with LTC employers.

1. Partner Outreach, Management, and Ecosystem Coordination * 35%

• Research and develop a pipeline of targeted employers across the Twin Cities and Greater MN with career advancement pathways that are accessible to refugees.
• Develop and maintain relationships with government and educational partners and gain in-depth knowledge of each partners’ career advancement pathway opportunities for refugees.
• Represent Alight and demonstrate active participation and leadership in any coordination or stakeholder meetings around refugee career pathways.
• Oversee the end-to-end onboarding process of new employer partners, including any contract or MOU management. Develop this onboarding process in partnership with the US Enterprise senior management team.
• Prepare and deliver compelling and evidence-based pitches and presentations for employers with support from Program Director and team.
• Plan and host annual meeting with ecosystem stakeholders.
• Manage projects' budgets.

2.  Employer Practices: 20%

• Support employers in identifying approaches or practices that may better integrate refugees into their workforce.
• With support from the Program/Deputy Director, facilitate a working group of interested employer partners and other ecosystem stakeholders in addressing barriers to hiring refugees.
• Developed specialized training opportunities for refugees with partners.
• Lead in developing any program materials for employers, in collaboration with the team.

3. Career Guiding Coordination 30%

• Lead Employment Career Guide (s) in their roles and responsibilities working directly with refugees and bridging with employer and educational partners.
• Develop processes and procedures for employment and career guide case management utilizing best practices in career navigation.
• Oversee the development of personalized career plans for each refugee.

5. Data/File Management and Reporting 10%

• Ensure that Alight strives to consistently meet outcomes defined by grantors and Alight.
• Contribute to department-wide performance on outcomes.
• Oversee the input of required data into digital databases, including Workforce One, Salesforce, and/or other platforms as necessary, in an accurate and timely manner for all participants.
• Oversee the maintenance of all required case file documentation per grantors and agency policies.
• Ensure thorough and accurate case notes in online case management system.
• Participate in periodic internal and external (funder) case file monitoring.

6. Other Responsibilities 5%

• Support Employment and Career Guides in developing referral pathways for refugee participants.
• Adhere to proper confidentiality practices and complete yearly trainings as required by Alight and funder.
• Other duties, responsibilities, and projects as assigned.

Regular travel within the Twin Cities Metro Area is expected, and it is expected to work 4-8 hours per week at the Service Collaborative’s service hub in the metro area (location TBD). Occasional travel to Greater MN and Washington, D.C. expected.

The Team

We are proud to work on borderless teams. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and specifically encourage members of refugee, immigrant or other displaced communities to join us. 

Building a shared organization takes time and intention. We will always be becoming Alight, which means your work will evolve as well. For now, here’s how you could anticipate spending your time:  

Find Others – It’s going to take all of us to provide a human-worthy experience to families seeking refuge. You will work to bring in a variety of groups who believe in a shared value to achieve great outcomes, all while staying true to ourselves and being guided by Ukrainians themselves.

Bravely Be Better – You understand and recognize the gaps in the current system and aren’t afraid to serve the customers in a better way, no matter what it takes, while being a team player in a larger resettlement effort.

Be Human Centered – You will work to keep Ukrainian families at the center of all that we do, and keep yourself and the team accountable to the human-centeredness of our activities.

Do the Doable – The mountain can feel big, but you know success can come in small ways, and will lead the team to have a “doing the doable” spirit.  

Qualifications

These are “must-haves” when you join Alight: 

Open heart and open mind. You start by listening. You believe another person’s truth and it changes you. It unlocks your way of thinking in that moment, it opens your world. 

Curiosity. You are always learning. You ask why and why again. You know that change (big and small) is constant, which means your curiosity to learn is matched with adaptability to evolve. 

Trust. You believe that people do their best, are disciplined, and care about this as much as you do. You take responsibility for your part and know how to step back and give others the space to shine. 

We’re also looking for the following competencies: 

• You recognize that all of Alight’s work starts with displaced people, and it’s going to be your job to make sure we satisfy our customers by training and orientating guides to support them.  
• Fluent in English and a second language (Somali, Oromo, Amharic, Swahili, Spanish, etc.), and comfortable communicating in-person, over the phone and via email.
• You have experience managing others and at least five years of related work experience.
• Strong computer skills, with regular use of Microsoft Office products, including Excel.
• Ability to make a human connection and engage with a variety of people in an ever-changing environment. 
• You understand how to track information and are highly organized.
• You work well with a lot of freedom and do your best work in a culture that does the doable with whatever resources we have.
• You are culturally agile and are invigorated by co-creating with multiple partners.
• You have a founders’ spirit, embrace ambiguity, and are joyful to the people you serve and work beside. 
• You deliver your work generously and take ownership of everything that lands in your lap.
• Driver’s license and Motor Vehicle Check clearance along with access to dependable transportation required.

These are the things we’re aiming to find. However, we’re open to being surprised. If you embody the spirit of Alight, care deeply about the cause, and if you bring something else that’s special, then please reach out.

Salary Range:

$75,000 - $85,000

Benefits

Borderless Team of 2,500 staff worldwide that sees possibility, celebrates moments of abundance, shares new ideas, and strives to do a better thing every day. 

Family Friendly – We know that you are a whole person with a life and a family. We honor this. In return, we expect that you will take ownership of your work and follow-through on your commitments; sometimes that means flexing your schedule and we’re good with that.

Learning & Development – Access thousands of free online learning courses to take at your own pace and tailor to your professional goals. 

Health, dental, and MedEvac Insurance – We strive to offer the best-in-class healthcare plans to our staff each year.  We cover 100% of the cost for your health premium and 75% of the cost for coverage for your spouse/dependents.

Retirement – We contribute 6% of your salary regardless of your contribution amount, after one year of service.

Generous Leave Time – Between vacation days, personal leave days, and holidays, you have ample opportunity to take time off when you need it.

Alight

We are on a journey to build Alight, a new platform of amazing people and organizations providing lifesaving services and creating breakthrough solutions for and with the displaced. WeAreAlight.org

Alight is an Equal Opportunity Employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.  Alight complies with all applicable laws govern